Dimsum Mandarin - Learn Mandarin Chinese: Recent Episodes
Language Domus
Through Dimsum Mandarin, you will learn practical Mandarin Chinese in dimsum-sized chunks at your convenience. Learn useful words and phrases, as well as the skills to confidently put together sentences for everyday situations.
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In this episode:
- review all the key language points from module 3, and
- listen to a contextual dialogue about James, Guangxiang, and Li Jing’s dreams.
In this episode:
- learn to use the 比(bǐ), 没有(méiyǒu), and 和…一样(hé…yíyàng) to form comparative sentences;
- learn to count the occurrences of actions with action measure words; and
- listen to a contextual dialogue about Li Jing’s plans to start up her own company.
In this episode:
- learn to use the 是…的(shì…de) construction to give details of a past event or action;
- learn to use 前(qián, ago) and 后(hòu, later) to talk about points in time; and
- listen to a contextual dialogue about Li Jing’s previous work experience, and why she decided to stop working.
In this episode:
- learn to form sentences with the complement of result; and
- listen to a contextual dialogue about education options for Chinese children.
In this episode:
- learn to form sentences with the complement of manners;
- learn to use the 对…来说(duì…láishuō) construction to refer to the person(s) offering an opinion; and
- listen to a contextual dialogue about marriage.
In this episode:
- learn to use the particle 过(guò) to talk about past experiences;
- use the adverb 最好(zuìhǎo) to offer suggestions, and talk about wishes;
- learn the 虽然(suīrán)…但是(dànshì) pair of conjunctions; and
- listen to a contextual dialogue about hiring and training.
In this episode:
- learn a nuanced application of 了(le) to describe how long an action has lasted;
- talk about age;
- learn to form “if … then” sentences with the “…的话(de huà), 就(jiù)” construction;
- use consecutive numbers to approximate a number; and
- listen to a contextual dialogue talking about tertiary education.
In this episode:
- learn to use 会(huì) to talk about future possibilities;
- talk about things that will happen soon with the 要(yào)…了(le) construction;
- learn a nuanced use of 了(le) to express a future sequence of actions; and
- listen to a contextual dialogue about fun things to do in and around Shanghai.
In this episode:
- learn to use the perfect aspect particle 了(le) to talk about actions that have occurred or are completed;
- talk about things you “have to do” or “must do” with 得(děi);
- form rhetorical questions with the 不是(búshì)…吗(ma) construction;
- listen to a contextual dialogue where James talks about his trip to Beijing.
Take the DSM Challenger Quiz by heading over to Dimsum Mandarin's Facebook page and clicking on the "DSM Challenger Quiz" tab.
In this episode, we learn:
- the use of the change aspect particle 了(le);
- to form commands, including negative commands using 别(bié);
- the adverb 已经(yǐjīng); and
- through a contextual dialogue where James pays a visit to Guanxiang and Li Jing.
Module 3 will be launched on 16-Apr-2015.
Take part in our lucky draw for the Ultimate Dimsum Set (Hanyu Pinyin + Modules 1, 2, 3) by signing up for a free account and our newsletter at www.dimsummandarin.com.
Take advantage of our pre-launch promotion by using the promo code "mod3launch" and get 30% off module 3.
In this year of the goat special podcast, you will learn some common and useful well wishes that you can use to greet your Chinese friends and family over the next 15 days of Chinese New Year.
Please spare 5 min to help us improve Dimsum Mandarin. Head over to www.dimsummandarin.com and click on the survey button at the top of the page.
In this episode:
- review all the key grammar points from module 2;
- learn to use the replication of verbs to convey the casualness of actions;
- learn to use 什么时候(shénme shíhòu);
- learn to use the adverb 就(jiù) in various situations; and
- learn new useful vocabulary and phrases.
In this episode:
- learn the numbers for 100 to 999;
- form sentences involving prices in RMB;
- learnt to use the adverb 最(zuì);
- learn to use the verb 觉得(juéde).
In this episode:
- form useful noun phrases from adjectives and verbs using 的(de);
- learn the basic colors;
- learn basic vocabulary related to clothing;
- learn basic vocabulary related to food; and
- use 比较(bǐjiào) to form “-er” comparatives.
In this episode:
- talk about what you “want” with 要(yào);
- learn to ask for things in a restaurant;
- talk about permitted activities using 可以(kěyǐ); and
- learn the third use of the modal particle 吧(ba).
In this episode:
- talk about what you “know how to do” with 会(huì);
- talk about things that “can” happen using 能(néng) and 可以(kěyǐ);
- learn to use “should” or 应该(yīnggāi);
- learn the conjunction 所以(suǒyǐ); and
- learn the construction 太(tài)…了(le).
In this episode:
- talk about distances of one place from another with 离(lí);
- learn to give directions;
- learn to use 怎么(zěnme) to find out how to do something;
- learn to use the 先(xiān)…然后(ránhòu) construction; and
- learn to use the adverb 才(cái).
In this episode:
- form “there is” and “there are” existential sentences with 有(yǒu);
- use various directional nouns as the equivalents of English prepositions;
- modify nouns with adjectives using 的(de); and
- talk about the weather with existential sentences.
In this episode:
- learn the numbers from 11-99;
- learn to tell time and talk about routines;
- talk about when you are free or busy;
- form sentences with the 从(cóng)…到(dào) construction; and
- talk about intentions and plans with 想(xiǎng) and 打算(dǎsuàn).
In this episode, we learn:
- to construct simple subject-adjective sentences;
- the use of the question word 怎么样(zěnmeyàng);
- a number of useful adjectives;
- the adverbs 比较(bǐjiào), 挺(tǐng)…的(de), and 有点(儿)(yǒudiǎn(r)); and
- the conjunction 可是(kěshì).
In this episode, we learn:
- the days of the week and other temporal nouns (today, yesterday etc.);
- how to form sentences with the progressive (continuous tense) aspect particle 在(zài);
- how to form sentences for regular occurrences with the 每(měi)…都(dōu) construction; and
- the adverb 一般(yìbān).
This is a special announcement podcast (15-Oct-2014) for Dimsum Mandarin.
October promotion code: pod_oct14
Link to survey: http://svy.mk/1rq4J86
In this episode:
- listen to a new dialogue and test your knowledge from the first nine lessons;
- learn the modal particle 啊 (a), and another use of 呢 (ne);
- learn the conjunction 那 (nà); and
- learn the adverbs 一共 (yígòng) and 还是 (háishi).
In this episode, we learn:
- to use the verb 喜欢 (xǐhuān, to like) to talk about our preferred activities;
- a few important verbs and related activities;
- how to invite someone to an activity;
- how to ask for someone’s phone number; and
- how to read off strings of numbers such as those in a phone number.
In this episode, we learn:
- to talk about our likes and dislikes using the verb 喜欢 (xǐhuān, to like);
- a few adverbs to help convey different degrees of our likes and dislikes;
- the conjunction 还是 (háishi, or);
- the adverb 都 (dōu, all); and
- how to say “prefer” using 比较 (bǐjiào, quite).
In this episode, we learn:
- to tell people what we work as;
- to tell people where we work;
- the directional noun 里 (lǐ, inside)
- the interrogative pronoun 哪里 (nǎlǐ, where); and
- the retroflex version of “where” (哪儿, nǎr).
In this episode, we learn:
- the numbers from zero to ten;
- the verb “to have”;
- how to negate the verb “to have”;
- the concept of measure words;
- how to form the plural personal pronouns; and
- the tone change rules for 一 (yī).
In this episode, we learn:
- the words for immediate family members;
- how to form possessive adjectives (my, your etc.);
- the demonstrative pronouns “this” and “that”; and
- how to introduce our family members.
In this episode, we learn:
- how to ask simple “yes-no” 是 (shì) questions;
- how to negate simple 是 (shì) sentences; and
- how to tell people where you currently live.
Consolidate your knowledge and check your progress with conversation worksheets. Conversation worksheets are in both hanyu pinyin and Chinese characters.
In this supplement podcast, we will:
- practice the words and phrases we have learnt in the main podcast;
- learn two other ways to ask someone where they are from; and
- learn the names of a few other countries.
In this episode, we learn:
- how to tell people what country you are from;
- how to ask people what country they are from; and
- the names of a few countries.
In this lesson, you will learn:
- seven fundamental characters that also function as radicals;
- fourteen characters related to the conversations and phrases in lesson 02;
- the radical of each character;
- the sequence and direction of the strokes for all characters; and
- how to associate the characters with where they were used in the conversations and phrases.
In this episode, we learn:
- greetings for different times of the day;
- various ways of saying goodbye; and
- a couple of ways to say “thank you” and “you’re welcome”.
In this episode, we learn:
- greetings for different times of the day;
- various ways of saying goodbye; and
- a couple of ways to say “thank you” and “you’re welcome”.
In the worksheets, you will learn:
- eight fundamental characters that also function as radicals;
- fifteen characters related to the conversations and phrases in lesson 01;
- the radical of each character;
- the sequence and direction of the strokes for all characters; and
- how to associate the characters with where they were used in the conversations and phrases.
In this episode, we learn:
- how to say hello in both casual and formal situations;
- how to introduce yourself; and
- how to ask for someone else’s name.
In this episode, we learn:
- how to say hello in both casual and formal situations;
- how to introduce yourself; and
- how to ask for someone else’s name.
In this introduction, we will talk about:
- what the terms Chinese Language and Mandarin refer to;
- tones and Chinese characters, and why they may not be as challenging as you'd imagine;
- the aspects of Mandarin that are easy to learn;
- the structure of the Dimsum Mandarin series.