ChinesePod - Beginner

Elementary | Directions for the Taxi Driver

Why bother to even ask for directions at all, when you can just hop in a cab, call your Chinese friend, and have her tell the driver where you want to go? In this lesson,

Elementary | Getting to the Office

You'd normally just check online for the fastest route via public transportation to get to your destination, but you're out of data on your smartphone and can't find wire

Elementary | Afternoon Meeting

Afternoon meetings are a fact of life in many offices, but in many companies they're on a dangerous collision course with the Chinese "afternoon nap" custom. In this less

Elementary | Boxing Day

No, Boxing Day has nothing to do with the big fight on Pay-Per-View. It's that semi-mystical holiday celebrated by the loyal subjects of the queen. Apparently it's all ab

Elementary | Getting an Official Receipt

If you intend to claim something as an expense in China, you need an "official receipt" (AKA "fapiao"). So don't just fight over the bill -- make sure you get this govern

Elementary | Choosing a Room

You've had a long day and finally arrive at your hotel, ready for some much needed R&R. But alas, the room you desire isn't available! What is to be done? Today's unlucky

Elementary | The Better Man

If you're going to treat men like objects, it's important to be able to compare them like objects. In this Chinese lesson, a group of ladies in the office compare two of

Elementary | Hospitality Series 7: Hotel Room Cleaning

So you slept in until noon, and NOW it's convenient for you to have housekeeping clean your room? That's fine... you're the guest after all. Find out what both the reques

Elementary | Hospitality Series 6：Buying a Handbag

We revisit Ms. Wu's saga in New York in today's elementary lesson as we follow on a handbag shopping excursion. Will she be able to find one that suits her? Learn how to

Elementary | Hospitality Series 4: Chinese Breakfast

We're back with another useful lesson for the hotel-staffing Chinese learner. Hotel guests highly value their breakfast. Today's lesson will teach you how to direct guest

Elementary | Hospitality Series 3: Slippers, Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Everyone forgets the essentials sometimes when they travel. What's a poor traveler to do without their toothbrush? Listen in as a forgetful hotel guest asks hotel staff f

Elementary | Hospitality Series 2: China Union Pay

Our hospitality saga continues with an encounter between a young woman and a hotel clerk. Learn how to talk about room reservations and China Union Pay bank cards in toda

Elementary | Hospitality Series 1: Welcome to the Hilton!

Imagine that you work at the Hilton in New York City, and you're tasked with welcoming Chinese guests in Mandarin. You better know exactly what to say, and this Chinese l

Elementary | Dental Floss

In recent years, China's stunning economic progress has propelled it into the ranks of "nations that pretend to use dental floss to appease their dentists." Many Chinese

Elementary | Scheduling a Time

That Manager Li is a busy, powerful woman. You can't expect to just pull her aside next to the water cooler; you're going to need to schedule your precious face time with

Newbie | Learn Mandarin From Commercials: 士力架 (Snickers)

Learn Mandarin From Commercials Series helps you experience the culture from Chinese entertainment through commercials where you can learn everyday Chinese phrases and vo

Newbie | Learn Mandarin From Commercials: 滴滴 DiDi Phone Number Security

Learn Mandarin From Movies Series aims to increase awareness of fun Chinese movies that can help you improve your Mandarin Chinese level. Episode link: https://www.chines

Newbie | Learn Mandarin From Commercials: Volkswagen

Learn Mandarin From Commercials Series helps you experience the culture from Chinese entertainment through commercials where you can learn everyday Chinese phrases and vo

Newbie | Learn Mandarin From Commercials: 滴滴 (Di Di)

Learn Mandarin From Commercials Series helps you experience the culture from Chinese entertainment through commercials where you can learn everyday Chinese phrases and vo

Elementary | Character Amnesia

Learning how to hand-write characters can be a daunting task for those of us just starting to learn Chinese; how often have you forgotten how to write a character? The an