Mandarin Monkey Podcast

Welcome back to Mandarin Monkey Podcast Episode 456. 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: 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast takes a strange turn. 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.

Can you really learn Mandarin while doing the dishes? What about while running, driving, or just surviving family life on broken sleep? 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: 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.

We just spent 36 hours in Zurich, Switzerland filming an event at the FIFA Museum… and somehow turned it into a mini travel adventure. 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.

We just recorded 40 minutes of podcast… and realised we never pressed record. 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: 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s mailbag episode is… painful. • 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.

Episode 450 is here! 🎉 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: 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.

This week on the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, we read three powerful emails from listeners whose Mandarin journeys couldn’t be more different — yet share the same courage. 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: 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.

Chinese New Year is here… but we’re not just talking about red envelopes and dumplings. In this episode: 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.

This week’s mailbag: 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.

What does real bilingual development actually look like? 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.

This episode started as a simple idea: 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.

Learning Mandarin isn’t just about vocabulary or grammar. 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.

This is a mailbag episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast. 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: 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.

This episode is a fully bilingual English–Mandarin conversation. Tom speaks in English. Ula responds entirely in Mandarin. 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.

Why does Mandarin feel easy when you’re listening… 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: 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back. We both got hit with a nasty illness for a few weeks and lost our voices, so this one is low-energy and coughy. We talk about why we disappeared, why this Christmas felt “off”, a New Year’s Eve living-room campout with the kids, and how fast sickness can wipe you out. Then we look back at some 2025 goals, set fresh 2026 goals, and Tom admits he’s convinced Premium Bonds will make him a millionaire every month. We also share why Disney matters to us, plus a quick reminder: if you’ve been listening for ages and thinking about lessons, now’s a good time to start. 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s our Christmas Special Mailbag. 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.

Ula explains why some dictionary and app translations feel unnatural, and shares a new Mandarin dictionary app recommendation. Then we mess around with a sound-guessing game, chat about school plays, and end with Tom quizzing Ula on the Life in the UK test. 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why doesn’t “How are you?” really exist in Chinese? 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.