Important Chinese Things with Jenny Zhu · Learn Chinese · ChinesePod · Qingwen

Taiwan Elections and Organ Donation

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 04:26:30 -0500

Following are the words we've talked about in this show.

选举 xuǎn jǔ: election

九合一 jiǔ hé yī: 9 in 1

拜票 bài piào: asking for votes

热情 rè qíng: passion

村干部 cūn gàn bù: village cadres

被选举人 bèi xuǎn jǔ rén: candidate of an election

共产党 gòng chǎn dǎng: communist party

国民党 guó mín dǎn: nationalist party

九三学社 jiǔ sān xué shè: Jiushan Association

网友 wǎng yǒu: internet user; e-friend

亲民 qīn mín: to treat the people as one would treat one's family

太子党 tài zǐ dǎng: princelings

死刑 sǐ xín: death penalty

囚犯 qiú fàn: prisoner; convict

捐赠 juān zèng: donation

安乐死 ān lè sǐ: euthanasia

APEC Blue and Shopping Festival

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 22:55:14 -0500

Following are the words we've talked about in this show.

国际 guó jì: international
段子 duàn zi: joke, parody
雾霾 wù mái: smog
伸手不见五指 shēn shǒu bú jiàn wǔ zhǐ: too dark to see one's own fingers
限行 xiàn xíng: traffice limitation and regulation
情商 qíng shāng: EQ
习大大 xí dà da: nickname for Xi Jin Ping, China's president
本土 běn tǔ: local, domestic
亲民 qīn mín: to love people like one's own family, people first
血拼 xuè pīn: a funny expression of shopping
双十一 shuāng shí yī: 11th of November, Cinese online shopping day
光棍节 guāng gùn jié: single's day
红包 hóng bāo: red envelop, cash packge
天猫 tiān māo: tmall.com
海淘 hǎi táo: shopping overseas
剁手 duò shǒu: to chop off one's hand
电闸 diàn zhá: power switch

Taiwanese National Day, Hong Kong and Ebola

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 01:46:38 -0400

Today we talk about 双十节 shuāng shí jiē, the day that commenmorates the founding of the Republic of China in 1911. Don't miss the show as our hosts from both sides of the straits get into some fascinating discussion about the history and relations between the Repubic and People's Republic of China.

Following are the keywords used in this podcast:

双十节 shuāng shí jiē: Double-Ten Day
国庆日 guó qìng rì: National Day
国民党 guó mín dǎng: Chinese Nationalist Party
纪年 jì nián: chronology
外省人 wài shěng rén: Mainlanders
原住民 yuán zhù mín: Aborigine
蓝营 lán yíng: Blue Camp
绿营 lǜ yíng: Green Camp
戒严 jiè yán: martial law
崇拜 chóng bài: adore
民国 mín guó: The Republic of China
五四运动 wǔ sì yùn dòng: May Fourth Movement in 1919
中山装 zhōng shān zhuāng: Sun Yat Sen's uniform
诗意 shī yì: poetic
占领中环 zhàn lǐng zhōng huán: Occupy Central
安居乐业 ān jū lè yè: live and work in peace and contentment
稳定 wěn dìng: stable, steady
地球仪 dì qiú yí: terrestrial globe
口罩 kǒu zhào: face mask
埃博拉 āi bó lā: Ebola (virus)
雾霾 wù mái: smog
传染病 chuán rǎn bìng: infectious disease

A High Profile Couple's Romance and Chinese Views on Divorce and Dating a Younger Man

Wed, 15 Oct 2014 06:22:12 -0400

Keywords and phrases used in the show:

娱乐界 yú lè jiè：showbiz

个性 gè xìng：personality

姐弟恋 jiě dì liàn：love affair between an older woman and a yonger man

分手 fēn shǒu：break up

狗仔队 gǒu zǎi duì：paparazzi

女大三，抱金砖 nǚ dà sān ，bào jīn zhuān：mature wife ensure you a joyful life

参与 cān yǔ：to participate

相亲 xiāng qīn: blind date

剩女 shèng nǚ: leftover woman

钻石王老五 zuàn shí wáng lǎo wǔ: golden bachelor

80后 bā líng hòu: generation born in 80's

重组家庭 chóng zǔ jiā tíng: reconstituted family

第二春 dì èr chūn: refreshment

破碎家庭 pò suì jiā tíng: a broken family

单亲家庭 dān qīn jiā tíng: a single-parent family

人民调解员 rén mín tiáo jiě yuán: the people's arbirators

分分合合 fēn fēn hé hé: on-again-off-again relationship

Healthcare in China

Wed, 01 Oct 2014 15:42:08 -0400

Following are the words we've talked about in today's show.

冰桶挑战 bīng tǒng tiāo zhàn: ice bucket challenge
接受 jiē shòu: to accept
批评 pī píng: criticism
渐冻人 jiàn dòng rén: ALS patient
肌肉萎缩症 jī ròu wěi suō zhèng: ALS
医疗 yī liáo: medical care
医疗制度 yī liáo zhì dù: medical system
受害者 shòu hài zhě: victim
医患关系 yī huàn guān xì: relationship between doctors and patients
慢性病 màn xìng bìng: chronic illness
俗称 sú chēng: colloquial name
过世 guò shì: pass away
节哀顺变 jiē āi shùn biàn: to restrain one's grief
可惜 kě xī: pity
遗憾 yí hàn: sorry
医闹 yī nào: hospital violator
医疗事故 yī liáo shì gù: medical negligence
过度用药 guò dù yòng yào: over prescription
医托 yī tuō: hospital scalper
挂号 guà hào: to register
吃药 chī yào: to take medicine
社区医院 shè qū yī yuàn: community hospital
小儿科 xiǎo ér kē: pediatrics
家医科 jiā yī kē: policlinic
医保 yī bǎo: health insurance
养老保险 yǎng lǎo bǎo xiǎn: endowment insurance
赤脚医生 chì jiǎo yī shēng: barefoot doctor
咳嗽 ké sòu: cough
门诊 mén zhěn: outpatient service
委屈 wěi qū: grievance
隔离 gé lí: isolation
信任 xìn rèn: trust
中医 zhōng yī: TCM
养生 yǎng shēng: health preserving
扭 niǔ: to wring
推拿 tuī ná: massage
中成药 zhōng chéng yào: Chinese patent drug
副作用 fù zuò yòng: side effect
病因 bìng yīn: cause of disease
针灸 zhēn jiǔ: acupuncture

Alibaba's IPO and China's Obsession with Apple

Wed, 24 Sep 2014 22:51:04 -0400

This week Jenny and Fiona talk about the recent Alibaba IPO, China's obsession with Apple products and a few web services you need to know in China.
Here's a list of key words used in the show:

科技 kē jì : technology
网络公司 wǎng luò gōng sī : web company
路演 lù yǎn : road show
消费者 xiāo fèi zhě : consumer
企业家 qǐ yè jiā : entrepreneur
创业者 chuàng yè zhě : founder, starter
生意 shēng yì : business
美食 měi shí : delicious food
上瘾 shàng yǐn : addicted
淘金 táo jīn : gold digging
淘米 táo mǐ : to wash rice
广交会 guǎng jiāo huì : The China Import and Export Commodities Fair
生态链 shēng tài liàn : eco-chain
果粉 guǒ fěn : Apple fans
肾 shèn : kidney
屌丝 diǎo sī : common people
可穿戴产品 kě chuān dài chǎn pǐn : wearable products
智能硬件 zhì néng yìng jiàn : intelligent hardware
低头族 dī tóu zú : phubber
脸书 liǎn shū : Facebook
禁 jìn : to block
公众号 gōng zhòng hào : public number
么么嗒 me me dā : kisses (on internet)

iCloud Photo Leak and Attitudes towards Sex in China

Thu, 18 Sep 2014 03:22:57 -0400

Following are the words we've talked about in this episode.

好莱坞 hǎo lái wū: Hollywood
手提电脑 shǒu tí diàn nǎo: laptop
纯洁 chún jié: pure; chastity
下流 xià liú: indecency
富二代 fù èr dài: second generation rich
不检点 bù jiǎn diǎn: not be on one's good behavior
骇客 hài kè: hacker
黑客 hēi kè: hacker
不雅照 bù yǎ zhào: indelicate photo
开放 kāi fàng: open
坦荡 tǎn dàng: light heart
贞洁 zhēn jié: chastity
求种 qiú zhǒng: asking for a link or BT seed
虚伪 xū wěi: false; hypocritical
闷骚 mēn sāo: restrained
渣男 zhā nán: loser
同居 tóng jū: live together
自慰 zì wèi: masturbation
开房 kāi fáng: to rent a room in a hotel (esp. for a secret liaison)
性教育 xìng jiāo yù: sex education
发育 fā yù: growth
打胎 dǎ tā: abortion

Chinese Travel Habits

Thu, 11 Sep 2014 02:36:01 -0400

Key words used in the show:

月饼 yuè bǐng: moon cake

烧烤 shāo kǎo: barbecue

海鲜 hǎi xiān: seafood

跟团 gēn tuán: to follow a group

说走就走 shuō zǒu jiù zǒu: to leave and really mean it; to leave immediately

旅行 lǚ xíng: travel

自助 zì zhù: to help one's self

背包客 bēi bāo kè: backpacker

迁徙 qiān xǐ: to migrate

驴友 lǘ yǒu: a type of friends who often travel with you

爬山 pá shān: to climb moutain

手续 shǒu xù: procedure

台胞证 tái bāo zhèng: Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents

同胞 tóng bāo: compatriot

通行证 tōng xíng zhèng: passport

中华传统 zhōng huá chuán tǒng: Chinese tradition

Celebrities and Drugs

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 00:24:40 -0400

Following are the words we talked about in today's show.

明星 míng xīng：celebrity

涉毒 shè dú：be involved in drugs

打击 dǎ jī：strike

波 bō：wave

严禁 yán jìn: strictly prohibit

大麻 dà má: weed

阴性 yīn xìng: Yin, negative

阳性 yáng xìng: Yang, positive

养不教，父之过 yǎng bù jiāo, fù zhī guò: a child is better unborn than untaught

冰毒 bīng dú: crystal meth

鸦片 yā piàn: opium

零容忍 líng róng rěn: zero tolerance

看守所 kān shǒu suǒ: house of detention

Are Chinese Men Not Good Enough for Chinese Women?

Wed, 20 Aug 2014 06:07:39 -0400

Following are the words we've talked about in this show.

配得上 pèideshàng: be good enough for

优越感 yōuyuègǎn: superiority feeling

躺枪 tǎngqiāng: accusation on innocent person

小白脸 xiǎobáiliǎn: gigolo

潮流 cháoliú: fashion

包办婚姻 bāobànhūnyīn: arranged marriage

早恋 zǎoliàn: puppy love

猥琐 wěisuǒ: sleazy

剩女 shèngnǚ: left-over women

滞销 zhìxiāo: unmarketable

Chinese Tech Giants

Tue, 12 Aug 2014 23:11:52 -0400

Following are the key players in the Chinese tech scene:

百度 bǎi dù : www.baidu.com

腾讯 téng xùn : www.tencent.com

微信 wēi xìn : weixin.qq.com

微博 wēi bó : weibo.com

阿里巴巴 ā lǐ bā bā : www.alibaba.com

天猫 tiān māo : tmall.com

淘宝 táo bǎo : taobao.com

京东 jīng dōng : www.jd.com

A Politburo Titan's Downfall and Ghost Month

Tue, 05 Aug 2014 21:15:55 -0400

Words used in the show:
食品安全 shí pǐn ān quán: food saft
供货商 gonghuoshang supplier

飞机失事 fēi jī shī shì: plane crash
高雄 gāo xióng: [city name, located in southern Taiwan]
瓦斯爆炸 wǎ sī bào zhà: gas explosion
下台 xià tái: step down or downfall
政治局 zhèng zhì jú: Politburo
方便面 fāng biàn miàn: instant noodles
网警 wǎng jǐng: internet police
防火墙 fáng huǒ qiáng: firewall
被墙 bèi qiáng: censored
魄力 pò lì: courage, prowess
爆料 bào liào: to exporse or reveal
做秀 zuò xiù: publicity stunt
贪污 tān wū: corruption
中元节 zhōng yuán jié: Ghost Festival
鬼月 guǐ yuè: ghost month
拜 bài: to worship
纸钱 zhǐ qián: paper made to resemble money and burned as an offering to the dead
迷信 mí xìn: superstition
习俗 xí sú: custom; tradition

Internet Slang and Trendy Words

Sat, 26 Jul 2014 01:57:14 -0400

Here's a list of words and phrases used in the show:

爆红 bào hóng : super popular
人字拖 rén zì tuō : flip-flop
吃货 chī huò : foody
点评 diǎn píng : comments
长草 zhǎng cǎo : be interested in
迷妹 mí mèi : girl fan
男饭 nán fàn : boy fan
粉丝 fěn sī : fans
脑残粉 nǎo cán fěn : simple minded, obsessed
毁三观 huǐ sān guān : subvert three essential views
囧 jiǒng : speechless, embrrassed
表特 biǎo tè : beauty
女神 nǚ shén : goddess
男神 nán shén : good looking man
闺蜜 guī mì : best girl friend
娘 niáng : girly man
黑 hēi : denigration
女汉子 nǚ hàn zi : manly woman
萌妹子 méng mèi zi : cute girl
踹共 chuài gòng : come on and explain
节操 jié cāo ： moral integrity
么么哒 me me dā : kisses

Finding Work in China

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 12:39:19 -0400

Here's a list of words and phrases used in the show:
1) 混血 hùnxuě: mixed race
2) 乡下 xiāngxià: rural
3) 澎湖 pénghú: Penghu County, Taiwan
4) 二三线城市 èrsānxiànchéngshì: second and third tier cities
5) 少之又少 shǎozhīyòushǎo: less and less
6) IT男 ITnán: geek
7) 宅男 zháinán: homeboy (Otaku)
8) 自由职业 zìyóuzhíyè: freelance
9) 硬性 yìngxìng : compulsory
10) 本土 běntǔ: local
11) 入境随俗 rùjìngsuísú: When in Rome do as the Romans
12）加班文化 jiābānwénhuà: overtime culture
13）资格老 zīgélǎo: senior, more experienced
14）国有企业 guóyǒuqǐyè: state owned company
15）创造性工作 chuàngzàoxìnggōngzuò: creative work

China to Stop Teaching English in Schools?

Thu, 22 May 2014 20:51:13 -0400

Here's a list of words and phrases used in the show:
1) 高考 Gāokǎo: national college entrance exam
2) 英语 Yīngyǔ: English
3) 退出 Tuìchū: exit, quit
4) 四级 Sì jí: level 4 in China's College English Test
5) 六级 Liù jí: level 6 in China's College English Test
6) 毕业证书 Bìyè zhèngshū: university degree
7) 音标 Yīnbiāo: IPA (The Internatioanl Phonetic Alphabet)
8) 不公平 Bù gōngpíng: unfair
9) 听力 Tīnglì: listening
10) 语法 Yǔfǎ: grammar
11) 改革 Gǎigé: reform

Baijiu and Chinese Drinking Culture

Tue, 13 May 2014 02:55:47 -0400

Jenny and guests share their personal experience with drinking in China. Jenny also interviews Derek Sandhaus, author of Baijiu: The Essential Guide to Chinese Spirits.

Here's a list of words used in today's show:
1) 白酒 Báijiǔ: baijiu
2) 干杯 Gānbēi: cheers or empty the glass
3) 茅台 Máotái: a prestigious baijiu brand from Guizhou province
4) 五粮液 Wǔliángyè: a prestigious baijiu brand from Sichuan province
5）二锅头 Èrguōtóu: an affordable baijiu from Beijing
6) 剑南春 Jiànnánchūn: a prestigious baijiu from Sichuan province
7) 酱香 Jiàng xiāng: sauce fragrance
8) 浓香 Nóng xiāng: thick fragrance
9) 黄酒 Huángjiǔ: rice wine
10) 酒量 Jiǔliàng: alcohol tolerance
11) 官场 Guānchǎng: officialdom, goverment officals
12) 过敏 Guòmǐn: allergy

American TV Shows in China

Sun, 04 May 2014 03:28:10 -0400

Here is a list of words used in the show:

1) 美剧 Měijù: American TV shows
2) 下架 Xià jià: to go off shelf (to ban)
3) 视频网站 Shìpín wǎngzhàn: video sites
4) 审查 Shěnchá: censor
5) 保护 Bǎohù: protect
6) 国产剧 Guóchǎn jù: Chinese TV shows
7) 中央电视台 Zhōngyāng diànshìtái: CCTV
8) 配音 Pèiyīn: dubbing
9) 字幕 Zìmù: subtitles
10) 字幕组 Zìmù zǔ: crowd-sourced translators
11) 翻译 Fānyì: translation
12) 成长的烦恼 Chéngzhǎng de fánnǎo: Growing Pains (American TV show)
13) 神探亨特 Shéntàn hēng tè: Hunter (American TV show)
14) 你有权保持沉默 Nǐ yǒu quán bǎochí chénmò: You have the right to remain silent

Chinese Weddings

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 23:55:15 -0400

Here are some words and phrases used in the show:

结婚Jiéhūn: to get married
婚礼Hūnlǐ: wedding
城市Chéngshì: city
农村 Nóngcūn: countryside
新娘 Xīnniáng: groom
新郎 Xīnláng: bride
伴娘 Bànniáng: groom's men
伴郎 Bànláng: bridesmaid
热闹 Rènào: lively, jolly
桌 Zhuō: table
酒店 Jiǔdiàn: hotel
红包 Hóngbāo: red envelop with cash inside
人情 Rénqíng: human relations
人情消费 Rénqíng xiāofèi: cost of maintaining relations

It’s Complicated: A Love and Hate Relationship between Taiwan and China

Wed, 16 Apr 2014 21:04:50 -0400

Here\'s a list of words and phrases used in today's show:

台湾 Táiwān: Taiwan
大陆 Dàlù: Mainland China
反服贸抗议 Fǎn fúmào kàngyì: anti service and trade agreement protest
茶叶蛋 Cháyèdàn: tea egg
自由行 Zìyóuxíng: non-group tour
恩主 Ēnzhǔ: compassionate giver
看不起 Kànbùqǐ: look down on
人情味 Rénqíngwèi: friendly, warm hearted
素质 Sùzhì: quality of character
五月天 Wǔyuètiān: May Day (a Taiwanese band)

Are Chinese More Tolerant of Extra Marital Affairs and Mistresses?

Wed, 09 Apr 2014 23:08:20 -0400

Here is a list of words and phrases we used in the show:

文章 (Wénzhāng): Wen Zhang (a Chinese actor)
马伊琍 (Mǎyīlí): Ma Yili (a Chinese actress)
劈腿 (Pītuǐ): two timer or have an extra marital affair
小三 (Xiǎosān): mistress
且行且珍惜 (Qiěxíng qiě zhēnxī): to cherish
好男人 (Hǎo nánrén): a good man
姐弟恋 (Jie dì liàn): an older woman dating a younger man
微博 (Wēi bó): Weibo
睁一只眼闭一只眼 (Zhēng yī zhī yǎn bì yī zhī yǎn): to keep an eye open and the other closed, i.e. to tolerate some kind of behavior
道德 (Dàodé): moral
老公 (Lǎogōng): husband
老婆 (Lǎopó): wife
家庭 (Jiātíng): family

Understanding Gen X, Gen Y and the Millennials in China

Tue, 01 Apr 2014 22:22:00 -0400

Here's a list of words used in today's show:

70后 70 Hòu: people born in the 70's
80后 80 Hòu: people born in the 80's
90后 90 Hòu: people born in the 90's
文革 Wéngé: The Cultural Revolution
喊口号 Hǎn kǒuhào: shout slogans
信仰 Xìnyǎng: faith, belief
改革开放 Gǎigé kāifàng: Reform and Opening Up
粮票 Liáng piào: food tickets
铁饭碗 Tiě fànwǎn: iron bowl
珍惜 Zhēnxī: cherish
选择 Xuǎnzé: choice
工作狂 Gōngzuò kuáng: workaholic
加班 Jiābān: work overtime
上班 Shàngbān: work
存款 Cúnkuǎn: savings
负债 Fùzhài: debt
零花钱 Línghuā qián: pocket money

Chinese Internet Slangs and Their Social Impact

Tue, 25 Mar 2014 01:28:28 -0400

Here's a list of words mentioned in the show:

土豪 (Tǔháo): Beverley Hillbilly
吊丝 (Diào sī): average joe, loser
女神 (Nǚshén): goddess, a female sex symbol or a woman one admires
男神 (Nánshén): a male sex symbol or a man one admires
高大上 (Gāodàshàng): high class, extravagant
雾霾 (Wùmái): smog, pollution
成语 (Chéngyǔ): fixed says
人艰不拆 (Rénjiānbùchāi)
不明觉厉 (Bùmíngjuélì)
第一夫人 (Dìyī fūrén): first lady
彭丽媛 (Péng lìyuàn)
老子明天不上班 (Lǎozi míngtiān bùshàngbān): I'm not going to work tomorrow

KTV Time - The End of the Road

Tue, 25 Mar 2014 01:18:38 -0400

The End of the One Child Policy

Wed, 19 Mar 2014 00:34:35 -0400

Here is a list of Chinese words mentioned in the show:

计划生育(Jìhuà shēngyù): one child policy
独生子女 (Dúshēngzǐnǚ): only child
单独二胎 (Dāndúèrtāi): a new policy that allows couples to have a second child if one of them is an only child.
户口本 (Hùkǒuběn): household registration booklet
独生子女证 (Dúshēngzǐnǚzhèng): certificate of only child
准生证 (Zhǔnshēngzhèng): child birth permit
失联航班 (Shīlián hángbān): missing flight
马航 (Mǎháng): Malaysian Airlines
韩剧 (Hánjù): Korean TV drama
来自星星的你 (Láizì xīngxīng de nǐ): My Love from Star (name of a Korean TV show)
炸鸡啤酒 (Zhá jī píjiǔ): fried chicken and beer

Beijing Standard Time - Time to Get Married - Part 1

Mon, 10 Mar 2014 22:27:59 -0400

KTV Time - The Meaning of Your Travels

Tue, 04 Mar 2014 00:14:02 -0500

Beijing Standard Time - Chinese Opera

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 19:53:39 -0500

KTV Time - Fairy Tale

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 21:15:01 -0500

忘了有多久--(I’ve forgotten how long it’s been)
再没听到你--(Since I've heard your voice)
对我说你最爱的故事--(Telling me your favorite story)
我想了很久--(I’ve been thinking about it for a while)
我开始慌了--(I started to get scared)
是不是我又做错了什么--(Did I do something wrong again?)
你哭着对我说--(You were crying when you said to me)
童话里都是骗人的--(All those things in fairy tales aren’t true)
我不可能是你的王子--(I can never be your prince)
也许你不会懂--(Perhaps you don’t understand)
从你说爱我以后--(Ever since you said you loved me)
我的天空星星都亮了--(The stars in my sky all shined brightly)
我愿变成童话里--(I wanted it to become a fairy tale)
你爱的那个天使--(To become the angel that you loved)
张开双手变成翅膀守护你--(Spreading my arms wide, becoming wings to protect you)
你要相信--(You need to believe)
相信我们会像童话故事里--(Believe that we are like those people in a fairy tale)
幸福和快乐是结局--(Where everything ends in happiness and joy)
一起写我们的结局--(We’ll write our ending together)

Beijing Standard Time - Park Activities in China

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 00:38:46 -0500

Qing Wen - The Right Way to 教

Thu, 13 Feb 2014 22:21:22 -0500

多音字，就是有两个或者两个以上的读音--(A homograph is a character that has two or more pronunciations.)
你是不是觉得这些汉字非常讨厌--(Do you think that these Chinese characters are really annoying?)
把知识或者技能教给别人--(To teach knowledge or a skill to someone else.)
老师教我中文--(The teacher teaches me Chinese.)
爸爸教我游泳--(Dad teaches me to swim.)
妈妈教我吃饭--(Mom teaches me to eat.)
哥哥教我写字--(My older brother teaches me to write characters.)
教育--(education, to educate)
教训--(to teach a lesson)
很严厉，很厉害--(very stern, very forceful)
教室--(classroom)
教案--(lesson plan)
宗教--(religion)
教堂--(church, cathedral)
基督教--(Christianity)
佛教--(Buddhism)
你学中文的时候，你怎么学多音字--(When you study Chinese, how to do you study homographs?)