Whether we like it or not, a lot of things happen in life just by accident. Some talents, skills, or passions may lie dormant, just because we never had the opportunity to uncover them. Learning a new language can be a second chance to explore what intrigues you, and to do so from an entirely different angle -- and in an entirely different language!

In this episode, I talk about how learning Mandarin broadened my taste in music, and taught me the joy of singing.

As promised, here are a couple of my favorite 王菲 songs:

  • 我願意
  • 百年孤獨

Lesson Outline:

  1. [00:21] How can learning Mandarin help you explore an undiscovered new side of yourself?
  2. [07:17] Introduction to the dialogue
  3. [07:45] Dialogue (normal speed)
  4. [08:47] Slow version (and repeat)
  5. [11:37] Useful vocabulary and phrases from the dialogue
  6. [18:03] Dialogue again (normal speed)

Words and phrases from the dialogue, with examples:

  1. 終於 / zhōngyú / finally
    1. 終於到了！/ zhōngyú dàole! / (We've) finally arrived!
    2. 終於看到你了！/ zhōngyú kàn dào nǐle! / I finally saw you / found you!
    3. 你終於來了！/ nǐ zhōngyú láile! / You finally came!
  2. 整理 / zhěnglǐ / to organize, to pack, to tidy up
    1. 我要整理行李 / wǒ yào zhěnglǐ háng lǐ / I want to organize my luggage
    2. 麻煩你整理一下 / máfan nǐ zhěnglǐ yīxià / Please tidy up a bit
    3. 你可以幫我整理嗎？/ nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ zhěnglǐ ma? / Can you help me tidy up?
  3. 而且 / érqiě / moreover, but also
    1. 這家餐廳很好吃，而且很便宜！/ zhè jiā cāntīng hěn hào chī, érqiě hěn piányí! / This restaurant isn't just delicious, it's also cheap!
    2. 今天下雨，而且很冷 / jīntiān xià yǔ, érqiě hěn lěng / It didn't just rain today, it's also really cold.
    3. 美國的火車很貴，而且很慢！/ měiguó de huǒchē hěn guì, érqiě hěn màn! / American trains aren't just expensive, they're also slow!
  4. 出汗 / chū hàn / to sweat
    1. 我出了很多汗 / wǒ chūle hěnduō hàn / I sweat a lot (at a specific time)
    2. 我很愛出汗 / wǒ hěn ài chū hàn / I sweat a lot (in general)
  5. 記得 / jìdé / to remember
    1. 記得多喝水哦！/ jìdé duō hē shuǐ ó! / Remember to drink lots of water!
    2. 記得練習中文！/ jìdé liànxí zhōngwén! / Remember to practice Chinese!
    3. 你要記得我！/ Nǐ yào jìdé wǒ! / You must remember me!
    4. 我不記得了 / Wǒ bù jìdéle / I don't remember
  6. 其實 / qíshí / actually
    1. 其實，我不知道 / qíshí, wǒ bù zhīdào / Actually, I don't know
    2. 其實，我覺得還不錯 / qíshí, wǒ juédé hái bùcuò / Actually, I feel it's not bad
    3. 其實，我都可以 / qíshí, wǒ dū kěyǐ / Actually, I'm OK with whatever
  7. 常、常常、很常 / cháng, chángcháng, hěn cháng / often
    1. 台北常常下雨 / táiběi chángcháng xià yǔ / Taipei often rains
    2. 你常常遲到 / nǐ chángcháng chídào / You often arrive late
    3. 你常常問我這個問題 / nǐ chángcháng wèn wǒ zhège wèntí / You often ask me this question
  8. 剛剛 / gānggāng / just now
    1. 我剛剛在想... / wǒ gānggāng zài xiǎng... / I was just thinking...
    2. 我剛剛看到他！/ wǒ gānggāng kàn dào tā! / I just saw him!
    3. 你剛剛說什麼？/ Nǐ gānggāng shuō shénme? / What did you just say?
  9. 而已 / éryǐ / only, merely
    1. 一百塊而已！很便宜！/ yībǎi kuài éryǐ! Hěn piányí! / Only 100 dollars! So cheap!
    2. 你剛剛來而已！/ nǐ gānggāng lái éryǐ! / You just got here!
    3. 其實，我要你記得我，這樣而已 / qíshí, wǒ yào nǐ jìdé wǒ, zhèyàng éryǐ / Actually, I want you to remember me, that's all.
  10. 一瓶 / yī píng / one bottle (measure word)
    1. 一瓶水 / yī píng shuǐ / One bottle of water
    2. 一瓶冰水 / yī píng bīng shuǐ / A bottle of ice water
    3. 一瓶冰茶 / yī píng bīng chá / A bottle of iced tea
    4. 兩瓶冰水 / liǎng píng bīng shuǐ / Two bottles of ice water
    5. 四瓶咖啡 / sì píng kāfēi / Four bottles of coffee
  11. 關掉 / guān diào / To close, to turn off
    1. 電視要關掉 / diànshì yào guān diào / Turn off the TV
    2. 記得關燈 / jìdé guān dēng / Remember to turn off the light
    3. 音樂可以關掉 / yīnyuè kěyǐ guān diào / You can turn off the music

See All 52 Episodes of "Mandarin From the Ground Up"