The most convenient way to learn Chinese the way it is actually spoken and used. Start with our basic lessons, and in no time you’ll be listening to music, watching films and television and engaging in the actual language. With free daily podcasts, a vibrant community, online study tools and much more, PopupChinese is the most powerful and personal way to learn mandarin.
Advanced - The Death Star
Oct 28, 2010
Show notes
You may have noticed the lack of Chinese people on the Death Star. Or anywhere near the Death Star for that matter. While some film critics write this down to racism on the part of director George Lucas, we prefer to think of it as a compliment to the general sense of the Han people. After all, when the only alternative is launching a suicide mission against an armored battle station the size of a small moon, and said battle station is run by a megalomaniac half-robot with magic powers, it makes sense to get out while the going is good.Our lesson today is another Chinese listening test at the advanced level. As with our previous tests, we recommend listening to our dialogue a single time and then clicking through to our quiz page to see how much you actually understood. Our questions are tricky, but we've included a manually annotated Chinese transcript and vocabulary list as always for those seeking enlightenment. Good luck!
Elementary - You Never Told Me About Your Brother
Oct 25, 2010
Show notes
I know you've been busy studying Chinese. And perhaps we haven't always been the best of friends. But was there really a need to keep this secret? I mean... it isn't as if any of my previous invective was personal. Or maybe it was a bit personal, but I'm sure you didn't take it the wrong way. I was just going through a rough time and needed time to clear my head. But I'm feeling much better now.In most of our elementary lessons here at Popup Chinese, we focus on the relatively high-frequency vocabulary you'll need to reach communicative fluency. We define this as the point where you'll be able to talk about most ideas relatively generally. In this lesson our focus is more on emotional nuance. What's was that again, you say? Didn't quite catch that? That's exactly what we're talking about. Enjoy!
Absolute Beginners - Relationship with a Supermodel
Oct 20, 2010
Show notes
Henry couldn't pinpoint it at all. His girlfriend was the most amazing woman he had ever known. She was beautiful and sexy and stunningly smart - much smarter than him he realized subconsciously. Yet while his feelings were clearly reciprocated by the way she looked at him, there was also something about her gaze that stirred up a feeling of deep unease. But what could be the problem?Are you just starting to learn Chinese? In this lesson for absolute beginners to the Chinese language, join us as we share some tips for complimenting the guy or girl of your dreams. In addition to being useful for telling someone else how great you think they are, you can also use these tricks to tell them how great you are in return. Because if you're going to be dating a male or female supermodel, there's nothing wrong with a little self-promotion every now and then.
Intermediate - I Wasn't Kidding
Oct 17, 2010
Show notes
Please do not make any assumptions about my attire. I was not invited to China because of my sense of humor. Nor has my general gravitas in any way hindered my selection as model worker by the Furong district government. While it is true that I will tell the odd joke on occasion, such as that ringer about the penguin and the lame anthropod I recounted at the national textile exhibition last year, in general I am not considered a funny man. So it would be best if you take my remarks more seriously next time.
Intermediate - Good Cop, Good Cop
Oct 16, 2010
Show notes
The suspect smirked, John noted, and the old cop bit down hard to suppress the bile rising in his throat. Ever since the precinct had banned his more forceful interrogation techniques, it had been getting progressively harder for him to put scum like this behind bars. Bring them in for questioning and they'd just sit sullenly waiting for their lawyers to spring them out. On most days he kept his anger in check, but there was something about this guy's grin that pushed John to the edge.Think you're a tough guy? In this Intermediate Chinese podcast, join us as we cover all the Chinese vocabulary and mannerisms you'll need to viciously interrogate friends, partners and relatives. Career opportunities await in law enforcement, racketeering and the mob, so get listening and let us know if you have any questions or comments.
Elementary - The Wire
Oct 12, 2010
Show notes
In Baltimore, everything gets compromised over time. You can be the perfect cop or the perfect dealer, but you'll eventually get taken down. So to survive you have to watch your back. There are people who'll tell you that it's a hard world and you have to put friends and family above that, but the reality is that when the heat comes down, sometimes the only way to survive is making sure you're not the fall guy.In this Chinese lesson for Elementary students, we dole out some practical vocabulary you'll use regardless of how you feel about the law. You'll hear this when you call customer service. You'll hear it when you do your banking over the phone. You may even hear it from your closest friends and family.
Absolute Beginners - Inside the Actors' Studio
Oct 11, 2010
Show notes
To be fair, Zhang Yimou's script for the sequel to House of Flying Daggers was simple enough: following Xiao Mei's near fatal stabbing at the climax of the first film, the beautiful dancer is nursed back to health by a handsome Chinese doctor with whom she then falls in love. Their story of romance and traditional Chinese medicine is told in flashback form by their son, who calls home at the end of the film in a touching family reunion.That said, it went without saying that the entire emotional payoff of the film rested on the delivery of that final telephone call. And while most directors might have sloughed it off given the grueling production schedule, Zhang Yimou wasn't considered the best director in China for nothing! Which was why the fearsome perfectionist had forced his cast to practice their delivery over and over again until even he was satisfied it marked the perfect conclusion to an otherwise perfect film.
Advanced - The Age of Prosperity
Oct 08, 2010
Show notes
Science fiction is hardly a popular genre in China, so how bizarre it is to see the literary sensation of the year be a dystopian futurist novel. Wrapped in the angst of a detective noir and written with shades of Orwell's 1984, The Age of Prosperity chronicles the imagined future world of 2013: an age in which a proud and prosperous China has risen to glory after the economic collapse of the Western world.Although The Age of Prosperity is not legally available on the mainland, and the book is likely unpublishable here given its willingness to speak openly about politics, unofficial pirate editions of the novel are already in wide circulation. Everyone is talking about this book, and everyone we know who has read the book attests to it being a compelling and fairly quick read. But since the themes of the book play differently to a Chinese audience than an international one, in our advanced Chinese lesson for today we wanted to sit Echo and Brendan down for an in-depth discussion of whether this book lives up to its reputation.And now a word of warning. Our advanced lessons here on Popup Chinese are hard, and this podcast is no exception. This show features native-level Chinese and presumes you can follow along at speed. We aren't going to show you any mercy and slow things down, but to help put the discussion in context, we have added some of the key vocabulary used in this podcast to our vocabulary list for this lesson. If you're having trouble following along, you may wish to check that to see what you're missing. So enjoy the discussion. And if you've read the book please feel free to share your thoughts in the discussion section below too. We would love to hear from you.
Elementary - The Golden Child
Oct 06, 2010
Show notes
It truly is the golden child in China, and its success has sparked countless imitators in the fiercely-competitive beverage market. Perhaps to some people, there really is no difference between the two. "They're the same thing," you'll hear restaurant staff tell you when you order. But you know in your heart that isn't true. So join us for a Chinese lesson that delves into knock-off culture in China. We'll teach you how to insist on getting the real thing, or at least hold out for a while.
Absolute Beginners - Want money?
Oct 04, 2010
Show notes
Everyone may be hustling for a little extra cash these days, but our lesson today goes out especially to all you poor souls in Shanghai who have to run a gauntlet of professional beggars every time you step outside. Having lived it ourselves, we know this isn't a pleasant experience, and it's especially disheartening since it can desensitize you to helping people who are really down and out with nowhere to turn. With that in mind, and since this dialogue is also a bit mean-spirited, let's offset it with a practical tip on how to act charitably in China.There are a lot of stores that will give you small change, but very few places you can really spend it. So if you're in the mood to be charitable, why not take advantage of this. Keep your small change in a separate pocket from your wallet and use this as a reserve for casual giving. You'll be surprised at how much accumulates over time, and having a separate stash for those who really need help will put you in more of a mood to give when the circumstances call for it.
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