Elementary | Forks and Spoons

True, asking for a fork is pretty much "giving up" when you're living in China, but there are times when it's not so frowned upon. And a spoon is basically always OK; eating soup with chopsticks is not for everyone. Learn this key vocabulary in our Chinese lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1900

Noisy, crowded restaurants and cafeterias are especially common in China; it is the largest country in the world, after all. This alone may not be too jarring for a newly-arrived foreigner, but you may be a bit more surprised when a group of strangers asks to sit at your table with you! Learn how to politely ask to sit with people (and how to respond to such requests) in today's ChinesePod lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1897

A new workplace can be intimidating at first if you don't know anyone and especially if no one is speaking English! The first step to breaking the ice and becoming more familiar with your coworkers is obtaining a coveted lunch invitation. But what do you do when you can't get an invite? Learn how to ask to tag along in today's elementary lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1896

Today's podcast is all about massive numbers in Mandarin Chinese. We're talking the numbers used in high-occurrence discussions on the population of China, US debt to China, your expected salary, and the price of a Ferrari in Shanghai. Enhance your numerical knowledge with today's elementary lesson! Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1877

If you're a fan of traveling (and if you're in China or planning a visit, you almost undoubtedly are!) then chances are you're going to need to buy train tickets at some point. Train ticket offices in China can be very daunting: lines are more of a suggestion and dialects reign supreme. But have no fear, ChinesePod is here to help! Listen in and learn all the key vocabulary vital for purchasing high-speed train tickets to your next destination. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1875

One of the first things you're going to need to do in China is change some of your hard-earned cash into spendable RMB. Today's dialogue follows one such traveler as they venture into a local bank. Learn all the vital vocab for exchanging money using Mandarin Chinese in today's elementary lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1872

It's been a rough week. The work piled up over the holiday last week and all your dutiful employees have been working long overtime hours. What's the best way, other than an expensive bonus, to show your immense appreciation for your subordinates who pour their blood, sweat and tears into your company? Uplifting (and cheap!) words of encouragement, of course! Learn how to spur on your workers in today's ChinesePod elementary lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1866

As one of Asia's premier shopping cities, Hong Kong has more than a few places to spend your hard-earned cash. No matter what it is you buy, your coworkers will undoubtedly be curious as to how much money you've spent on your most recent buying binge. Learn how to discuss such a topic in today's ChinesePod lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1862

Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated every year on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, is a celebration in honour of the moon, and sharing mooncakes is one of the hallmark traditions of this festival. Listen in to today's lesson to see what someone gets for a present on this holiday. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/2536

What do you do when you're thrust into an office environment with little English and a multitude of tasks to complete? ChinesePod offers a solution with today's lesson on the wild world of office duties like photocopying, printing and calling cabs for your superiors. Learn how to be a company superstar with this elementary lesson. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1858