In this episode, we talk about what it's like being LGBTQ in China. We are joined by Peng Hao, who shares his experience being a gay foreigner in China. We cover LGBTQ culture in China, LGBTQ media, language, literature, movies, and gay celebrities. We hear about his experience disclosing his sexuality and his views on the future of the gay community in China. 你最早是什么时候了解到中国同性恋的人群？ 李银河 为什么同性恋被称为“同志”，还有“同志”在中文里还有其他什么意思。 除了同志还有哪些别和LGBTQ有关的流行语呢？ · 拉拉 · 直男/直女 · 跨性别 · 性少数群体 · 酷儿 · 出柜 ·...

On this episode, we have special guest, Eveline Chao. Eveline will share stories from the past and the present about Chinese immigrants in America. We will also talk about the challenges and discrimination early Chinese immigrants faced and what the social landscape looks like for today’s Asian American community. Eveline Chao is a freelance journalist who often writes about China and Chinatowns across America. Her stories have appeared in the New York Times, BBC, Foreign Policy, and many...

A loanword is a word adopted from a foreign language. On this episode of MandarinPod, Kathya will not only be discussing why some loanwords aren't directly translated according to pronunciation into Chinese, but also the four main methods used in translating foreign words.

Chinese New Year is here! 新年快樂! On this episode, we talk about the traditions and customs surrounding Chinese New Year. We also discuss how ancient traditions have changed in recent years. Let's get started!

The Lunar New Year (中国新年) or the Spring Festival (春节) is coming up. 2021 is the year of the Ox, starting on February 12th. The Ox is both the second animal in the Chinese zodiac and a highly regarded animal in Chinese culture. It’s often associated with positive virtues, such as being hardworking, honest, and reliable. In this episode, you will hear some Chinese legends and customs of the Ox passed down for generations. We will also share words, phrases, and Chinese idioms that have ox (牛) in...

On this episode, we will be talking with special guest Kathya Avila. Kathya is from New York and is currently studying at Peking University in Beijing. Kathya talks about her experience with social and cultural assimilation as an American international student in China. She also shares some practical tips, such as how to open a bank account and how to rent an apartment in China. 

What do the phrases, “No can do”, “Chop, Chop!",  and “brainwashed!” have in common? They all originated from Chinese language. Chinese words have been influencing English and European languages for hundreds of years. On today’s episode of MandarinPod, we talk about a few english words with Chinese origins and how Chinese words migrated west. Stick around for new Chinese vocab, Chinese idioms, and lots of listening practice!

China was doing standardized tests long before the SAT’s. Like a thousand years. Today, we are talking about the world’s original test- the imperial examination. We will talk about how it worked, its origins, its role in Chinese society, and how long this system was used. We raise the truly important question- is it possible to cheat on the imperial exam?! We finish up with thoughts about the most modern version of the imperial exam in today's China.

November 3rd was Election Day in the United States. In the spirit of this historic week, we are going to be talking about presidential elections in China. In this episode, we ask and discuss… What is democratic centralism? What is the line of succession in China’s government? What are some state institutions in China? How is power distributed in the Chinese political system?

In this episode, we'll be talking about how Chinese people currently living in America are dealing with the wave of American hostility towards China. We will also be looking into how the recent social media bans, travel/work restrictions, and mass closures of Chinese restaurants have been affecting these Chinese people currently residing in the states.

In this episode, we'll be discussing Disney’s new Mulan movie. Today’s topics include the origins of Mulan’s story, where she came from, and the meaning of her name. We will also analyze the Mulan poem and examine whether or not the movie is a true reflection of it. We will go over some Chinese idioms you will see in the movie such as “four ounces can move a thousand pounds”, and “know your place”.

In this episode of MandarinPod, we invited Zhiren Xie to talk to us about public speaking in Chinese. Not only has Xie won several Chinese public speaking contests in Malaysia, but they have also taught Chinese public speaking for many years. We believe that both native Chinese speakers and Chinese learners can learn how to be confident, articulate, intelligent, and even likable by practicing public speaking skills in Chinese.

Many international students choose to study in the United States for college. However, very few Americans consider enrolling abroad for their University experience. Kathya is among the few. She’s currently attending Peking University as a Chinese major. As an American student who had no relatives or friends in China prior to her trip, what was her experience studying abroad in China?

New York City public schools are expected to reopen on Sep 21st. Many public school teachers are deeply concerned about the lack of supplies, poor ventilation, and spacing issues. In this episode, we invited two NYC public school teachers to talk about their feelings toward the reopening of school and remote learning.