Mandarin Monkey Podcast

Hump day chat with bilingual Mandarin + English listening practice baked in. We tackle a parenting standoff over toys at school, how “Thrill of the Fight” in VR turned into a 12-round sweat fest, whether gua sha helps or just hurts, Halloween safety (and trunk-or-treat), British politeness vs Taiwanese directness, and a surprisingly decent side hustle: cleaning garages for cash.Send us a story for Friday’s Listener Mailbag: chat@mandarinmonkey.comLessons, hangouts, intensives: mandarinmonkey.comTopics: 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.

Ever tried to learn Mandarin while you sleep?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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one’s part London adventure, part Mandarin listening practice.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 + EnglishReal couple conversation for natural listening practiceStudio Ghibli, London travel, and the best wagyu steak we’ve ever hadWhy escape rooms are secretly relationship testsHow 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-upWant to learn Mandarin with us?Book a free trial lesson: https://mandarinmonkey.comSay hi: chat@mandarinmonkey.com#ChinesePodcast #MandarinListening #LearnChinese #BilingualPodcast #LondonTravel #StudioGhibli #EscapeRoom Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listener Mailbag is back. This week your stories cover first Mandarin wins, night market fails, and everything in between. We read your emails about dreaming in tones, KTV redemption songs, taxi mistakes, and the joy of ordering food without pointing. You’ll hear how small slips turn into lasting lessons, why confidence matters more than beer bravery, and how to keep learning when tests and tones trip you up.Send your story: chat@mandarinmonkey.comLessons, hangouts, and intensives: mandarinmonkey.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn Mandarin through real conversations. Episode 422 covers wild camping, from rain and wind in the UK to snakes and bears in Taiwan. Pick up camping words in Chinese, hear how to talk about fishing and food, and enjoy bilingual chat in English and Mandarin.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.

Your emails, your questions, your Mandarin struggles. 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 moreEmail your questions to chat@mandarinmonkey.com and we might answer them next time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Mandarin really that hard to learn? How long does it take? Should you learn simplified or traditional characters? In this episode, we answer the most-searched questions about learning Mandarin and share real tips from our own experience.You’ll learn:How to start learning MandarinWhether tones really matterThe fastest way to get conversationalFree and paid tools that workHow to stay motivated and avoid the plateauGrab your free Mandarin lesson at MandarinMonkey.com and join a global community of learners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most Chinese learners start with “nǐ hǎo” — but no one actually says that. We break down how native speakers really greet each other, and why using the right phrases makes you sound less like a tourist.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 scaredThis 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.

Learn Mandarin while you live your life. Bilingual Mandarin-English. Easy listening. Real topics.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 contextGood 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 206Subscribe 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, we chat in Mandarin and English about the safest countries to move to in 2025. Iceland, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, which one would you choose?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 adsOur youngest starting schoolGlobal Peace Index 2025 and safe countriesIceland, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, TaiwanTravel stories, turbulence, and long flightsOur final shortlist of countries to liveA closing poem in English and MandarinIf 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.comSubscribe for more episodes and tell your friends if you enjoy the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.