Little Mandarin: Learn Chinese through culture and real life

@themandarinedit
  • 4.5 (4)
  • LANGUAGE LEARNING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Little Mandarin — your weekly podcast for Chinese language, culture, and real life. New episodes every Tuesday. A space for curious learners, working professionals, and anyone who wants to learn, improve, or reconnect with Chinese. Expect useful everyday language, cultural insight, a bit of history, and a closer look at modern Chinese life. ▶ Lessons: preply search：xinyue z. https://preply.com/en/?pref=NjkzNjk1Mw==&id=1750365014.903645&ep= ▶ YouTube: The Mandarin Edit

  1. 4D AGO

    Bonus: Full Pinyin Pronunciation Practice🎧 (Initials, Finals, and Repeat with Me)

    🎓 Learn Mandarin with Me — 1-on-1 on Preply!💸 Get 30% OFF your first class🔗 ⁠https://preply.com/en/?pref=NjkzNjk1Mw==&id=1753189602.091521&ep=⁠📋 Check out my full profile:🔗 ⁠https://preply.com/en/tutor/2970664 This bonus gives you extra Pinyin pronunciation practice after Lesson 3. We’ll go through the full Pinyin chart together — finals, initials, and simple repeat-with-me practice — to help you hear the sounds more clearly and build a stronger pronunciation foundation. Pinyin Chart Initials (23):b, p, m, fd, t, n, lg, k, hj, q, xzh, ch, sh, rz, c, sy, w Finals (24):a, o, e, i, u, üai, ei, ui, ao, ou, iuie, üe, er, an, en, inun, ün, ang, eng, ing, ong Start with the finals, then move on to the initials, and finally put them together with me in a guided pronunciation practice.

    22 min

  2. 4D AGO

    S2E3 Why One Sound Can Mean Four Different Things🎵 (An Easy Introduction to Pinyin and Tones) —Essential Mandarin Lesson 3

    🎓 Learn Mandarin with Me — 1-on-1 on Preply!💸 Get 30% OFF your first class🔗 ⁠https://preply.com/en/?pref=NjkzNjk1Mw==&id=1753189602.091521&ep=⁠📋 Check out my full profile:🔗 ⁠https://preply.com/en/tutor/2970664 This episode is part of the Essential Mandarin series on Little Mandarin Season 2, designed to take you from complete beginner to real-life everyday Mandarin. In Lesson 3, we’re starting with one of the most important foundations in Mandarin: Pinyin and tones. Why can one sound mean four different things in Mandarin? In this episode, we explore how tones work, why they are part of the word itself, and how Pinyin helps you read and pronounce Mandarin more clearly. You’ll also hear a seasonal warming-up around Lìxià, the traditional Start of Summer in China, and learn why Chinese ways of marking the seasons can feel a little different from what many English speakers expect. By the end of this episode, you’ll better understand what Pinyin is, why tones matter so much, and how to start hearing Mandarin more accurately from the very beginning. 🎧 Bonus: stay to the end for extra Pinyin pronunciation practice.

    20 min

  3. APR 28

    S2E2 Your Name, Your Country, Your Story Starts Here🌍 (How to Introduce Yourself in Mandarin) —Essential Mandarin Lesson 2

    🎓 Learn Mandarin with Me — 1-on-1 on Preply!💸 Get 30% OFF your first class🔗 ⁠https://preply.com/en/?pref=NjkzNjk1Mw==&id=1753189602.091521&ep=⁠📋 Check out my full profile:🔗 ⁠https://preply.com/en/tutor/2970664 This episode is part of the Essential Mandarin series on Little Mandarin Season 2, designed to take you from complete beginner to real-life everyday Mandarin. In Lesson 2, we’re learning how to introduce yourself in Mandarin: how to say your name, where you’re from, and how to begin telling your story. You’ll learn 我叫…, 我是…, and 我是…人, and we’ll also look at a small but important cultural detail — why Chinese names usually put the family name first. By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to give a simple self-introduction in Mandarin with more confidence.

    19 min

  4. APR 21

    S2E1 The First Thing You Say in Mandarin👋🏻 (It’s Not Always 你好) —Essential Mandarin Lesson 1

    🎓 Learn Mandarin with Me — 1-on-1 on Preply!💸 Get 30% OFF your first class🔗 ⁠https://preply.com/en/?pref=NjkzNjk1Mw==&id=1753189602.091521&ep=⁠📋 Check out my full profile: or search name Xinyue.Z🔗 ⁠https://preply.com/en/tutor/2970664 This episode is part of the Essential Mandarin series on Little Mandarin Season 2, designed to take you from complete beginner to real-life everyday Mandarin. In Lesson 1, we’re starting with a simple but important question: is the first thing you say in Mandarin always 你好? Not exactly. In this episode, you’ll learn 你好, 您好, 你吃了吗, 去哪儿啊, and 最近怎么样, and discover why greetings in Mandarin are often more situational, relational, and culturally rich than many beginners expect.

    16 min

  5. APR 14

    Season2 is BACK💛 Essential Mandarin Course: Start Speaking Like a Real Person

    Season 2 is here — and we're starting fresh. This season, Little Mandarin becomes a structured Mandarin course, designed to take you from complete beginner to HSK 2 / A2 level — one small step at a time. Every Tuesday, we'll focus on one simple, useful thing you can actually use in real life. Not textbook Chinese. Real Chinese — the kind that helps you talk about your life, your personality, and the things that matter to you. By the end of this season, you'll be able to introduce yourself, talk about your routine, share what you think and feel — and start to sound like a real person in Mandarin. 🎓 Learn Mandarin with Me — 1-on-1 on Preply!💸 Get 30% OFF your first class🔗 https://preply.com/en/?pref=NjkzNjk1Mw==&id=1753189602.091521&ep=📋 Check out my full profile: 🔗 https://preply.com/en/tutor/2970664 Let's learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙

    5 min

  6. SEASON 2 TRAILER

    S02 Trailer — Essential Mandarin Course: Start Speaking Like a Real Person🇨🇳☕️

    Season 2 is here — and we're starting fresh. This season, Little Mandarin becomes a structured Mandarin course, designed to take you from complete beginner to HSK 2 / A2 level — one small step at a time. Every Tuesday, we'll focus on one simple, useful thing you can actually use in real life. Not textbook Chinese. Real Chinese — the kind that helps you talk about your life, your personality, and the things that matter to you. By the end of this season, you'll be able to introduce yourself, talk about your routine, share what you think and feel — and start to sound like a real person in Mandarin. 🎓 Learn Mandarin with Me — 1-on-1 on Preply!💸 Get 30% OFF your first class🔗 https://preply.com/en/?pref=NjkzNjk1Mw==&id=1753189602.091521&ep=📋 Check out my full profile: 🔗 https://preply.com/en/tutor/2970664 Let's learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙

    5 min

  7. 12/18/2025

    Holiday Gift Ideas 🎁 — What to Give (and Say) in Mandarin! S01E59【ENG】节日礼物

    🍷 Learn Mandarin with Me — 1-on-1 on Preply! 💸 Get 30% OFF your first class  🔗https://preply.com/en/?pref=NjkzNjk1Mw==&id=1753189602.091521&ep=check out my full profile:🔗 https://preply.com/en/tutor/2970664 Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙 🎁 Still looking for the perfect holiday gift? In this episode, we’ll explore how to talk about presents in Mandarin — what to give, how to say it politely, and what not to give! Learn practical phrases for giving and receiving gifts, and sound like a native this festive season. 🎀 还在想送什么礼物吗？这一集我们来学学中文里的“送礼”表达：送什么合适、怎么说更自然，还有哪些礼物是禁忌！让你的节日祝福更有心、更地道。 🧩 Grammar of the Day 送 (sòng) — to give (as a gift) Structure:👉 Subject + 送 + Object + 给 + Person Examples: 我送一本书给你。Wǒ sòng yì běn shū gěi nǐ.→ I give a book to you.他送礼物给老师。Tā sòng lǐwù gěi lǎoshī.→ He gives a gift to the teacher.妈妈送我一件红色的外套。Māma sòng wǒ yí jiàn hóngsè de wàitào.→ My mom gave me a red coat. 🎁 Key Vocabulary 礼物 (lǐwù) — gift / present我准备了一份礼物。(I prepared a gift.)包装 (bāozhuāng) — to wrap请帮我包装一下。(Please wrap it for me.)收到 (shōudào) — to receive我收到了你的礼物。(I received your gift.)红包 (hóngbāo) — red envelope / money gift奶奶给了我一个红包。(Grandma gave me a red envelope.)惊喜 (jīngxǐ) — surprise太惊喜了！(What a surprise!)有心 (yǒu xīn) — thoughtful你太有心了！(That’s so thoughtful of you!)节日 (jiérì) — holiday / festival节日快乐！(Happy holidays!)合适 (héshì) — suitable这份礼物很合适。(This gift is perfect.)感谢 (gǎnxiè) — to thank / gratitude非常感谢你的礼物。(Thank you so much for your gift.)禁忌 (jìnjì) — taboo / something to avoid送钟在中国是禁忌。(Giving clocks is taboo in China.) 💬 Daily Dialogues 🎀 Situation 1: Giving a Gift to a Friend 👩 A: 这是给你的礼物，节日快乐！Zhè shì gěi nǐ de lǐwù, jiérì kuàilè!This is for you — happy holidays! 👩 B: 哇，谢谢你！太有心了！Wa, xièxiè nǐ! Tài yǒu xīn le!Wow, thank you! That’s so thoughtful of you! 👩 A: 希望你喜欢。Xīwàng nǐ xǐhuān.Hope you like it. 👩 B: 我很喜欢，谢谢！Wǒ hěn xǐhuān, xièxiè!I really like it, thank you! 🍵 Situation 2: Choosing a Gift for Family 👩 A: 你准备给爸爸妈妈买什么？Nǐ zhǔnbèi gěi bàba māma mǎi shénme?What are you planning to buy for your parents? 👩 B: 我打算送茶叶和红酒。Wǒ dǎsuàn sòng cháyè hé hóngjiǔ.I’m planning to give tea and red wine. 👩 A: 很不错，很有心。Hěn búcuò, hěn yǒu xīn.Nice choice, very thoughtful. 💄 Situation 3: Receiving a Gift 👩 A: 生日快乐！这是给你的礼物。Shēngrì kuàilè! Zhè shì gěi nǐ de lǐwù.Happy birthday! Here’s your present. 👩 B: 太惊喜了，谢谢你！Tài jīngxǐ le, xièxiè nǐ!What a surprise! Thank you! 👩 A: 打开看看吧～Dǎkāi kànkan ba~Open it and see! 👩 B: 哇，好漂亮！我太喜欢了！Wa, hǎo piàoliang! Wǒ tài xǐhuān le!Wow, it’s so beautiful! I love it!

    18 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    Let’s Go Holiday Shopping!🛍️ Learn Mandarin for Festive Deals! S01E59【ENG】节日购物

    🍷 Learn Mandarin with Me — 1-on-1 on Preply! 💸 Get 30% OFF your first class  🔗https://preply.com/en/?pref=NjkzNjk1Mw==&id=1753189602.091521&ep=check out my full profile:🔗 https://preply.com/en/tutor/2970664 Let’s learn with good vibes and great Mandarin! ✨🥂💙 🛍️ It’s holiday shopping season! In this episode, we’ll explore how Chinese people shop before big festivals, learn useful phrases like “I want this” and “How much is it?”, and practice real-life shopping dialogues. Perfect for preparing your Mandarin before the Christmas and New Year sales! 🛒 节日快到了！这一集我们来学学中文里的购物表达，像是“我想要这个”、“多少钱”，还有节日购物的小对话。一起感受中国人过年前购物的热闹气氛吧！ 🧩 Grammar of the Day 想要 (xiǎng yào) — to want / would like Structure:👉 Subject + 想要 + Object Examples: 我想要这件毛衣。Wǒ xiǎng yào zhè jiàn máoyī.→ I want this sweater.你想要什么颜色？Nǐ xiǎng yào shénme yánsè?→ What color do you want?我不想要太贵的。Wǒ bù xiǎng yào tài guì de.→ I don’t want the expensive one. 🛍️ Key Vocabulary 打折 (dǎzhé) — on sale / discount今天打八折。(20% off today.)买单 (mǎidān) — pay the bill我们去买单吧。(Let’s pay the bill.)便宜 (piányi) — cheap太便宜了！(So cheap!)贵 (guì) — expensive太贵了，我不买。(Too expensive, I won’t buy it.)试一试 (shì yí shì) — try on我可以试一试吗？(Can I try it on?)红色 (hóngsè) — red我想要红色的衣服。(I want the red one.)购物 (gòuwù) — shopping我最喜欢节日购物！(I love holiday shopping!)购物车 (gòuwù chē) — shopping cart我先加到购物车。(I’ll add it to my cart first.)包邮 (bāo yóu) — free shipping这个包邮吗？(Is this free shipping?)礼物 (lǐwù) — gift我在找礼物。(I’m looking for a gift.) 退货 (tuìhuò) — return goods可以退货吗？(Can I return it?) 收银台 (shōuyíntái) — cashier收银台在那边。(The cashier is over there.) 💬 Daily Dialogues 🧥 Situation 1: At a Clothing Store 👩‍🦰 A: 你好，我想要看这件毛衣。Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng yào kàn zhè jiàn máoyī.Hi, I’d like to look at this sweater. 👩‍💼 B: 好的，这是新款，现在在打折。Hǎo de, zhè shì xīnkuǎn, xiànzài zài dǎzhé.Sure, it’s a new arrival and on sale now. 👩‍🦰 A: 我可以试一试吗？Wǒ kěyǐ shì yí shì ma?Can I try it on? 👩‍💼 B: 当然可以！试衣间在那边。Dāngrán kěyǐ! Shì yī jiān zài nàbiān.Of course! The fitting room is over there. 👩‍🦰 A: 这件太贵了，有没有便宜一点的？Zhè jiàn tài guì le, yǒu méiyǒu piányi yīdiǎn de?This one’s too expensive — do you have a cheaper one? 👩‍💼 B: 有的，这件在打七折。Yǒu de, zhè jiàn zài dǎ qīzhé.Yes, this one is 30% off. 💻 Situation 2: Online Shopping 👩 A: 这个外套看起来不错，我加到购物车。Zhège wàitào kàn qǐlái bùcuò, wǒ jiā dào gòuwù chē.This coat looks nice, I’ll add it to my cart. 👩 B: 它包邮吗？Tā bāo yóu ma?Is it free shipping? 👩 A: 包邮！而且今天打八折。Bāo yóu! Érqiě jīntiān dǎ bāzhé.Yes, free shipping! And it’s 20% off today. 👩 B: 太好了！要是大小不合适，可以退货吗？Tài hǎo le! Yàoshi dàxiǎo bù héshì, kěyǐ tuìhuò ma?Great! If the size doesn’t fit, can I return it? 👩 A: 可以的，七天内免费退货。Kěyǐ de, qītiān nèi miǎnfèi tuìhuò.Yes, free return within seven days. 🎁 Situation 3: Buying a Gift at the Mall 👩 A: 你好，我在找礼物，送给朋友的。Nǐ hǎo, wǒ zài zhǎo lǐwù, sòng gěi péngyou de.Hi, I’m looking for a gift for my friend. 👩 B: 男生还是女生？Nánshēng háishì nǚshēng?For a boy or a girl? 👩 A: 女生，她喜欢可爱的东西。Nǚshēng, tā xǐhuān kě’ài de dōngxī.A girl — she likes cute things. 👩 B: 这款香薰蜡烛很受欢迎。Zhè kuǎn xiāngxūn làzhú hěn shòu huānyíng.This scented candle is very popular. 👩 A: 太好了，请帮我包装一下。Tài hǎo le, qǐng bāng wǒ bāozhuāng yíxià.Perfect, please wrap it for me. 👩 B: 没问题，收银台在那边。Méi wèntí, shōuyíntái zài nàbiān.No problem — the cashier is over there.

    20 min
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About

Welcome to Little Mandarin — your weekly podcast for Chinese language, culture, and real life. New episodes every Tuesday. A space for curious learners, working professionals, and anyone who wants to learn, improve, or reconnect with Chinese. Expect useful everyday language, cultural insight, a bit of history, and a closer look at modern Chinese life. ▶ Lessons: preply search：xinyue z. https://preply.com/en/?pref=NjkzNjk1Mw==&id=1750365014.903645&ep= ▶ YouTube: The Mandarin Edit

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