ChinesePod - The Free Question & Culture Show

Qing Wen - Hiring and Employment

2012-05-27 20:10:51

In today's Qing Wen we'll be teaching our loyal listeners about the word "hire" and all its different permutations of the verb in Mandarin Chinese. We can't guarantee that this lesson will actually get you a job or miraculously turn you into some sort of "responsible adult," but it's a start, right? Tune in to find out more!

Beijing Standard Time - Ancient Chinese Gods

2012-05-27 20:09:43

While China does sport the longest history of any nation in the world, the Chinese do believe that the universe existed before the nation's earliest of dynasties. Join us in today's BST as we discuss a few of the most popular and well-known deities from pre-Xia China, including Pan Gu, Nu Wa, and Fu Xi. Tune in to find out more!

Qing Wen - The Different Differences of Different and Difference

2012-05-21 19:27:54

So you've been trying to differentiate between the different ways of discussing differences in Mandarin Chinese but are still having difficulty. Dive into today's Qing Wen and all your questions will be answered! We'll discuss the formality and frequency of each word and of course how to use each of them in context!

Beijing Standard Time - Chinese Cartoon Characters

2012-05-21 19:26:20

We (well, Greg) desperately hope that you've seen the new Avengers movie by now because it's awesome. In light of that recent release and its record-breaking box office sales, BST has decided to do a show on well-known Chinese cartoon characters. Everyone knows Monkey King and Happy Sheep, but we've got some others lined up that you may not have heard of before. If you're an advanced Chinese learner and love Monkey King as much as the rest of us, be sure to check out the first part of the five-part series on 孙悟空!.

News and Features - Retirement Homes, ChinesePod and a Harmonica

2012-05-14 19:18:32

We've got another user feature in today's News and Features: hiewhongliang! This long-time user runs a retirement home in Australia and has recently finished setting up a company in China that provides home care for the elderly; a real altruist! In addition to a lively chat with David and Jenny, he even busts out some ChinesePod theme music using his trusty harmonica for all of us. Listen in and enjoy!

Qing Wen-The Stable 稳(wen)

2012-05-13 17:53:50

The resultative complement 稳 (wěn) is a bastion of linguistic stability. Whether you're holding a gun steady or trying to keep your balance on a bumpy bus ride, this complement is always there to help you express yourself. Learn how to use this useful and reliable word in today's Qing Wen.

Beijing Standard Time - Controversial Wartime Martyrs

2012-05-01 19:07:27

In honor of the martyr's park located a stone's throw from our new office, today's BST covers some of the more notable revolutionary heroes from wars past. Are their remarkable tales of heroism and valor real or just tools made up to serve the government's propaganda machine? You decide! Check out this elementary ChinesePod lesson too for more Lei Feng goodness!

Qing Wen - A Much-Needed Discussion of 需要 and 要

2012-04-27 18:59:56

Do you "need" that new [insert your favorite luxury item here] or do you "want" it? We can't decide that for you, but we can teach you how to distinguish between the two linguistically in Mandarin Chinese! Tune in to today's Qing Wen to hear all about the difference between these two words.

Qing Wen - Meet-Up Frenzy

2012-04-22 19:46:24

In celebration of our upcoming ChinesePod user meet-up, today's Qing Wen discusses various gatherings and meetings in Mandarin Chinese. Learn how to distinguish between a formal meet-up event and a casual romantic date in today's lesson.

Qing Wen-WithstAnding 和、跟、与

2012-04-18 01:42:57

Linking nouns together can be a challenge, but never fear, because in today's Qing Wen we'll cover the subtle but important differences between three of the most commonly-used conjunctions and prepositions in Mandarin Chinese. Tune in and have all your questions answered!

Qing Wen - The Correct Usage of Correct

2012-04-09 00:19:58

This Qing Wen is for all our English-speaking teachers in China who've got a lot of "correcting" of their students to do, from homework to tests to habits to posture. In today's show we'll be looking at the various usages of the English verb "to correct" and how they translate into Chinese. Tune in to find out more!

Beijing Standard Time - Stories of Chinese Emperors

2012-04-08 20:33:07

We're talking Chinese emperors in today's BST. Since there were quite a few of them (ok, a TON of them!) we'll be introducing a few choice selections via some well-known stories and legends from Chinese history, including who had the most untimely death, the largest harem, the longest reign, and so forth. If you haven't already, also be sure to check out our previous BST on Chinese Empresses!

Beijing Standard Time - Humorous Statues and Sculptures

2012-04-06 00:55:31

In light of April Fool's Day today, we at BST decided to take a more light-hearted approach to today's show. We've gathered a few pictures of statues and sculptures that have circulated the Chinese internet for some time and present them to you today. In addition to some clever, and every so slightly crass, humor, you might learn a useful colloquialism as well! Enjoy the show!

Qing Wen - "Always" Reexamined

2012-04-05 18:47:09

The Qing Wen team is taking another look at the adverb "always," this time by comparing two highly useful but often confused Chinese words: 总是 (zǒngshì) and 一直 (yīzhí). We'll get down to the nitty-gritty of when these words can be used and how their usage alters the meaning of a sentence. Be sure to also check out our other related Qing Wen on "always" here!

Beijing Standard Time - Chinese Calligraphy

2012-03-26 20:51:57

One of the most well-known aspects of Chinese culture is calligraphy. The stylized brushwork has been around since ancient China and is still prized even to this day. Learn all about the necessary tools to do calligraphy right, different historical styles, and even the way to hold a brush! Enjoy the show and be sure to leave your comments below. Make sure to also check out ChinesePod's intermediate lesson on calligraphy!

Qing Wen - Number One Idioms

2012-03-25 19:36:33

It's been a bit since Qing Wen's done a show on idioms, so we figured we'd bring it back with a discussion of "chengyu" related to the number one. We picked half a dozen high-frequency idioms that aren't just written, archaic expressions restricted to ancient Chinese so that you can impress your friends without sounding like a bookworm. Tune in now and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments section below!

Beijing Standard Time - Chinese Solar Terms

2012-03-21 20:01:23

Today's Beijing Standard Time covers a topic that may be fairly unknown to most of our listeners: Chinese solar terms. We're talking about points in the solar cycle determined by Chinese astronomers back in the Warring States period to be the most pivotal seasonal shifts for agricultural purposes. Their usage doesn't stop at farming, however; many of these terms are widely used in common phrases and sayings today. Tune in to find out more!

Qing Wen - Why, Oh, Why?

2012-03-19 01:38:47

Thanks to an absolute deluge of ideas from our lovely listeners, Qing Wen is back with another highly-useful lesson. Today, we're covering one of the most useful question words out there: WHY? Learn the subtle difference in tone between the three most common words for why in Mandarin Chinese and how to use them to perfection!

News and Features - Lesson Page Upgrade, Video Lessons and a New Office!

2012-03-13 01:35:48

Today's News and Features brings a plethora of updates. We've released a new iPad compatible lesson page as well as a new Android tablet app (you can find a video demo on both Vimeo andTudou). You can also download the app here. We've also recently published a video lesson on mahjong. Check it out and let us know what you think! Finally, ChinesePod is moving! We're staying in Shanghai, but if you want to visit, make sure you get our new address.

Qing Wen - A Qing Wen to Our ListenersQing Wen - A Qing Wen to Our Listeners

2012-03-11 20:24:11

Qing Wen today isn't so much an educational podcast as a request to our wonderful listening audience. What we think makes Qing Wen so special is not only that it can delve into language topics that don't fit a formal lesson but also that it's a way for us to give users the opportunity to pose their own questions and interact with us even more directly. Unfortunately, the flow of questions has slowed dramatically recently, so in light of that we want to encourage all our loyal listeners to throw out any and all questions they want answered in today's comments section. Help us tailor our beloved Qing Wen to your personal listening needs!

Beijing Standard Time - A Tour of the Chinese Underworld (Part Two)

2012-03-05 21:43:08

Beijing Standard Time returns to the realm of ghosts with Part Two of our tour of the Chinese underworld. Today's BST covers the final stages of a ghost's journey and includes encounters with a bridge, a stone, and a peculiar old woman with an even more peculiar soup. Listen in to find out more! If you haven't heard Part One of the series, be sure to listen to it first here!

You can find the full lesson page in our library here.

Qing Wen - Email Terms and Composition

2012-03-04 20:59:22

Sending and receiving emails is an integral part of daily life in any culture and any language. Learn all the most useful email terms in Mandarin Chinese with today's Qing Wen lesson. Additionally, learn some small but noticeable differences in Chinese email formats that can make your emails look like they were written by a native speaker (in structure, at least!)

Free Lesson: "Is It Spicy?" (Newbie lesson)

2012-03-02 01:20:47

Chinese food is well known for its variety, and one of those variable factors is spiciness. In this Chinese lesson, learn how to clearly ask if something is spicy or not. Just don't complain to us if you can't handle the heat!

The audio lesson is just the beginning! Check out the awe-inspiring full-on ChinesePod experience on the regular lesson page.

Free Lesson: "孙悟空三打白骨精（第一集）" (Advanced lesson)

2012-02-29 23:53:56

男孩儿女孩儿，你是否还记得小时候最喜欢的童话故事呢？是白雪公主？还是青蛙王子呢？呵呵，在中国小孩儿的心中也许最经典的就是《西游记》了吧。那个一个跟头就有十万八千里的孙悟空，还有那个胖乎乎爱泡妞的猪八戒，......他们一路西行取经的故事真是三天三夜也说不完啊！就让我们先听听最精彩的三打白骨精的故事吧！

The audio lesson is just the beginning! Check out the awe-inspiring full-on ChinesePod experience on the regular lesson page.

Free Lesson: "Birthday on the Lunar Calendar" (Intermediate lesson)

2012-02-29 23:41:18

The lunar calender is decidedly important in China as it determines the date of various holidays like Chinese New Year and the Dragon Boat Festival, but did you know that birthdays on the lunar calender are also treated with great importance? How do you choose which one to celebrate? Learn about birthdays on the solar and lunar calender in today's Intermediate lesson!

The audio lesson is just the beginning! Check out the awe-inspiring full-on ChinesePod experience on the regular lesson page.

Free Lesson: "Fast Cars and Dangerous Driving" (Upper Intermediate lesson)

2012-02-29 23:06:05

This is a Chinese lesson about having fun in your brand-new car. The tires squeal as you tear around the bend, laughing and singing along with the radio. Learn how to take a spin in Mandarin Chinese, but drive responsibly. It's all fun and games until someone loses a limb.

The audio lesson is just the beginning! Check out the awe-inspiring full-on ChinesePod experience on the regular lesson page.

Beijing Standard Time - A Tour of the Chinese Underworld (Part One)

2012-02-27 21:24:33

We're taking our listeners to the world of the ghosts in today's BST. Embarking on the path of a departed soul, we'll take a step by step look at what exactly happens, including what paths you'll take and who you'll meet (according to Chinese legend, at least!) Stay tuned for next week's installment where we'll reveal the second half of the deceased's journey through the underworld!

Free Lesson: "Weather and Seasons" (Elementary lesson)

2012-02-26 22:03:17

A place of extremities, our Shanghai: blistering in the summer and arctic in the winter. All worth it for the autumn though. Fancy a “talk about the changing seasons” with another? Then take our hand as we stroll down a red leaf covered path of knowledge, as in this podcast you will learn to wax poetic in Mandarin Chinese about things such as heat and humidity.

The audio lesson is just the beginning! Check out the awe-inspiring full-on ChinesePod experience on the regular lesson page.

Qing Wen - Onomatopoeias

2012-02-26 19:48:31

Boom! Crash! Baa! Ruff! Today's Qing Wen is all about onomatopoeias, those wonderful words that represent sounds. While these words in English are largely restricted to comic book fights and children's books about farm animals, you'll find the appearance of such words in Chinese much more prolific. Tune in and learn how to express all your favorite sounds and noises in Mandarin!

Qing Wen - Salaries and Income

2012-02-19 21:05:25

Qing Wen is back with another fiscal lesson. Last week we talked all about how to discuss bills and expenses (you can find that lesson here). This week, however, we're departing from such gloomy topics and covering the money you MAKE. We've got salaries, income, and bonuses coming your way. Learn how to distinguish between these figures and more in today's lesson.

For more details, please click here.