logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
16 m

Upper-intermediate | Getting a License P...

ChinesePod LLC
About this episode

The growing number of drivers in China is a big deal for the government; there's not enough room on the roads for 1.3 billion cars, especially in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Learn about the different ways the local government in Beijing and Shanghai are dealing with the issue, and what exactly you'll have to go through to get a license plate for your car. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1611

Up next
Today
Intermediate | Giving Instructions to the Ayi
<p>The middle-class Chinese custom of having an &quot;ayi&quot; (housekeeper) is one that most foreigners can get on board with right away. With the domestic assistance, however, can come language difficulties. In this lesson, learn some of the most importance Mandarin words rela ... Show More
21m 42s
Nov 24
Upper-intermediate | Teaching Japanese Go
<p>Known in the West as &quot;bizarro Othello&quot; and &quot;the thinking man&#39;s checkers,&quot; the game known as &quot;go&quot; in Japan and &quot;weiqi&quot; in China is actually quite the intellectual exercise with a long, rich tradition. In this Chinese lesson, the basic ... Show More
16m 42s
Nov 21
Intermediate | It's Not the Heat, It's the Humidity
<p>In the eternal &quot;north vs. south&quot; debate, one of the key issues is always climate. The north gets colder, it&#39;s true, but at least the air is dry. Meanwhile, down south everyone suffers through damp cold and sticky, drippy summers. This lesson will equip you with a ... Show More
20m 37s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 1
Newbie | I Work in Shanghai
What are you doing here in Shanghai? It's what everyone wants to know. So tell them that you're here in Shanghai working, and learning Chinese in your spare time. (Convincing them that you're not all about partying and living the high life is a topic for another lesson...) Episod ... Show More
13m 49s
May 2025
Newbie | Taking the Train to Beijing
If you're a newbie to China, then you've definitely got to make a trip to Beijing. This Chinese lesson for total beginners will help you to make sure you've got those train tickets... and maybe even help you be all bossy and make someone else go buy them. Episode link: https://ww ... Show More
20m 1s
May 2025
Newbie | Living in Nanjing
Visas are a huge, unavoidable nuisance. If you live in China, there's a good chance you've made at least one trip to Hong Kong in search of this priceless little sticker. Learn useful Chinese vocabulary about visas in today's podcast. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1668 
19m 18s
Aug 8
Newbie | How Much is Your Car?
You may know that the Chinese (especially the Shanghainese) are rather open about discussing prices. Housing prices are a conversation staple. But you may be surprised how much a car can set you back in modern China. Learn how to ask how much a car costs, and embrace the harsh fi ... Show More
13m 15s
Aug 25
Elementary | Wrong Way on the Subway
Subways are one of the great conveniences of first-tier Chinese cities. If you're in Beijing or Shanghai, the subway is often your best transportation option. Of course, if you're not yet familiar with the subway system, you could find yourself on a train heading in the wrong dir ... Show More
15m 17s
Sep 17
Elementary | Transportation Card
If you're planning to spend much time in a big city like Shanghai or Beijing, you're going to want to use the subway or bus system. A commuter pass, or "transportation card," as we say in Chinese, can save you a lot of time and hassle scrambling for change. This lesson will prepa ... Show More
16m 5s
Jun 2025
Newbie | Where Are You Going In China?
OK, so you can express that you're going to China, in Chinese. That's great! But if you're telling any Chinese person this, their immediate next question is always going to be: where in China?. With this lesson, learn how to face that question and stay just one step ahead. (OK, s ... Show More
15m 4s
Mar 2025
Newbie | Getting Off the Metro
<p>Squeeze your way to the front of the line for this useful Mandarin podcast. Today, we&#39;re explaining how to negotiate your way through a crowded Chinese subway car. Whether you take the metro to work, or even if you&#39;re just a fan of public transportation, this Chinese l ... Show More
13m 35s
Apr 2025
Newbie | Asking the Time
<p>In bustling cities like Shanghai and Beijing, there&#39;s always something happening, and sometimes even according to schedule. Knowing what time it is will always be something you need to ask early on, as well as knowing how good your timing is. Learn the essential Chinese wo ... Show More
11m 9s