Mandarin Monkey Podcast

Wrong day, wrong week, right podcast. Today’s mailbag episode starts with that weird moment when your brain swears Friday arrived, but the calendar says otherwise, then drifts into lottery fantasies, nannies who only speak Mandarin, and baldness fear. Standard Mandarin Monkey energy.Then listener stories:• Daniel in Manchester used Mandarin to survive lockdown loneliness and asks how to practice speaking when nerves block every sentence.• John in Southern California listened to the whole podcast three times and still wants more. Respect.• Debbie in Lagos started Mandarin because C-drama subtitles missed the point and now fights double audio and dodgy subs.• Olivia fell in from the short clips, forgets new words in days, and wants to keep going without burnout.• Vivi did “immersion” in Kaohsiung, made international friends, defaulted to English, and now only understands Mandarin with heavy context.We talk about:• Why tutors hear every mistake already and still support learners• How mirroring and shadowing native speakers trains tones and rhythm• Why motivation fades and discipline keeps progress alive• How to use scripts, news, and audio to train listening without subtitles• Single-channel brains, overwhelm, and why context helps more than people admitBilingual as always. Ula speaks Mandarin, Tom speaks English, you follow along.Send your story or question to:chat@mandarinmonkey.comor DM on Instagram / Facebook.Your email might show up in the next mailbag. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We put on noise-canceling headphones, blasted brown noise, and tried to read each other’s lips in Chinese.Spoiler: “Are you the king of Mandarin Monkey?” turned into “Are you licking a mandarin monkey?”We also talk about Tom’s 3D-printed bust mini-movie, the “shi” tongue twister that broke him, and why bringing back the silly side of Mandarin Monkey might be the best idea yet.Send your stories for Friday Mailbag: chat@mandarinmonkey.comLessons and more at mandarinmonkey.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mailbag time. Phoebe’s moving to China in a week, Jasmine’s torn between Simplified and Traditional, Mark nails his first all-Mandarin order, Anna shares tonal research, and Katie reminds us to slow down. We talk avoiding the foreigner bubble, finding a “language parent,” sleep habits, and why progress feels slow, until it doesn’t. Send your story: chat@mandarinmonkey.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Practice Mandarin listening with a native Taiwanese Mandarin speaker and English support. We cover cold-weather camping at 3°C, off-grid power, food, health, and planning a sensible motorbike tour through Europe. Great for beginners to intermediate, HSK prep, and heritage Chinese/Taiwanese learners keeping both languages fresh.You’ll learn: camping and travel vocab, opinion phrases, modal verbs for suggestions, health/food terms, and natural Taiwanese rhythm.Resources• Free transcripts/clips on our YouTube (search “Mandarin Monkey listening practice”)• Book a lesson with a Taiwanese teacher (all levels)• Mailbag: send a short story (Mandarin or English) to chat@mandarinmonkey.com for feedback Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s Listener Mailbag is stacked: Mandarin at the bus stop, writing a sky-lantern wish in Pingxi, ordering dinner in Kunming with zero English, the strange peace of visa lines with a podcast in your ears, and a market auntie gifting a spring onion for luck. Plus: dogs, Edinburgh place names, and whether American English secretly makes more sense. Perfect for immersive Mandarin listening practice - Ula in Mandarin, Tom in English - so you can follow along and pick up real phrases in context.Send your story for a future episode: chat@mandarinmonkey.comBook lessons / join the community: mandarinmonkey.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

Learn upper-beginner Mandarin with real stories from UK life. We talk about meeting Hong Kong neighbors, Cantonese vs Mandarin, Center Parcs, bikes, bowling, mini golf, and family costs. You get natural conversation, clear vocab, and usable phrases.What you learn today • Meeting neighbors in Chinese • Cantonese vs Mandarin basics, Traditional vs Simplified • Family, school, and community vocabulary • Activities vocab: bikes, boats, bowling, mini golf, swimming • Money talk: prices, renting, mortgages, daily costs • Travel talk: Center Parcs pros, cons, and tipsWho this helps • Upper-beginner to intermediate learners • HSK 2–4 • Learners who want comprehensible input and real topics Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a bonus Tuesday episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast. We talk about summer holidays in the UK, why we want our kids to spend time in Taiwan, and what happened when a glamping hot tub got way too hot.If you’re learning Mandarin, this podcast gives you real conversations in English and Chinese. You’ll hear everyday Mandarin in context, with natural back-and-forth between a native speaker and a learner.In this episode:Teaching kids about Taiwan and Taiwanese cultureHow family life mixes with language learningWhy daily life experiences are the best way to learn MandarinGlamping stories, from sheep to wasps to a boiling hot tubMandarin Monkey is a bilingual podcast for Mandarin learners who want practice, culture, and fun without textbooks.Listen in, laugh with us, and pick up useful Mandarin along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 414 of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, Tom and Ula debate whether people get more done working from home, in a café, or in a library. Tom explains why cafés push him to focus, while Ula admits she gets distracted by people-watching. The conversation moves into Mandarin culture and language, with a funny look at how to say “I’m coming” in Chinese without double meanings, and whether to call women Ayi, Jiejie, or Meimei in Taiwan. The episode mixes everyday Mandarin, cultural tips, and lighthearted conversation, giving you listening practice and real insights into life and language. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We left the kids with Grandpa and went camping in the Cotswolds.In this episode, we talk about:Surviving storms, wind, and waspsSetting up camp like amateursWatching a movie in our tent with a projectorExploring Banbury and WoodstockLearning Mandarin through real, honest conversationUla speaks Mandarin. Tom speaks English. You get natural Mandarin input with built-in context. No textbook. No boring repetition. Just real talk, in two languages.Perfect for learners who want to:Train their ears with native MandarinUse context clues instead of translationsHear real-life conversations, not scripted phrasesWant more? Join lessons, hangouts, or get bonus content: 👉 https://www.mandarinmonkey.com 💬 Email: chat@mandarinmonkey.com 🎧 Join us on Patreon:  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think learning Mandarin is all flashcards and peaceful study sessions? Try doing it with three kids, zero time, and a brain that forgets half the vocab by lunch. In this episode, we talk about the real side of language learning—messy, inconsistent, and occasionally shouted across the room.We cover how we keep (some of) our Mandarin skills alive, why casual conversations aren’t enough, and how learning a language with your partner can be… character-building. There’s also some talk about camping, future dreams, and why structured study is like flossing—everyone says they do it, but come on.www.mandarinmonkey.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.