In this episode, we talk about the reaction to our “goodbye” joke and the unexpected wave of love that came from it. It was a warm reminder that even when content feels lonely to make, there are real people out there listening.

We also get into:

• why long-form content still matters to us
• how short-form is changing attention spans
• ideas for future Mandarin Monkey episodes
• board games, walking podcasts, and trying new formats
• being ranked as one of the world’s Mandarin learning podcasts
• the reality of balancing Mandarin Monkey with work, life, and everything else going on behind the scenes

This episode is a bit of a catch-up, a bit reflective, and very much us.

Thanks for sticking with us.

If you enjoy learning Mandarin through real conversations, hit subscribe and come along for the ride.

#MandarinMonkey #LearnMandarin #ChinesePodcast #MandarinPodcast #BilingualPodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you have any interesting stories or emails, email them in to:

chat@mandarinmonkey.com

and we will read them out.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

and somehow ended up booking reindeer rides, elf school, glass igloos, and possibly bankruptcy.

In this episode, we talk (and argue) through planning a family trip to Lapland, what we actually want to do vs what we can afford, and how quickly “just a few activities” turns into chaos.

Along the way, you’ll hear natural Mandarin and English conversation, real-life vocab, and how we actually think through decisions as a bilingual couple.

Also in this episode:

– Should podcasts feel like a conversation or a show?

– Why talking to the audience vs each other changes everything

– Christmas in Lapland… is anything even open?

– The reality of planning travel with kids

– Wholesome news (with Mandarin vocab you can actually use)

If you’re learning Mandarin, this is how it really sounds in real life. No scripts. No slow talk. Just conversation.

Key Mandarin you’ll hear:

– 募款活動 (fundraising activity)

– 太陽能板 (solar panels)

– 星星 / 天文學家 (stars / astronomers)

If you’ve ever been to Lapland, drop a comment.

Tell us what’s actually worth doing… and what’s a waste of money.

—

Listen, learn, and just enjoy the chaos.

New episodes every week.

Follow for more real Mandarin.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one’s a proper listener mailbag episode.

We read your emails and end up talking about all sorts: learning Mandarin on a tractor in rural Iowa, a workplace misunderstanding about saving face, the chaos of Taiwan Ghost Month, whether the third tone is designed to ruin lives, typing Chinese on a Mac, and one very wholesome story about using Mandarin to ask for a father’s blessing.

As usual, Tom speaks English, Ula speaks Mandarin, and somewhere in the middle we all try to make sense of life, language, and cultural confusion.

In this episode:

• real stories from Mandarin Monkey listeners around the world
• Taiwan Ghost Month taboos and superstitions
• saving face in Chinese and Taiwanese culture
• learning Mandarin through real conversation
• Mandarin tones, typing Chinese, and bilingual family life
• why this community is a lot bigger than either of us expected

If you're learning Mandarin Chinese, interested in Taiwanese culture, or just enjoy chaotic bilingual conversations, you’re in the right place.

Send us your stories, questions, wins, disasters, cultural confusion, and Mandarin struggles. We need more for future mailbags.

Write in and be part of the next episode.

#LearnMandarin #MandarinChinese #TaiwanCulture #ChineseListeningPractice #BilingualPodcast #MandarinMonkey #LearnChinese #GhostMonth #SavingFace #Taiwan

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We somehow ended up playing a “tiny acting” game we found online… which is great for YouTube and absolutely terrible for podcast listeners.

Expect awkward silence, ridiculous acting challenges, and one very questionable scenario involving a dog in a waiting room.

Along the way we also talk about:

• why words start to feel strange when you repeat them too much

• life stress after moving countries

• how comments about your voice can stick with you for years

• why sometimes the best thing you can do is just laugh and relax

If you enjoy learning Mandarin through real conversations, chaos, and the occasional terrible idea… welcome to Mandarin Monkey.

Listen to the full podcast and learn Chinese with us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Mandarin Monkey mailbag episode, we dive into real listener stories and questions about learning Chinese in the middle of normal life. From passive listening and bilingual parenting to sleep deprivation, kids climbing into bed sideways, and the never-ending mystery of 了, this one goes everywhere.

In this episode:

• learning Mandarin while doing the dishes
• why some people understand more while running than studying
• a 58-year-old dad starting Mandarin in retirement
• raising bilingual children outside Taiwan and China
• whether natural input is enough for kids

why 了 still confuses everyone

sleep, parenting, and recovering from Switzerland

If you're learning Mandarin and trying to make it fit around work, family, or everyday chaos, this episode is for you.

Tell us in the comments:

Where do you listen to Mandarin Monkey?

Doing the dishes? Driving? Walking? Hiding from your children for five minutes?

Mandarin Monkey is a bilingual Mandarin Chinese and English podcast designed to help you improve your listening through real conversation, humour, and everyday life.

#LearnMandarin #MandarinChinese #ChineseListeningPractice #BilingualPodcast #LanguageLearning #MandarinMonkey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk about:

• flying to Switzerland with camera gear

• our first taste of real Swiss chocolate

• accidentally spending £50 on chocolate

• riding electric scooters around Zurich

• trying kangaroo steak in an Australian restaurant

• discovering how expensive Switzerland really is

• meeting our Uber driver with a powerful story about Iran

• exploring Lake Zurich early in the morning

It was a very short trip, but Zurich turned out to be one of the most beautiful and peaceful cities we've visited.

This episode is also great for Mandarin learners, as Ula shares thoughts and stories in Mandarin while we talk about the experience in English.

If you've ever been to Switzerland, tell us your favourite place!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So here we are doing it again.

In this episode we talk about:

• Our first corporate filming job in London

• Why we're suddenly flying to Zurich next week

• The launch of our new gaming channel Monkey Plays

• Whether language exchange apps actually work

• Why Pleco is amazing (but not perfect)

• Why people in Taiwan don’t really say 你好吗

• And how to actually use podcasts to improve your Mandarin

Plus we answer your emails about:

• Using Mandarin podcasts for learning
• Cantonese vs Mandarin situations
• Language exchange apps like Tandem
• Study methods and common mistakes learners make

If you want to send us a question for a future mailbag episode, email us!

chat@mandarinmonkey.com

Monkey Plays

Our new gaming channel where you can learn Mandarin while watching games:

Raft

Overcooked 2

Peak

(and more coming)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxuNENWdUdcvRMuMiADUFmQ

Full playthroughs and interactive vocab games are available on Patreon.

patreon.com/monkeyplaysgames

Mandarin Monkey Links

Podcast: https://mandarinmonkey.com

Lessons: https://mandarinmonkey.com/lessons

Patreon: https://patreon.com/mandarinmonkey

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• A freelance translator loses a business contract because he didn’t understand 面子 (miànzi).

• Someone tries to compliment their manager… and accidentally calls him a bastard.

• Another listener’s Chinese name sounds dangerously close to “horse sh*t.”

We talk about cultural competence in business Mandarin, tone disasters, gaming as a language-learning method, and why choosing a Chinese name is more serious than you think.

If you’ve ever made a language mistake that keeps you awake at night, this one’s for you.

Don’t lose confidence. Just don’t translate “losing face” word for word.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this fun and chaotic bilingual episode, we chat about life getting back to normal after the holidays, the challenges of new projects, and a possible Mandarin retreat idea… before things take a very British turn 😅

We dive into one tiny English word — “piss” — and explore the MANY ways British people actually use it in real life. If you’ve ever been confused by British slang, this episode is for you.

This podcast is spoken in both Mandarin and English, making it perfect for learners who want natural, real-world listening practice.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Real couple conversation in Mandarin + English
• British slang explained in context
• Cultural differences in language use
• Relaxed, natural listening practice
• 
  

Whether you're a beginner or advanced learner, come hang out and improve your Mandarin the natural way.

📩 Got a story to share? Email us: chat@mandarinmonkey.com

🎓 Want to learn with us? Try a free trial lesson!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From feeling fluent for the first time, to reconnecting with family and heritage, to quitting a job and moving to Taiwan for love and language…

These are real stories from real learners navigating confidence, shame, identity, relationships, and bold life decisions — all through Mandarin.

Whether you’re:

• A beginner starting from scratch
• A heritage learner feeling pressure
• Dating someone Taiwanese
• Or dreaming of living in Taiwan

This episode is for you.

We speak naturally in both Mandarin and English throughout the episode, so learners of all levels can follow along and build real-world listening skills.

💛 Mandarin isn’t just grammar and vocab lists. It’s connection, risk, community, and growth.

加油 — we’re in this together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode:

• Who should give red envelopes (and when it stops)
• The weird firework pranks from childhood
• Why we chose not to vlog our kids
• And… our idea for a 48-hour Mandarin-only retreat

Could you survive two full days speaking only Chinese?

No English. No safety net. Just immersion.

Let us know if you’d actually come.

🎧 Listen on Spotify

📩 Join our community

🧧 Happy New Year

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

a learner understands his mother-in-law at the worst moment,

a tone mistake turns into a workplace disaster,

and a four-year-old becomes the teacher.

Plus: how to ask to camp in Taiwan without sounding like a tourist.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Mandarin Monkey, we talk about one of the biggest concerns parents have when raising bilingual children:

“My child understands Mandarin… but won’t speak it. Is that normal?”

We explore:

• What children usually understand first

• Why mixing languages is a sign of competence

• Whether silence means failure

• How long it realistically takes to become conversational

• Why input matters more than early output

Ula shares personal stories of growing up with Taiwanese and Mandarin, and we reflect on our own children’s bilingual journey.

If you’re raising a child in a mixed-language household, this conversation will reassure you.

Mandarin Monkey is a bilingual podcast where Mandarin and English are used naturally, just like in real families.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

list 100 very specific things to do before you die.

We didn’t get to 100.

We talked about sharks, Lapland, Route 66, Disney parks, cherry blossoms, tequila in Mexico, collecting memories, and why “someday” is a dangerous word.

Mandarin and English.

Travel, goals, family, and that quiet feeling of wanting more life in your life.

If this episode sparks an idea for you, tell us what you’d add to the list.

Mandarin Monkey is a bilingual podcast in Mandarin and English.

We speak naturally. No scripts. No lessons. Just real conversation.

Support the show or join the hangouts:

mandarinmonkey.com

patreon.com/mandarinmonkey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes it’s about confidence, fear, and not feeling “good enough”.

In episode 444 of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, we talk honestly about:

– Why language “levels” can actually hurt learners

– Speaking Mandarin without destroying your confidence

– Trial lessons that start way too basic

– Learning through conversation, not correction

– Why progress feels invisible even when it’s real

– Being scared to speak, even after years of learning

– How creativity, experience, and repetition change everything

This episode drifts between English and Mandarin, just like real life does.

Because that’s how language is actually learned.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, nervous, or frustrated with Mandarin…

this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen, relax, and remember: you’re not bad at languages.

You’re just still learning.

📩 Got a question for our Friday mailbag?

Email: chat@mandarinmonkey.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We answer listener questions about a deceptively common Mandarin mistake:

why you can’t use “ask” the way you do in English.

Ula explains why 問 is for asking questions, but doesn’t work when you’re asking someone to do you a favour, and why 請 is often the natural choice, even though it doesn’t translate cleanly into English.

We also respond to listener emails about:

• learning Mandarin without a clear end goal
• why grammar turns people off languages
• patience, time, and long-term progress
• how hangouts and lessons help people stick with it

Ula speaks Mandarin pretty much throughout.

Tom speaks English pretty much throughout.

🎧 Lessons, hangouts, and more:

mandarinmonkey.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about:

Extreme risk and a climber scaling Taipei 101

Whether dangerous stunts should be streamed live

Travel plans including Lapland, skiing holidays, the Maldives, and the US

Fear, animals, parenting, and how perspective changes over time

This is not a scripted lesson.

It’s how Mandarin is used naturally in real life.

If you’re learning Mandarin and want:

Real listening practice

Natural speed and phrasing

Mandarin used in context, not explained to death

This episode is for you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

but impossible the moment a real person speaks?

In this mailbag episode, we answer real listener questions about learning Mandarin in the real world.

Textbooks vs real speech. Tones. Confidence. Speaking to in-laws. And why your brain sometimes just shuts down.

We talk about:

• Why textbooks teach words nobody actually says
• Whether tones really matter (and why)
• Freezing when speaking to native speakers
• Speaking Mandarin with your partner’s parents
• Why some days you feel fluent and others you forget everything
• Mainland Chinese vs Taiwanese Mandarin

If you’ve ever thought, “Is it just me?”

…it isn’t.

00:00 Welcome & what this episode is

03:10 Why textbooks don’t sound like real people

11:45 Speaking Mandarin with your partner’s parents

23:40 “I understand podcasts but not real people”

33:10 Do tones really matter?

41:45 Why some days Mandarin feels impossible

52:30 Mainland Chinese vs Taiwanese Mandarin

59:10 Final thoughts & how to keep improving

01:02:30 How to support Mandarin Monkey

🎧 Support the podcast: https://patreon.com/mandarinmonkey

📚 Book lessons: https://mandarinmonkey.com

👥 Join Mandarin Monkey Hangouts on Patreon

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0:00 Welcome back and why we disappeared

0:40 Three weeks ill, lost voices, low energy

3:00 Christmas felt quiet this year

6:00 New Year’s Eve with kids and getting sick

10:30 Moving house, 2025 drama, hoping 2026 improves

17:00 Premium Bonds and the monthly million fantasy

20:30 2025 goals review, exercise, habits, tracking

26:00 Journaling, Finch app, wanting better insights

27:30 Disney plans and giving kids real memories

34:00 Hobbies, dates, books, piano, creative projects

40:00 2026 goals, family time, couple time

47:00 Where we might live next, avoiding tourist traps

50:30 Dog debate, Halloumi, dog sitting reality

54:30 Lessons, teachers, Patreon, wrap-up

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We answer listener questions about real Chinese greetings, why “Ni Hao Ma” sounds unnatural, fear of flying explained by a pilot, and how to type pinyin with tone marks properly.

We finish with a fun Christmas quiz full of strange traditions and surprising facts from around the world.

If you’re learning Mandarin and want natural Chinese, not textbook Chinese, this episode is for you.

Topics include

• What to say instead of “Ni Hao Ma”

• Casual vs polite Chinese greetings

• Flying anxiety and turbulence explained

• Typing pinyin with tones

• Christmas traditions and trivia

Merry Christmas and thank you for listening to Mandarin Monkey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 Intro, episode 438, Wednesday energy

01:35 What subject do we look like we teach?

07:10 Midweek fatigue and kid sleep chaos

09:20 Why “dictionary Chinese” sounds unnatural

11:40 New app recommendation, 橘子漢語 (J-U-Z-I)

15:20 Free vs paid features, why it beats Pleco for usage

18:00 Nativity play recap, Bethlehem Bake Off confusion

24:35 Game time, People Places Projects sound guesses

25:55 Sound: vacuum cleaner 吸塵器

33:10 Sound: “personal trainer”, Schwarzenegger link

38:20 Sound: parking sensor, reversing beep

41:55 Next week schedule, last broadcasts, Christmas plan

43:20 Visa update and Life in the UK test quiz

48:15 Judiciary question confusion

50:55 Habeas Corpus question, 75% pass mark talk

58:50 Wrap

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In this episode, we talk about how Chinese people show care without asking about feelings. Food, warmth, sleep, and daily life matter more than emotional check-ins. We also talk about sleep, anxiety, bilingual kids, accents, affection across cultures, and then completely lose control playing a sound guessing game.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today you get listener stories about:

• Stress gestures that looked like a love confession

• Soft Mandarin that sounded like poetry underwater

• Motivation, guilt, discipline and VR boxing

• Ten minutes of bus auntie story with zero context

• Scooter fails in Taiwan and panic Mandarin

• Sounding fluent while saying nonsense

• Noodle theft in a Bristol flat

• Turning passive vocab into active speech

We talk through:

• How to describe emotions without strange vibes

• Why quiet Mandarin feels impossible to decode

• When to push through and when to rest

• How confidence helps even if the vocab falls apart

Email your story for a future mailbag:

chat@mandarinmonkey.com

Lessons, community, and all the good stuff:

mandarinmonkey.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about UK food labels, sugar overload, and why buying cheese feels like a health exam. Then we drift into real life. Stress. Pressure. Planning the next five to ten years. And why that feels very different when you have kids, bills, and responsibilities.

Tom talks through moving to Taiwan with almost no plan. Ula talks about goals and why planning triggers old student stress. We look at how to balance enjoying the moment with taking care of future you.

If you want to practise listening to natural Mandarin and English in a real conversation, this episode is perfect.

You can book a free trial lesson at mandarinmonkey.com.

Send your emails for the Friday mailbag to chat@mandarinmonkey.com.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

0:33 Christmas, turkeys, and the turducken problem

2:20 Giblets, guts, and Taiwanese menus

3:40 UK Christmas decorations and candy canes

5:15 Sugar, food labels, and supermarket misery

7:30 Comparing food labels in Taiwan and the UK

8:20 Sleeping positions and being the big spoon

10:50 Christmas hats, hoodies, and decorating the house

11:24 The smoke machine debate

12:40 Christmas lights and buying more nonsense

13:48 Teaching our daughter Mandarin

14:50 Talking about old homes and old decisions

16:10 How planning shapes the next 10 years

18:00 What peace, fun, and goals mean

20:00 Moving to Taiwan with no plan

22:30 Making mistakes when you’re young

24:40 Why planning feels heavier as an adult

27:00 Arriving in Taiwan with total freedom

30:00 Mixing living in the moment with long-term goals

33:00 Having things to look forward to

35:00 December Hangouts and lesson schedule

36:00 How to book lessons and send mailbag emails

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We start with a chat about long-term goals. Safety, peace, fun, love and connection. Where we want the kids to be in ten years. Where we want to live. How to build something bigger than “exercise more”.

Then the mailbag.

A night-shift worker in Leeds knows the vocab but freezes when building sentences.

A Birmingham listener orders bubble tea in Taichung without the cashier switching to English.

A software engineer in Dublin wants real conversations, not grammar workshops.

A listener in Seattle can hear J, Q and X but cannot say them.

A teacher in Wellington reads well but loses everything without subtitles.

We talk about progress, language habits, relationships, pronunciation, listening skills and how to keep going even when it feels slow.

Send your stories or questions to chat@mandarinmonkey.com.

For lessons or hangouts, visit mandarinmonkey.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We also get into

• How bad nights ruin your brain

• Why our youngest saves all his wee for nighttime

• New directions in our work

• Whether to make a movie at home

• How animation voiceovers actually work

• Moving abroad and the career gap problem

• New plans for Mandarin Monkey

• Our goal to set up a separate studio and a new company

• What’s coming next for us

It’s real, chaotic, and very us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The results are a mess. “You squeezed it before I was ready,” becomes cheesecake. 羊羹 becomes “some kind of rat.” Twice becomes twat. And a totally normal Chinese sentence turns into Argentina.

If you enjoy Mandarin learning mixed with confusion, misread lips, and unearned confidence, this game delivers.

Send your sentences or game ideas to chat@mandarinmonkey.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Then listener stories:

• Daniel in Manchester used Mandarin to survive lockdown loneliness and asks how to practice speaking when nerves block every sentence.

• John in Southern California listened to the whole podcast three times and still wants more. Respect.

• Debbie in Lagos started Mandarin because C-drama subtitles missed the point and now fights double audio and dodgy subs.

• Olivia fell in from the short clips, forgets new words in days, and wants to keep going without burnout.

• Vivi did “immersion” in Kaohsiung, made international friends, defaulted to English, and now only understands Mandarin with heavy context.

We talk about:

• Why tutors hear every mistake already and still support learners

• How mirroring and shadowing native speakers trains tones and rhythm

• Why motivation fades and discipline keeps progress alive

• How to use scripts, news, and audio to train listening without subtitles

• Single-channel brains, overwhelm, and why context helps more than people admit

Bilingual as always. Ula speaks Mandarin, Tom speaks English, you follow along.

Send your story or question to:

chat@mandarinmonkey.com

or DM on Instagram / Facebook.

Your email might show up in the next mailbag.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spoiler: “Are you the king of Mandarin Monkey?” turned into “Are you licking a mandarin monkey?”We also talk about Tom’s 3D-printed bust mini-movie, the “shi” tongue twister that broke him, and why bringing back the silly side of Mandarin Monkey might be the best idea yet.

Send your stories for Friday Mailbag: chat@mandarinmonkey.com

Lessons and more at mandarinmonkey.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send your story: chat@mandarinmonkey.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ll learn: camping and travel vocab, opinion phrases, modal verbs for suggestions, health/food terms, and natural Taiwanese rhythm.

Resources

• Free transcripts/clips on our YouTube (search “Mandarin Monkey listening practice”)

• Book a lesson with a Taiwanese teacher (all levels)

• Mailbag: send a short story (Mandarin or English) to chat@mandarinmonkey.com

 for feedback

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send your story for a future episode: chat@mandarinmonkey.com

Book lessons / join the community: mandarinmonkey.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a story for Friday’s Listener Mailbag: chat@mandarinmonkey.com

Lessons, hangouts, intensives: mandarinmonkey.com

Topics: Mandarin listening practice, VR boxing, gua sha scraping, UK vs Taiwan culture, Halloween UK, trunk or treat, side hustles, bilingual conversation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One listener did — and his girlfriend woke up to him whispering “māma” all night.

In this episode, we read your wildest Mandarin stories:

🧠 Sleep-learning experiments gone wrong

🐟 The “train station” that turned into a pet shop

💔 The couple arguing about the third tone

🙊 Why Chinese speakers don’t say “bless you”

and much more from our Listener Mailbag.

This is real Mandarin listening practice — with jokes, accents, and stories from actual learners.

📬 Send us your story: chat@mandarinmonkey.com

🎧 Listen anywhere: mandarinmonkey.com/podcast

🗣️ Book lessons: mandarinmonkey.com/lessons

🎥 Shorts & clips: @MandarinMonkey

#LearnMandarin #MandarinPodcast #MandarinListening #ChineseTones #LanguageLearning #MandarinMonkey

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Tom celebrated his birthday and 10-year anniversary with Ula — a surprise visit from Auntie Kara, a Studio Ghibli stage show (“My Neighbour Totoro”), London’s best steak at Steak & Company, and an escape-room fail that turned into a win… with only 18 seconds left on the clock.

It’s a bilingual Chinese–English episode, so you’ll get real, natural Chinese with clear English context — perfect for learners who want genuine Mandarin conversation, not classroom scripts.

🎧 What’s inside:

• Life in the UK told in Mandarin + English
• Real couple conversation for natural listening practice
• Studio Ghibli, London travel, and the best wagyu steak we’ve ever had
• Why escape rooms are secretly relationship tests
• How to use fun topics like these to learn real-life Chinese

📍 Chapters:

0:00 – Hump Day & intro chaos

2:45 – Birthday surprise & planning

6:40 – London trip + Totoro show

12:30 – Japanese restaurant adventure

17:40 – Theatre review

22:00 – Covent Garden wander + 5G rant

25:10 – Best steak in London: Steak & Company

30:20 – Underground games & escape-room fail

39:00 – Alice in Puzzleland redemption

43:50 – Westfield, mystery board game & wrap-up

Want to learn Mandarin with us?

Book a free trial lesson: https://mandarinmonkey.com

Say hi: chat@mandarinmonkey.com

#ChinesePodcast #MandarinListening #LearnChinese #BilingualPodcast #LondonTravel #StudioGhibli #EscapeRoom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send your story: chat@mandarinmonkey.com

Lessons, hangouts, and intensives: mandarinmonkey.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Key Mandarin words from this episode:

野营 (yě yíng) – wild camping

帐篷 (zhàng péng) – tent

篝火 (gōu huǒ) – campfire

蚊子 (wén zi) – mosquito

獾 (huān) – badger

蛇 (shé) – snake

熊 (xióng) – bear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first Listener Mailbag, we tackle:

• Tone panic ordering 牛肉麵

• How to pronounce 出去 without tripping

• ü vs u, and why “iu” sounds like “yo”

• Zhuyin vs Pinyin — which works in Taiwan

• Why HSK tests don’t prepare you for street speed

• Training your ears to real Mandarin

• Karaoke learning, flashcard guilt, and more

Email your questions to chat@mandarinmonkey.com and we might answer them next time.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ll learn:

How to start learning Mandarin

Whether tones really matter

The fastest way to get conversational

Free and paid tools that work

How to stay motivated and avoid the plateau

Grab your free Mandarin lesson at MandarinMonkey.com and join a global community of learners.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We also go deeper on:

• Why we might flip our podcast intro to help beginners stay engaged

• Life priorities — health, family, work, rest — and how they keep changing

• When to push kids into learning skills (like piano, languages, or acting)

• Confidence, stage fright, and how to stay brave even when you’re scared

This episode mixes Mandarin and English, perfect if you’re learning Chinese and want natural conversation plus real-life topics that make you think.

Listen, learn, and share your thoughts with us at mandarinmonkey.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today you get 10 positive stories, quick takes, and daily Mandarin input.

What you hear

• How to use this podcast while commuting, working out, or doing chores

• UK vs Taiwan buses, commuting, and remote work social energy

• Good news stories with simple Chinese and English context

Good news highlights

• The Red Dress Project, 14 years, 51 countries, Guinness record embroidery

• A free compliment stand by a 9-year-old in Illinois

• A nurse revives a drunk raccoon that ate fermented fruit

• Saving Somerset’s eels with community action

• A casque-headed iguana’s rare virgin birth

• Australia’s new marine reserve to protect sea life

• Viral road-sign cleaning

• Saturn’s 128 newly confirmed moons, total now 206

Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Practice with our teachers or join Hangouts at mandarinmonkey.com.

Leave a review. It helps others find the show.

mandarin monkey, mandarin chinese podcast, learn mandarin, chinese listening practice, bilingual mandarin english, taiwan culture, uk vs taiwan buses, positive news stories, red dress project, compliment stand, raccoon cpr, eel conservation, iguana parthenogenesis, australia marine reserve, saturn 128 moons, easy chinese podcast, chinese for beginners, intermediate chinese listening, chinese vocabulary in context

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This is a bilingual Mandarin and English conversation. You’ll hear natural Mandarin phrases mixed with English, perfect for learners who want to practice listening, pick up everyday vocabulary, and get a feel for real spoken Chinese.

What we cover in this episode:

• Phones listening and targeted ads
• Our youngest starting school
• Global Peace Index 2025 and safe countries
• Iceland, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Taiwan
• Travel stories, turbulence, and long flights
• Our final shortlist of countries to live
• A closing poem in English and Mandarin

If you want to learn Mandarin in a fun, real way through English and Chinese conversation, this podcast is for you.

Try a free Mandarin lesson and more at: www.mandarinmonkey.com

Subscribe for more episodes and tell your friends if you enjoy the show.

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What you learn today

• Meeting neighbors in Chinese

• Cantonese vs Mandarin basics, Traditional vs Simplified

• Family, school, and community vocabulary

• Activities vocab: bikes, boats, bowling, mini golf, swimming

• Money talk: prices, renting, mortgages, daily costs

• Travel talk: Center Parcs pros, cons, and tips

Who this helps

• Upper-beginner to intermediate learners

• HSK 2–4

• Learners who want comprehensible input and real topics

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If you’re learning Mandarin, this podcast gives you real conversations in English and Chinese. You’ll hear everyday Mandarin in context, with natural back-and-forth between a native speaker and a learner.

In this episode:

• Teaching kids about Taiwan and Taiwanese culture
• How family life mixes with language learning
• Why daily life experiences are the best way to learn Mandarin
• Glamping stories, from sheep to wasps to a boiling hot tub

Mandarin Monkey is a bilingual podcast for Mandarin learners who want practice, culture, and fun without textbooks.

Listen in, laugh with us, and pick up useful Mandarin along the way.

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In this episode, we talk about:

• Surviving storms, wind, and wasps
• Setting up camp like amateurs
• Watching a movie in our tent with a projector
• Exploring Banbury and Woodstock
• Learning Mandarin through real, honest conversation

Ula speaks Mandarin. Tom speaks English. You get natural Mandarin input with built-in context. No textbook. No boring repetition. Just real talk, in two languages.

Perfect for learners who want to:

• Train their ears with native Mandarin
• Use context clues instead of translations
• Hear real-life conversations, not scripted phrases

Want more? Join lessons, hangouts, or get bonus content:

👉 https://www.mandarinmonkey.com

💬 Email: chat@mandarinmonkey.com

🎧 Join us on Patreon: 

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We cover how we keep (some of) our Mandarin skills alive, why casual conversations aren’t enough, and how learning a language with your partner can be… character-building. There’s also some talk about camping, future dreams, and why structured study is like flossing—everyone says they do it, but come on.

www.mandarinmonkey.com

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Join us as we explore how appreciating "little wins" can significantly boost happiness and why balancing work, family, and play is essential for a fulfilling life. Plus, we'd love to hear from you, share Tom's top 10 favorite films in the comments, and you might get a shoutout in our next episode!

Get involved: Drop your favorite films below—we'll spotlight your picks in the upcoming episode!

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0:00 Intro & Banter  

1:00 Planning Holidays with Kids  

3:30 Jet Lag Struggles  

4:30 Family Holidays in Taiwan  

6:00 Taiwan’s Children’s Day  

9:00 Mixing Fun & Peace in Holidays  

12:00 The Joy of Having Nowhere to Be  

15:00 Feeling Safe Abroad  

18:30 What Makes Travel Peaceful?  

23:00 How to Recreate That Feeling  

26:30 10 Years of Chaos & Reflection  

29:00 Planning Without Overplanning  

32:00 Japan Adventures & Spontaneity  

35:00 Time Pressure & Wanting More  

36:00 Tandems & European Dreams  

37:30 Travel Safety & Tourist Bubbles  

39:30 Safari Dreams & Travel Timing  

40:30 Christmas in Taiwan?  

44:00 Back to Taiwan: Where & Why  

47:00 Cities vs Countryside  

49:00 Mountains & Memories  

52:00 Revisiting Old Places  

53:30 Wrapping Up

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0:00 – Introduction and Setting the Scene

5:45 – Reflections on Personal Growth and Change

12:51 – Navigating Cringe and Embracing Creativity

17:37 – The Role of AI in Content Creation and Daily Life

24:51 – Niche Challenges in Language Learning

26:18 – Innovative Event Ideas for Language Learners

33:58 – Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Creativity

42:05 – Travel Aspirations and Future Plans

48:00 – Wrap-Up and Key Takeaways

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They explore how wealth without purpose feels hollow, why goals matter even if they shift, and the underrated power of boredom when your brain needs a break. Tom and Ula share travel dreams, the lessons they learned from their parents, and how to find those rare moments of peace in a noisy world.

This episode mixes humour, cultural reflections, real-life stories, and a few honest admissions that might hit home. It’s raw, relatable, and full of practical wisdom for anyone trying to do life without losing their mind.

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Then we zoom out. We dive into the brutal reality of the job market, how AI is flipping industries on their heads, and what that means for all of us. We explore the future of learning, creativity, entertainment, and why, surprisingly, libraries still matter.

This one’s a mix of heartfelt and hard-hitting. Expect real talk, a few laughs, and a look at how the world’s changing fast and how we’re trying to keep up.

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Whether it's talking to kids about historical figures, planning travel adventures, or discussing the purpose behind the show, this episode blends practical insight with humour and heart.

 Key Takeaways

• The show blends listicle-style episodes with free-flowing conversations.
• Personal stories (yes, even snail rescues) make it feel real.
• Talking history with kids is challenging—but worth it.
• Subtitles are helpful but polarising—feedback is split.
• The podcast’s mission has shifted from teaching to connecting.
• Salt flat survival tip: know your landmarks.
• Altitude sickness is real—plan ahead when traveling.
• Cozy fantasy offers a gentle, feel-good reading experience.
• Curiosity is good—but cultural awareness is better.
• Asking where someone’s from can be a genuine way to connect—if done right.
• Kobo is a solid platform for Chinese-language reads.

www.mandarinmonkey.com - Mandarin Chinese Lessons

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Key Takeaways

• Making a podcast is harder than it looks (trust us, we’ve done a few).
• Being bilingual gives you a serious edge in today’s job market.
• Not every role needs perfect fluency—context matters.
• AI’s creeping into interviews and learning tools—be ready.
• Parents are stuck between wanting peace and fearing screens.
• Screen time? Not evil. But moderation is everything.
• Your nan’s tech habits probably aren’t the same as your kid’s.
• We’ve gone from VHS to infinite scroll—media has changed.
• We want your feedback—it actually helps.
• Fresh air still matters. Get outside now and then.

Chapters

0:00 – Intro & New Year Hellos

06:13 – Bilingualism & Better Jobs

11:59 – AI’s New Role in Language Learning

21:01 – Kids, Screens & The Digital Dilemma

26:59 – Tech vs. Trees: Finding Balance

32:54 – How Generations Use Tech Differently

38:57 – From Telly to TikTok: Media Evolution

44:48 – Listener Feedback & What’s Next

chat@mandarinmonkey.com

www.mandarinmonkey.com

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Through light-hearted yet insightful discussion, they explore how these bans reflect deeper cultural values, political symbolism, religious influences, and social expectations. You'll also pick up real Mandarin vocabulary along the way, making this a perfect listen for language learners who want more than just textbook phrases.

Whether you’re curious about travel customs, cultural sensitivity, or how to say "reincarnate legally" in Mandarin, this episode has you covered.

00:00 – Introduction to the Mandarin Monkey Podcast

08:11 – Banned Items Around the World

20:16 – Cultural Insights and Language Learning

26:02 – Philosophical Musings on Reincarnation

32:06 – Laws and Social Norms Across Countries

39:10 – Cultural Dress Codes and Public Decency

45:58 – Religious Influences on Legislation

51:01 – Public Displays of Affection and Their Restrictions

1. 禁止嚼口香糖 | jìn zhǐ jiáo kǒu xiāng táng | Chewing gum is banned (Singapore)
2. 禁止用“IKEA”當名字 | jìn zhǐ yòng “IKEA” dāng míng zì | Naming your child “IKEA” is banned (Sweden)
3. 在高速公路上沒油是違法的 | zài gāo sù gōng lù shàng méi yóu shì wéi fǎ de | Running out of fuel is illegal (Germany)
4. 古蹟禁止穿高跟鞋 | gǔ jì jìn zhǐ chuān gāo gēn xié | No high heels at historical sites (Greece)
5. 轉世需要政府批准 | zhuǎn shì xū yào zhèng fǔ pī zhǔn | Reincarnating without government approval is illegal (Tibet)
6. 禁止小熊維尼 | jìn zhǐ xiǎo xióng wéi ní | Winnie the Pooh is banned (China)
7. 踩錢是違法的 | cǎi qián shì wéi fǎ de | Stepping on money is illegal (Thailand)
8. 公共場合禁止罵髒話 | gōng gòng chǎng hé jìn zhǐ mà zāng huà | Public swearing is banned (Australia)
9. 禁止與佛像自拍 | jìn zhǐ yǔ fó xiàng zì pāi | No selfies with Buddha (Sri Lanka)
10. 有些地方禁止死亡 | yǒu xiē dì fāng jìn zhǐ sǐ wáng | Dying is illegal in some towns (Japan, Norway)
11. 禁止在海灘上穿太暴露的衣服 | jìn zhǐ zài hǎi tān shàng chuān tài bào lù de yī fú | Revealing swimwear is banned on some beaches (Spain)
12. 禁止在車內吃東西 | jìn zhǐ zài chē nèi chī dōng xi | Eating inside cars is banned in some areas (USA – certain cities)
13. 禁止上廁所時沖馬桶（晚上） | jìn zhǐ shàng cè suǒ shí chōng mǎ tǒng (wǎn shàng) | Flushing the toilet at night is illegal in some flats (Switzerland)
14. 禁止穿迷你裙 | jìn zhǐ chuān mí nǐ qún | Wearing miniskirts is banned in some countries (Uganda)
15. 禁止養豬（宗教原因） | jìn zhǐ yǎng zhū (zōng jiào yuán yīn) | Keeping pigs is banned for religious reasons (Middle East)
16. 禁止開黃色雨傘 | jìn zhǐ kāi huáng sè yǔ sǎn | Yellow umbrellas are banned in political protests (Hong Kong)
17. 禁止在公共場所親吻 | jìn zhǐ zài gōng gòng chǎng suǒ qīn wěn | Public kissing is banned (UAE, Saudi Arabia)
18. 禁止左撇子寫字（歷史） | jìn zhǐ zuǒ piě zi xiě zì | Left-handed writing was historically banned in schools (global historical context)
19. 禁止喝酒（某些國家） | jìn zhǐ hē jiǔ (mǒu xiē guó jiā) | Alcohol is banned in some countries (e.g. Kuwait, Iran)
20. 禁止假笑（電影宣傳） | jìn zhǐ jiǎ xiào (diàn yǐng xuān chuán) | Forced or fake smiling banned in public ads (North Korea)

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Join us as we break down the Mandarin for each strange spot, practice pronunciation, and share stories that will make you think twice about your next holiday destination.

1. 娃娃島 | wá wá dǎo | Doll Island (Mexico)
2. 倒立屋 | dào lì wū | Upside-down House (Poland, Taiwan, Germany)
3. 口香糖巷 | kǒu xiāng táng xiàng | Bubblegum Alley (USA)
4. 貓島 | māo dǎo | Cat Island (Japan)
5. 老鼠廟 | lǎo shǔ miào | Rat Temple (India)
6. 螢火蟲洞 | yíng huǒ chóng dòng | Glowworm Caves (New Zealand)
7. 巨人之路 | jù rén zhī lù | Giant's Causeway (Northern Ireland)
8. 彎曲森林 | wān qū sēn lín | Crooked Forest (Poland)
9. 鹽飯店 | yán fàn diàn | Salt Hotel (Bolivia)
10. 沙漠之手 | shā mò zhī shǒu | Hand of the Desert (Chile)
11. 地下墳場 | dì xià fén chǎng | Catacombs (Paris, France)
12. 人骨教堂 | rén gǔ jiào táng | Bone Church (Czech Republic)
13. 便便博物館 | biàn biàn bó wù guǎn | Poop Museum (Japan)
14. 鞋屋 | xié wū | Shoe House (USA)
15. 鬼屋村 | guǐ wū cūn | Ghost Village (Japan)
16. 鏡子迷宮 | jìng zi mí gōng | Mirror Maze (Various locations)
17. 雷克雅未克飛機殘骸 | léi kè yǎ wèi kè fēi jī cán huài | Reykjavik Plane Wreck (Iceland)
18. 水下郵局 | shuǐ xià yóu jú | Underwater Post Office (Vanuatu)
19. 冰屋旅館 | bīng wū lǚ guǎn | Ice Hotel (Sweden)
20. 橡皮鴨樂園 | xiàng pí yā lè yuán | Rubber Duck Park (Hong Kong)

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今天在 Mandarin Monkey，我们深入探讨了科茨沃尔德（Cotswolds）的美丽风光，并分享了我们在两个迷人地点露营的经历。但事情发生了意想不到的转折，当我们遇到了一位看似不那么友善的陌生人... 想知道发生了什么吗?

Sorry no word list today as we just had a casual chat!

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Perfect for learners who want to laugh, expand their vocab, and celebrate a massive milestone with us.

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Perfect for Mandarin learners who want to expand their vocab and their sense of what counts as a job.

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Mandarin Vocabulary List (Traditional + Pinyin + English)

1. 一次穿最多件T恤 | yī cì chuān zuì duō jiàn T xù | Most T-shirts worn at once
2. 最長指甲 | zuì cháng zhǐ jiǎ | Longest fingernails
3. 最快吃完生洋蔥 | zuì kuài chī wán shēng yáng cōng | Fastest time to eat a raw onion
4. 一分鐘內用頭撞碎最多馬桶蓋 | yī fēn zhōng nèi yòng tóu zhuàng suì zuì duō mǎ tǒng gài | Most toilet seats broken with head in 1 minute
5. 最大橡皮筋球 | zuì dà xiàng pí jīn qiú | Largest rubber band ball
6. 最遠丟洗衣機距離 | zuì yuǎn diū xǐ yī jī jù lí | Furthest washing machine throw
7. 身上平衡最多湯匙 | shēn shàng píng héng zuì duō tāng chí | Most spoons balanced on a human body
8. 吊在電鑽上一分鐘內轉最多圈 | diào zài diàn zuàn shàng yī fēn zhōng nèi zhuǎn zuì duō quān | Most spins on a power drill in 1 minute
9. 全身接觸冰塊最久時間 | quán shēn jiē chù bīng kuài zuì jiǔ shí jiān | Longest full-body contact with ice
10. 最多人扮成藍色小精靈的聚會 | zuì duō rén bàn chéng lán sè xiǎo jīng líng de jù huì | Largest gathering of people dressed as Smurfs
11. 用鼻子打出字母最快時間 | yòng bí zi dǎ chū zì mǔ zuì kuài shí jiān | Fastest time to type the alphabet with your nose
12. 臉上放最多蝸牛（五分鐘） | liǎn shàng fàng zuì duō guā niú (wǔ fēn zhōng) | Most snails on a face (in 5 minutes)
13. 穿高跟鞋跑100公尺最快時間 | chuān gāo gēn xié pǎo yì bǎi gōng chǐ zuì kuài shí jiān | Fastest 100m run in high heels
14. 單腳轉呼拉圈最多次 | dān jiǎo zhuǎn hū lā quān zuì duō cì | Most hula hoop spins on one leg
15. 一生中吃最多巨無霸 | yī shēng zhōng chī zuì duō jù wú bà | Most Big Macs eaten in a lifetime
16. 全身著火被馬拉最遠距離 | quán shēn zháo huǒ bèi mǎ lā zuì yuǎn jù lí | Longest distance pulled by a horse while on fire
17. 蒙眼穿十件T恤最快時間 | méng yǎn chuān shí jiàn T xù zuì kuài shí jiān | Fastest time to put on 10 T-shirts blindfolded
18. 三十秒內被濕海綿打最多次 | sān shí miǎo nèi bèi shī hǎi mián dǎ zuì duō cì | Most wet sponge hits in 30 seconds
19. 頭頂牛奶瓶走最遠距離 | tóu dǐng niú nǎi píng zǒu zuì yuǎn jù lí | Longest distance walked balancing a milk bottle on head
20. 同時刷牙人數最多 | tóng shí shuā yá rén shù zuì duō | Most people brushing their teeth simultaneously

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Whether you're here for the vocab or just want to hear us try to explain what a "nose stylus" is in Mandarin… this one’s for you.

1. 嬰兒拖把衣 | yīng ér tuō bǎ yī | Baby mop clothes
2. 印臉吐司機 | yìn liǎn tǔ sī jī | Face-printing toaster
3. 擁抱枕頭 | yǒng bào zhěn tóu | Hugging pillow
4. 香蕉切片器 | xiāng jiāo qiē piàn qì | Banana slicer
5. 防色狼腿毛褲襪 | fáng sè láng tuǐ máo kù wà | Anti-pervert hairy tights
6. 寵物管家機器人 | chǒng wù guǎn jiā jī qì rén | Pet butler robot
7. 鞋子雨傘 | xié zi yǔ sǎn | Shoe umbrella
8. USB領帶風扇 | USB lǐng dài fēng shàn | USB tie fan
9. 鼻子觸控筆 | bí zi chù kòng bǐ | Nose stylus
10. 無聲卡拉OK麥克風 | wú shēng kǎ lā OK mài kè fēng | Silent karaoke mic
11. 減肥水 | jiǎn féi shuǐ | Diet water
12. 馬桶高爾夫球組 | mǎ tǒng gāo ěr fū qiú zǔ | Toilet golf set
13. 瘦臉面罩 | shòu liǎn miàn zhào | Face slimming mask
14. 髮夾風扇 | fà jiā fēng shàn | Hair clip fan
15. 貓語翻譯項圈 | māo yǔ fān yì xiàng quān | Cat translation collar
16. 奶油棒 | nǎi yóu bàng | Butter stick
17. 筷子風扇 | kuài zi fēng shàn | Chopstick fan
18. 遙控拖鞋拖把 | yáo kòng tuō xié tuō bǎ | Remote mop slippers
19. 鼻塞濾網 | bí sāi lǜ wǎng | Nose plug filters
20. 午睡枕頭 | wǔ shuì zhěn tóu | Nap desk pillow

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鴨仔蛋 | yā zǐ dàn | Duck embryo egg

2. Surströmming – Fermented herring (Sweden)

瑞典酸鯡魚 | ruì diǎn suān fèi yú | Swedish sour herring

3. Casu Marzu – Maggot cheese (Italy)

活蛆乳酪 | huó qū rǔ lào | Live maggot cheese

4. Fried Tarantula (Cambodia)

炸狼蛛 | zhà láng zhū | Fried tarantula

5. Hákarl – Fermented shark (Iceland)

發酵鯊魚肉 | fā xiào shā yú ròu | Fermented shark meat

6. Sannakji – Live baby octopus (Korea)

活章魚 | huó zhāng yú | Live octopus

7. Escamoles – Ant larvae (Mexico)

蟻卵 | yǐ luǎn | Ant eggs / larvae

8. Century Egg – Preserved black egg (China)

皮蛋 | pí dàn | Century egg

9. Blood Pancake (Finland)

血煎餅 | xuè jiān bǐng | Blood pancake

10. Witchetty Grub (Australia – Aboriginal delicacy)

大白蟲 | dà bái chóng | Big white grub

11. Tuna Eyeball (Japan)

鮪魚眼球 | wěi yú yǎn qiú | Tuna eyeball

12. Snake Wine (Vietnam/China)

蛇酒 | shé jiǔ | Snake wine

13. Guinea Pig (Cuy) (Peru/Ecuador)

天竺鼠肉 | tiān zhú shǔ ròu | Guinea pig meat

14. Mopane Worms (Southern Africa)

莫潘蟲 | mò pān chóng | Mopane worms

15. Frog Smoothie (Peru)

青蛙果汁 | qīng wā guǒ zhī | Frog juice

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Would you obey these laws or break them just for fun? Tune in to find out!

General Law-Related Words

• 法律 (fǎlǜ) – Law
• 法规 (fǎguī) – Regulation
• 非法 (fēifǎ) – Illegal
• 违法 (wéifǎ) – Against the law
• 规定 (guīdìng) – Rule/regulation
• 政府 (zhèngfǔ) – Government
• 批准 (pīzhǔn) – Approval

Weird Law Examples & Vocabulary

Illegal to handle salmon suspiciously (UK 🇬🇧)

• 鲑鱼 (guīyú) – Salmon
• 可疑 (kěyí) – Suspicious
• 处理 (chǔlǐ) – To handle

No flying kites in public places (UK 🇬🇧)

• 风筝 (fēngzhēng) – Kite
• 公共场所 (gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ) – Public place

Illegal to be drunk in a pub (UK 🇬🇧)

• 酒吧 (jiǔbā) – Pub/bar
• 喝醉 (hē zuì) – To be drunk

No ice cream in your back pocket (US 🇺🇸, Alabama)

• 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín) – Ice cream
• 口袋 (kǒudài) – Pocket

Illegal to wake a sleeping bear for a photo (US 🇺🇸, Alaska)

• 熊 (xióng) – Bear
• 拍照 (pāizhào) – Take a photo

No donkeys sleeping in bathtubs (US 🇺🇸, Arizona)

• 驴 (lǘ) – Donkey
• 浴缸 (yùgāng) – Bathtub

Men must wear Speedos in public pools (France 🇫🇷)

• 泳池 (yóuyǒngchí) – Swimming pool
• 紧身泳裤 (jǐnshēn yǒngkù) – Speedos

No chewing gum in Singapore (🇸🇬)

• 口香糖 (kǒuxiāngtáng) – Chewing gum

You must walk your dog daily (Germany 🇩🇪)

• 遛狗 (liù gǒu) – Walk the dog
• 宠物 (chǒngwù) – Pet

Illegal to name your pig ‘Napoleon’ (France 🇫🇷)

• 猪 (zhū) – Pig
• 名字 (míngzì) – Name

No flushing toilets after 10 PM (Switzerland 🇨🇭)

• 厕所 (cèsuǒ) – Toilet
• 晚上 (wǎnshàng) – Nighttime

In China, you cannot reincarnate without government approval (China 🇨🇳)

• 转世 (zhuǎnshì) – Reincarnation
• 灵魂 (línghún) – Soul

Illegal to change a lightbulb without a license (Australia 🇦🇺)

• 灯泡 (dēngpào) – Lightbulb
• 执照 (zhízhào) – License

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1. Extreme Ironing (极限熨烫) – jí xiàn yùn tàng
2. Quidditch (魁地奇) – kuí dì qí
3. Cheese Rolling (奶酪滚动比赛) – nǎi lào gǔn dòng bǐ sài
4. Toy Voyaging (玩具旅行) – wán jù lǚ xíng
5. Competitive Duck Herding (竞技赶鸭子) – jìng jì gǎn yā zi
6. Trainspotting (火车观察) – huǒ chē guān chá
7. Mooing Competitions (学牛叫比赛) – xué niú jiào bǐ sài
8. Soapbox Racing (肥皂盒赛车) – féi zào hé sài chē
9. Bog Snorkeling (泥潭浮潜) – ní tán fú qián
10. Stone Skipping (打水漂比赛) – dǎ shuǐ piāo bǐ sài
11. Ferret Legging (裤子养雪貂比赛) – kù zi yǎng xuě diāo bǐ sài
12. Wife Carrying Race (扛妻比赛) – káng qī bǐ sài
13. Beetle Fighting (甲虫格斗) – jiǎ chóng gé dòu
14. Cardboard Tube Dueling (纸板管决斗) – zhǐ bǎn guǎn jué dòu
15. Underwater Hockey (水下曲棍球) – shuǐ xià qū gùn qiú
16. Competitive Air Guitar (空气吉他比赛) – kōng qì jí tā bǐ sài
17. Canine Freestyle (狗狗舞蹈比赛) – gǒu gǒu wǔ dǎo bǐ sài
18. Lawn Mower Racing (割草机比赛) – gē cǎo jī bǐ sài
19. Soap Carving (肥皂雕刻) – féi zào diāo kè
20. Pencil Sharpening as an Art (削铅笔艺术) – xuē qiān bǐ yì shù

Unusual Cultural Activities (特殊的文化活动 - tè shū de wén huà huó dòng)

1. La Tomatina (番茄大战) – fān qié dà zhàn
2. Baby Jumping Festival (跳婴节) – tiào yīng jié
3. Monkey Buffet Festival (猴子自助餐节) – hóu zi zì zhù cān jié
4. Goose Pulling (拔鹅比赛) – bá é bǐ sài
5. Polterabend (婚前碎瓷习俗) – hūn qián suì cí xí sú
6. Gurning Contests (扭脸比赛) – niǔ liǎn bǐ sài
7. Famadihana (换尸节) – huàn shī jié
8. Up-Helly-Aa (维京火节) – wéi jīng huǒ jié
9. Kanamara Matsuri (钢铁阴茎祭) – gāng tiě yīn jīng jì
10. Naki Sumo (婴儿哭泣相扑赛) – yīng ér kū qì xiàng pū sài
11. The Battle of the Oranges (橙子大战) – chéng zi dà zhàn
12. Tunarama Festival (金枪鱼投掷节) – jīn qiāng yú tóu zhì jié
13. Toe Wrestling (脚趾摔跤) – jiǎo zhǐ shuāi jiāo
14. Golden Retriever Festival (金毛犬节) – jīn máo quǎn jié
15. Krampusnacht (克朗普斯之夜) – kè lǎng pǔ sī zhī yè
16. Blackened Teeth (染黑牙齿, 日本旧习俗) – rǎn hēi yá chǐ, rì běn jiù xí sú
17. Frozen Dead Guy Days (冰冻死人节) – bīng dòng sǐ rén jié
18. Giant Omelette Festival (巨型煎蛋节) – jù xíng jiān dàn jié
19. Hadaka Matsuri (裸体祭, 日本裸祭) – luǒ tǐ jì, rì běn luǒ jì
20. Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling (库珀山奶酪滚动比赛) – kù pò shān nǎi lào gǔn dòng bǐ sài

Festival (节日) – jié rì

Competition (比赛) – bǐ sài

Traditional (传统的) – chuán tǒng de

Cultural Event (文化活动) – wén huà huó dòng

Unusual (特殊的) – tè shū de

Weird (奇怪的) – qí guài de

Challenge (挑战) – tiǎo zhàn

Sport (运动) – yùn dòng

Activity (活动) – huó dòng

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我们不是在教你如何管理时间，而是聊聊我们自己是怎么思考这些问题的。为什么有些任务看起来很急 (hěn jí)，但其实没什么意义？为什么真正重要的事情，往往被推到最后才做？我们的生活中有哪些任务是“假忙碌”？

我们讨论了工作、生活、甚至一些让人忍不住拖延的事。听完后，你有没有类似的感受？你的时间管理方式是怎样的？欢迎留言和我们一起讨论!

放松 (fàngsōng) – Relax

压力 (yālì) – Pressure

享受 (xiǎngshòu) – Enjoy

节奏 (jiézòu) – Rhythm/Pace

平衡 (pínghéng) – Balance

忙碌 (mánglù) – Busy

幸福 (xìngfú) – Happiness

瞬间 (shùnjiān) – Moment

简单 (jiǎndān) – Simple

呼吸 (hūxī) – Breathe

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From the emotional richness of "心酸 (xīn suān)"—that bittersweet feeling of nostalgia—to the English quirk of feeling "hangry" when hunger turns you into a monster, this episode uncovers the fascinating differences that shape how we express ourselves across cultures.

Plus, they challenge each other to guess the meaning behind some of the weirdest literal translations—like "wolf swallows, tiger gulps"—and invent some brand-new words for those everyday moments we all recognize but never knew how to name.

Tune in for laughs, language insights, and a new appreciation for the wonderfully weird world of words!

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Mandarin Lessons

www.mandarinmonkey.com

帶 (dài) vs. 戴 (dài)

• 帶 (dài): to bring/carry (請帶你的護照。Qǐng dài nǐ de hùzhào. – Please bring your passport.)
• 戴 (dài): to wear (accessories) (她戴了一條項鍊。Tā dài le yī tiáo xiàngliàn. – She wore a necklace.)

買 (mǎi) vs. 賣 (mài)

• 買 (mǎi): to buy (我買了一本書。Wǒ mǎi le yī běn shū. – I bought a book.)
• 賣 (mài): to sell (這家店賣衣服。Zhè jiā diàn mài yīfú. – This store sells clothes.)

見 (jiàn) vs. 見面 (jiànmiàn)

• 見 (jiàn): to see (我昨天見到了他。Wǒ zuótiān jiàn dào le tā. – I saw him yesterday.)
• 見面 (jiànmiàn): to meet (我們下週見面。Wǒmen xià zhōu jiànmiàn. – We will meet next week.)

聽 (tīng) vs. 停 (tíng)

• 聽 (tīng): to listen (請聽我說。Qǐng tīng wǒ shuō. – Please listen to me.)
• 停 (tíng): to stop (請停車。Qǐng tíngchē. – Please stop the car.)

還 (hái) vs. 還 (huán)

• 還 (hái): still/yet (我還沒吃飯。Wǒ hái méi chīfàn. – I haven’t eaten yet.)
• 還 (huán): to return something (請還我書。Qǐng huán wǒ shū. – Please return my book.)

做 (zuò) vs. 作 (zuò)

• 做 (zuò): to do/make (我要做飯。Wǒ yào zuò fàn. – I am going to cook.)
• 作 (zuò): to act as or create (這是他的作品。Zhè shì tā de zuòpǐn. – This is his work.)

借 (jiè) vs. 接 (jiē)

• 借 (jiè): to borrow/lend (我可以借你的筆嗎？Wǒ kěyǐ jiè nǐ de bǐ ma? – Can I borrow your pen?)
• 接 (jiē): to pick up (phone/person) or receive (我要去機場接他。Wǒ yào qù jīchǎng jiē tā. – I am going to the airport to pick him up.)

試 (shì) vs. 是 (shì)

• 試 (shì): to try (請試試這個。Qǐng shì shì zhège. – Please try this.)
• 是 (shì): to be (我是老師。Wǒ shì lǎoshī. – I am a teacher.)

借 (jiè) vs. 還 (huán)

• 借 (jiè): to borrow (他借了我的書。Tā jiè le wǒ de shū. – He borrowed my book.)
• 還 (huán): to return (請還我書。Qǐng huán wǒ shū. – Please return my book.)

光 (guāng) vs. 亮 (liàng)

• 光 (guāng): light (陽光很好。Yángguāng hěn hǎo. – The sunlight is nice.)
• 亮 (liàng): bright (這盞燈很亮。Zhè zhǎn dēng hěn liàng. – This lamp is very bright.)

換 (huàn) vs. 變 (biàn)

• 換 (huàn): to exchange/change (我要換錢。Wǒ yào huàn qián. – I need to exchange money.)
• 變 (biàn): to transform (他變了很多。Tā biàn le hěn duō. – He has changed a lot.)

想 (xiǎng) vs. 要 (yào)

• 想 (xiǎng): to think or miss someone (我想你。Wǒ xiǎng nǐ. – I miss you.)
• 要 (yào): to want or need (我要喝水。Wǒ yào hē shuǐ. – I want to drink water.)

近 (jìn) vs. 進 (jìn)

• 近 (jìn): near (我家很近。Wǒ jiā hěn jìn. – My home is close.)
• 進 (jìn): to enter (請進來。Qǐng jìnlái. – Please come in.)

難 (nán) vs. 男 (nán)

• 難 (nán): difficult (這題很難。Zhè tí hěn nán. – This question is very difficult.)
• 男 (nán): male (他是男生。Tā shì nánshēng. – He is a boy.)

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膩 (nì) – Greasy, overly rich (often used for food but also for excessive behavior).

黏 (nián) – Sticky, clinging (can refer to textures or overly attached people).

齁 (hōu) – Overly sweet or salty (common in Taiwanese Mandarin but sounds rough).

癢 (yǎng) – Itchy (some dislike the way it sounds when spoken).

喳喳叫 (zhā zhā jiào) – Chattering noisily (annoying both in sound and meaning).

Gross or Unpleasant Associations

痰 (tán) – Phlegm.

膿 (nóng) – Pus.

流湯 (liú tāng) – To ooze fluid (used for wounds or food, can sound disgusting).

爛 (làn) – Rotten, bad quality (commonly used to insult things or people).

發臭 (fā chòu) – To stink.

Overused or Annoying Phrases in Taiwanese Culture

馬上 (mǎ shàng) – "Right away" (often said but not always meant literally).

隨便啦 (suí biàn la) – "Whatever" (can sound dismissive or rude).

沒差啦 (méi chā la) – "Doesn’t matter" (casual, sometimes frustrating to hear).

你家在哪裡？(nǐ jiā zài nǎ lǐ?) – "Where’s your house?" (Common but feels nosy in Taiwan).

這樣可以嗎？(zhè yàng kě yǐ ma?) – "Is this okay?" (Overused in customer service settings).

Forced Taiwanese Internet Slang

母湯 (mǔ tāng) – Taiwanese Hokkien loanword meaning "don’t do that," some find it cringey.

87 (bā qī) – Internet slang for "idiot" (八七 sounds like 白癡 bái chī, meaning stupid).

安安 (ān ān) – Taiwanese internet greeting, can feel outdated.

尬聊 (gà liáo) – "Forced awkward chat" (often overused online).

好扯哦 (hǎo chě ò) – "So ridiculous!" (Overused in younger circles).

Taiwan-Specific Business or Social Annoyances

報稅 (bào shuì) – Tax filing (dreaded every year).

塞車 (sāi chē) – Traffic jam (a huge problem in Taiwan).

外送 (wài sòng) – Food delivery (used too often in daily conversation).

可以加LINE嗎？(kě yǐ jiā LINE ma?) – "Can we add each other on LINE?" (Some find it intrusive).

租屋 (zū wū) – Renting a house (frustrating for many due to high prices in Taiwan).

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Join us for a bilingual discussion that breaks down the issue from multiple angles—political, economic, and cultural. Is this really about security, or is something else at play? Tune in and find out!

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Tom and Ula discuss the peaceful gameplay of Stardew Valley and the concentration needed for Enshrouded while sharing their experiences as parents, including trying to get their youngest son to sleep better. They also dive into a thought-provoking conversation about raising children in a tech-based household. The episode wraps up with a sprinkle of Christmas cheer, all delivered in their unique mix of Mandarin and English—perfect for learners looking to improve their language skills naturally.

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Whether you're learning Mandarin, exploring Chinese culture, or just love our bilingual banter, this episode has something for everyone. Listen in for fun discussions, language tips, and cultural insights in both Mandarin and English.

Visit our website: www.mandarinmonkey.com for online lessons, exclusive content, and more!

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Whether you’re learning Mandarin or just love a good bilingual chat, this episode is packed with fun stories, useful vocab, and a reminder that even disasters can be funny (after the smoke clears). Perfect for Mandarin learners and fans of Chinglish life moments!

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www.mandarinmonkey.com <---- for Mandarin Lessons

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