瞎扯学中文 Convo Chinese

Xinqing (Joanne)

瞎扯学中文 Convo Chinese is a podcast to help intermediary to advanced Mandarin learner to immerse in natural and authentic Chinese conversations. In the podcast we discuss topics from daily lives to politics, from China and around the world. Free transcript and vocabulary list are provided in the show notes. Powered by Firstory Hosting

  • 23 minutes 38 seconds
    Episode 101 | 搬家的断舍离 Moving and letting go

    I just moved into a new house!! So I talked with Renfei about "mysig" Sweden winters, and how we navigated the confusing world of renting houses in Sweden. Also, packing, unpacking, and letting go stuff is so hard!

    If this podcast is helpful for you and you want to show your support, you can buy me a coffee here! I really appreciate your support!
    https://buymeacoffee.com/xinqing

    免费的全文内容(汉字,拼音,英语翻译)在这里. Free transcript of the entire podcast with characters, pinyin and English translation: https://www.yaya.press/doc/bf0ba057-6b4f-41a1-a160-fa1a1f05ee12

    ==========================================
    压抑 | yāyì | depressed; oppressed; restraining (emotions)
    执念 | zhíniàn | obsessive focus; persistent attachment (to an idea)
    慰藉 | wèijiè | to console; to comfort; consolation
    偏远 | piānyuǎn | remote; far away
    植物园 | zhíwùyuán | botanical garden
    购物中心 | gòuwù zhōngxīn | shopping center; mall
    阳台 | yángtái | balcony
    涌进 | yǒngjìn | to pour into; to stream into
    宠物 | chǒngwù | pet
    推着 | tuīzhe | to push (a stroller, cart, etc.)
    浓厚 | nónghòu | dense; strong (atmosphere, feeling); rich (color)
    合约 | héyuē | contract; agreement
    特殊 | tèshū | special; particular; unusual
    一手 | yīshǒu | first-hand (rental from the original owner/company)
    二手 | èrshǒu | second-hand (sublet)
    转租 | zhuǎnzū | to sublease; to rent out (a leased property)
    续签 | xùqiān | to renew (a contract)
    复杂 | fùzá | complicated; complex
    隐约 | yǐnyuē | faint; vague; indistinct
    失去 | shīqù | to lose (something)
    资格 | zīgé | qualifications; eligibility
    牟利 | móulì | to seek profit; to gain profit
    投资 | tóuzī | to invest; investment
    相比 | xiāngbǐ | compared to; in comparison
    地下室 | dìxiàshì | basement
    客房 | kèfáng | guest room
    联排别墅 | liánpái biéshù | townhouse (terraced house)
    独立 | dúlì | independent; standing alone
    绰绰有余 | chuòchuòyǒuyú | more than enough; ample
    隔音 | géyīn | sound insulation; soundproofing
    打理 | dǎlǐ | to take care of; to manage
    隐私性 | yǐnsīxìng | privacy
    抱怨 | bàoyuàn | to complain
    紧密团结 | jǐnmì tuánjié | closely united; tightly knit
    留一个好印象 | liú yīgè hǎo yìnxiàng | to leave a good impression
    潦草 | lǎocǎo | (writing) messy; careless; hurried
    拉近距离 | lājìn jùlí | to narrow the gap; to become closer
    仪式感 | yíshìgǎn | sense of ceremony
    痛苦 | tòngkǔ | painful; suffering
    意想不到 | yìxiǎng bùdào | unexpected; unforeseen
    卫生检查 | wèishēng jiǎnchá | health inspection; hygiene check
    打扫 | dǎsǎo | to clean; to sweep
    清洁公司 | qīngjié gōngsī | cleaning company
    一劳永逸 | yī láo yǒng yì | to gain lasting peace through one effort
    担惊受怕 | dānjīng shòupà | to be terrified; in a state of anxiety
    罚款 | fákuǎn | (impose a) fine; penalty
    规则 | guīzé | regular; standardized; rule
    资深 | zīshēn | senior; experienced
    空隙 | kòngxì | gap; space; crack
    崩溃 | bēngkuì | to collapse; to break down (emotionally)
    断舍离 | duànshělí | minimalism; decluttering (lit. cut off, give up, separate)
    跨国 | kuàguó | transnational; international
    清仓甩卖 | qīngcāng shuǎimài | clearance sale
    倾向于 | qīngxiàng yú | to be inclined to; to prefer
    接受度 | jiēshòudù | acceptance level; degree of acceptance
    相符 | xiāngfú | to match; to correspond
    复古 | fùgǔ | retro; vintage
    纯羊毛 | chúnyángmáo | pure wool
    锅碗瓢盆 | guō wǎn piáo pén | pots and pans; cooking utensils
    工作效率 | gōngzuò xiàolǜ | work efficiency
    多巴胺 | duōbā'àn | dopamine



    Powered by Firstory Hosting
    19 December 2025, 5:32 am
  • 35 minutes 49 seconds
    Episode 100 | 回答你们的问题啦! Answering all your questions

    Our 100th episode where I will answer ALLLL of your questions!!

    If this podcast is helpful for you and you want to show your support, you can buy me a coffee here! I really appreciate your support!
    https://buymeacoffee.com/xinqing

    免费的全文内容(汉字,拼音,英语翻译)在这里. Free transcript of the entire podcast with characters, pinyin and English translation:  https://www.yaya.press/doc/2a6e576b-a7f6-4a90-a236-b3e1c73b2682

    ======

    唱独角戏 | chàng dújiǎoxì | to perform a monologue; to operate alone
    有问必答 | yǒuwèn bì dá | to answer every question asked (ask me anything)
    自言自语 | zìyán zì yǔ | to talk to oneself; to think aloud
    口误 | kǒuwù | slip of the tongue; lapsus linguae
    结结巴巴 | jiējiē bābā | to stammer; to stutter
    爱情语言 | àiqíng yǔyán | love language
    肢体接触 | zhītǐ jiēchù | physical touch
    无所事事 | wú suǒ shì shì | to have nothing to do; to be idle
    甜言蜜语 | tiányán mì yǔ | sweet talk; honeyed words
    细分 | xìfēn | to subdivide; to segment
    增进彼此 | zēngjìn bǐcǐ | to enhance/promote mutual understanding
    心坎上 | xīnkǎn shang | deep in one's heart; to one's liking
    归根结底 | guīgēn jiédǐ | in the final analysis; fundamentally
    孤单 | gūdān | lonely; lonesome
    生理期 | shēnglǐqī | menstrual period
    荷尔蒙 | hé'ěrméng | hormone
    情绪的波动 | qíngxù de bōdòng | emotional fluctuation
    暴躁 | bàozào | irritable; grumpy; violent
    月经 | yuèjīng | menstruation; period
    大姨妈 | dàyímā | big aunt (slang for menstrual period)
    坦然接受 | tǎnrán jiēshòu | to accept with composure/peace of mind
    忠实听众 | zhōngshí tīngzhòng | loyal listener
    坚持下去 | jiānchí xiàqù | to persist; to stick with it
    半途而废 | bàntú ér fèi | to give up halfway; to leave unfinished
    来源 | láiyuán | source; origin
    启发 | qǐfā | to enlighten; inspiration
    口音 | kǒuyīn | accent
    风味 | fēngwèi | flavor; distinctive style
    撒娇 | sājiāo | to act spoiled; to act cute/coy
    软糯 | ruǎn nuò | soft and glutinous (used figuratively for voice/sound)
    儿化音 | érhuàyīn | erhua sound; 'r' suffixation (in Mandarin)
    掌握 | zhǎngwò | to grasp; to master; to control
    书面的 | shūmiàn de | literary; written (as opposed to spoken)
    难度适当 | nándù shìdàng | appropriate level of difficulty
    捐赠 | juānzèng | to donate
    迈入 | màirù | to stride into; to step into
    忐忑 | tǎntè | uneasy; apprehensive; anxious
    心灵鸡汤 | xīnlíng jītāng | soul chicken soup; inspirational stories/quotes
    冥想 | míngxiǎng | meditation
    虚无缥缈 | xūwú piāomiǎo | illusory; ethereal; vague
    形而上 | xíng'érshàng | metaphysical; abstract
    反义词 | fǎnyìcí | antonym
    侧重于 | cèzhòng yú | to focus on; to lay particular stress on
    社区建设 | shèqū jiànshè | community building
    扎根 | zhāgēn | to take root; to settle down
    优渥 | yōuwò | generous; favorable (conditions)
    安居乐业 | ānjū lèyè | live in peace and work happily (idiom)
    容错率 | róngcuòlǜ | fault tolerance rate; margin for error
    沉浸 | chénjìn | to immerse; to be steeped in
    随遇而安 | suí yù ér ān | to be content with one's lot; to take things as they come (idiom)
    永久居留 | yǒngjiǔ jūliú | permanent residency
    功臣 | gōngchén | a person who has made outstanding contributions
    语言伙伴 | yǔyán huǒbàn | language partner



    Powered by Firstory Hosting
    5 December 2025, 3:47 pm
  • 1 minute 21 seconds
    第100期节目 - 有问必答 Ask Me Anything!

    Hello dear listeners!!

    We will soon have our 100th episode (in the main series... yes I know the counting of the episodes were messy haha, but anyways it is still worth celebrating!)

    So I would like to make an "Ask Me Anything" episode. If you have any questions for me, whether it is related to my life or Chinese culture or language learning, or the origin of universe... Just ask in the comment in this episode!

    I will record an episode next week to answer all of them!

    Looking forward! :)

    ====
    各位听众朋友们,大家好!

    我们马上就要迎来第100期节目啦 (我知道中间的集数有点乱七八糟哈哈,不过还是值得好好庆祝一下!)

    所以我想做一期 “有问必答” 的节目。如果你对我想提什么问题,无论是关于我的生活、中国文化、语言学习,还是宇宙起源... 都可以在这期节目的评论区里留言提问! 我会在下周录一期节目来专门回答大家的问题!

    超级期待! :D



    Powered by Firstory Hosting
    26 November 2025, 3:26 pm
  • 31 minutes 58 seconds
    Episode 99 | 来一起提高工作积极性吧! Let's talk about productivity!

    Today we chat about something super useful — how to be more efficient in studying and working! We shared our methods of taking on the challenge of language exams and what kept ourselves motivated. Also, everyone has their own learning style and it’s okay to learn things your way!

    If this podcast is helpful for you and you want to show your support, you can buy me a coffee here! I really appreciate your support!
    https://buymeacoffee.com/xinqing

    免费的全文内容(汉字,拼音,英语翻译)在这里. Free transcript of the entire podcast with characters, pinyin and English translation: https://www.yaya.press/doc/259f839f-3646-4c41-80bb-3b0e3b2a7cf6

    ====

    丧心病狂
    sàng xīn bìng kuáng
    utterly ruthless; insanely bold (often joking to mean “wildly ambitious / outrageous in a funny way”)
    要面子
    yào miànzi
    to care about saving face; to care about pride/reputation
    动机
    dòngjī
    motivation; driving reason
    忐忑
    tǎntè
    anxious; uneasy and nervous
    丢脸
    diūliǎn
    to lose face; to be embarrassed
    框架
    kuàngjià
    framework; structure
    模板
    múbǎn
    template; model pattern
    衡量标准
    héngliáng biāozhǔn
    evaluation standard; criteria for judgment
    体面的
    tǐmiàn de
    respectable; decent; dignified
    自我实现
    zìwǒ shíxiàn
    self-actualization; fulfilling one’s potential (Maslow’s highest need)
    归属感
    guīshǔgǎn
    sense of belonging
    安全感
    ānquángǎn
    sense of security/safety
    牌照
    páizhào
    license; certification required to practice a regulated profession
    拖沓 / 磨叽
    tuōtà / mōji
    to procrastinate; to be slow, dilly-dally (磨叽 is very colloquial / Northern)
    磨磨唧唧
    mó mo jī jī
    to dawdle; to drag one’s feet and put things off
    一跺脚
    yī duò jiǎo
    (to do something) after finally making up one’s mind; “screw it, I’ll just do it”
    花钱让我心痛
    huā qián ràng wǒ xīntòng
    spending money hurts me emotionally (used as motivation not to waste effort)
    截止日期
    jiézhǐ rìqī
    deadline
    期限
    qīxiàn
    time limit; period; deadline window
    效率
    xiàolǜ
    efficiency; productivity
    生产力
    shēngchǎnlì
    productivity; output capacity
    高效
    gāoxiào
    highly efficient; effective
    集中的学习
    jízhōng de xuéxí
    focused / intensive study
    要强
    yàoqiáng
    determined to excel; unwilling to be seen as weak
    好面子
    hào miànzi
    to care a lot about saving face / reputation
    体会
    tǐhuì
    to personally feel/experience and understand (often emotionally or insightfully)
    洞见
    dòngjiàn
    insight; deep understanding
    本质
    běnzhì
    essence; fundamental nature
    深挖
    shēn wā
    to dig deep; to probe in depth
    本能的反应
    běnnéng de fǎnyìng
    instinctive reaction
    心流体验
    xīnliú tǐyàn
    flow state; feeling of total immersion and focus
    惰性
    duòxìng
    laziness; inertia; tendency not to act unless pushed
    定制化
    dìngzhì huà
    customized; tailored
    监督
    jiāndū
    to supervise; to keep accountable
    开小差
    kāi xiǎo chāi
    to zone out; to get distracted; to daydream in class
    走神
    zǒu shén
    to lose focus; to let one’s mind wander
    沉浸式
    chénjìn shì
    immersive (teaching/learning fully in the target language/environment)
    母语教学
    mǔyǔ jiàoxué
    instruction conducted in the target/native language only (no translation)
    实证基础
    shízhèng jīchǔ
    evidence base; empirical foundation
    循序渐进
    xúnxù jiànjìn
    to proceed step by step; gradual and orderly progress
    逐步提升
    zhúbù tíshēng
    to improve gradually, step by step
    自信
    zìxìn
    self-confidence
    自我了解
    zìwǒ liǎojiě
    self-understanding; awareness of oneself
    高标准
    gāo biāozhǔn
    high standards; demanding expectations
    衡量自己
    héngliáng zìjǐ
    to assess oneself; to measure one’s own performance
    挑战自己
    tiǎozhàn zìjǐ
    to challenge oneself
    证明自己
    zhèngmíng zìjǐ
    to prove oneself
    要命的(压力)
    yàomìng de (yālì)
    extreme; killing; “this pressure is killing me”
    丢脸的压力
    diūliǎn de yālì
    the pressure / fear of embarrassment
    权威
    quánwēi
    authority; authoritative figure/expert
    条条框框
    tiáo tiáo kuàng kuàng
    rigid rules; fixed constraints; inflexible requirements
    坚持
    jiānchí
    to persist; to stick to something
    自我驱动
    zìwǒ qūdòng
    self-driven; internally motivated
    动机来源
    dòngjī láiyuán
    source of motivation; where motivation comes from
    体面的收入
    tǐmiàn de shōurù
    respectable income; decent earnings
    归属
    guīshǔ
    to belong to; affiliation / sense of belonging
    自我实现的需求
    zìwǒ shíxiàn de xūqiú
    the need for self-actualization (Maslow’s top level)
    心痛难忍
    xīntòng nánrěn
    so painful it’s hard to bear (emotionally painful, e.g. wasting exam fee)
    忐忑不安
    tǎntè bù’ān
    to feel nervous and unsettled; on edge



    Powered by Firstory Hosting
    14 November 2025, 6:02 am
  • 31 minutes 48 seconds
    Bedtime Story #4 | 三毛《荒山之夜 2 》

    Continued story of San Mao's exciting adventure into the desert... will they survive? Let's find out...

    ===========

    几小时之内 | jǐ xiǎo shí zhī nèi | within a few hours
    冻到零度 | dòng dào líng dù | freeze to zero degrees
    活活被冻死了 | huó huó bèi dòng sǐ le | to be frozen to death (literally: frozen alive)
    情感激动 | qíng gǎn jī dòng | emotionally agitated
    迷宫山 | mí gōng shān | “Maze Hill” (name Sanmao gives the dunes)
    检查站 | jiǎn chá zhàn | checkpoint
    天黑 / 天亮 | tiān hēi / tiān liàng | night falls / daybreak
    气温下降 | qì wēn xià jiàng | drop in temperature
    暮色 | mù sè | dusk; twilight
    模糊 | mó hú | blurred; fuzzy
    脑筋疯狂的挣扎 | nǎo jīn fēng kuáng de zhēng zhá | (one’s) mind frantically struggles — struggle (挣扎 zhēngzhá)
    车灯 | chē dēng | car headlights
    喇叭 | lǎ ba | horn
    吉普车 | jí pǔ chē | jeep / desert pickup
    沙哈拉威(人) | Shā hā lā wēi (rén) | Sahrawi (people from Western Sahara)
    戒心 | jiè xīn | wariness; suspicion
    缠头巾 | chán tóu jīn | to wind / tie a headscarf
    大粗麻绳 | dà cū má shéng | thick hemp rope
    拒人千里之外 | jù rén qiān lǐ zhī wài | keep people far away / totally unwelcoming
    勉强 | miǎn qiǎng | force (someone); barely / reluctant
    疯子 | fēng zi | madman; lunatic
    抱住 | bào zhù | to hold tightly
    扳住 | bān zhù | to wrench / grab and hold
    空档 | kòng dàng | brief gap / interval (a free moment)
    致命 | zhì mìng | fatal; deadly
    没命的狂奔 | méi mìng de kuáng bēn | to run desperately (risking one’s life)
    窒息 | zhì xī | to suffocate
    弹簧刀 | tán huáng dāo | spring knife / folding switchblade
    紧急转弯 | jǐn jí zhuǎn wān | emergency turn
    阴影 | yīn yǐng | shadow
    冷汗 | lěng hàn | cold sweat
    呕吐 | ǒu tù | to vomit
    千斤顶 | qiān jīn dǐng | car jack
    螺丝钉 | luó sī dīng | screw
    轮胎 / 备胎 | lún tāi / bèi tāi | tire / spare tire
    老虎钳 | lǎo hǔ qián | pliers
    灌下(酒) | guàn xià (jiǔ) | pour down (liquid) — give to drink
    结结巴巴 | jiē jie bā bā | to stammer; speak haltingly



    Powered by Firstory Hosting
    7 November 2025, 7:02 am
  • 37 minutes 39 seconds
    Episode 98 | 财务自由的那一天 The day when we are financially independent

    In this episode, we talk about Yuxi’s plan to become FIRE - Financially independent and retire early (and why we don't like this word)!. We discuss why she wants it, what her plan looks like, and why we actually don’t love this word. It’s not just about money — it’s about changing your life status and redefining what “work” means.

    If this podcast is helpful for you and you want to show your support, you can buy me a coffee here! I really appreciate your support!
    https://buymeacoffee.com/xinqing

    免费的全文内容(汉字,拼音,英语翻译)在这里. Free transcript of the entire podcast with characters, pinyin and English translation:
    https://www.yaya.press/doc/f1fdcb46-ea7a-4c87-af4b-7c6be373930c

    ===============
    褥羊毛
    rù yángmáo
    to take advantage of discounts or freebies; “milk the system”

    撸羊毛
    lū yángmáo
    to gain small benefits or exploit deals (internet slang)

    蹭吃蹭喝
    cèng chī cèng hē
    to freeload meals and drinks; mooch off others

    循规蹈矩
    xúnguī dǎojǔ
    to follow conventions; act according to rules
    提前退休
    tíqián tuìxiū
    to retire early
    财务自由
    cáiwù zìyóu
    financial independence
    被动收入
    bèidòng shōurù
    passive income
    主动收入
    zhǔdòng shōurù
    active income
    签证
    qiānzhèng
    visa
    保加利亚
    Bǎojiālìyà
    Bulgaria
    索菲亚
    Suǒfēiyà
    Sofia (capital of Bulgaria)
    创业
    chuàngyè
    to start a business; entrepreneurship
    第一桶金
    dì yī tǒng jīn
    the first pot of gold; one’s first big profit
    钱生钱
    qián shēng qián
    money makes more money
    辞职
    cízhí
    to resign
    环游世界
    huányóu shìjiè
    to travel around the world
    签约
    qiānyuē
    to sign a contract
    京剧
    jīngjù
    Peking opera (here used as a pun for “golden saying”)
    资本主义
    zīběn zhǔyì
    capitalism
    生产力
    shēngchǎnlì
    productivity
    朝九晚五
    zhāo jiǔ wǎn wǔ
    nine-to-five (typical working hours)
    粗茶淡饭
    cū chá dàn fàn
    simple food and drink; frugal lifestyle
    保费
    bǎofèi
    insurance premium
    冻卵
    dòng luǎn
    egg freezing
    缘分
    yuánfèn
    fate or destiny in relationships
    领养
    lǐngyǎng
    to adopt (a child or pet)
    兜底
    dōudǐ
    to provide a safety net; to guarantee
    安全网
    ānquánwǎng
    safety net
    郊区
    jiāoqū
    suburb
    公立学校
    gōnglì xuéxiào
    public school
    私立学校
    sīlì xuéxiào
    private school
    耳濡目染
    ěr rú mù rǎn
    to be subtly influenced by what one constantly hears and sees
    栋梁之材
    dòngliáng zhī cái
    pillar of society; person of great talent
    顶天立地
    dǐngtiān lìdì
    upright and independent; stand tall and proud
    修身养性
    xiūshēn yǎngxìng
    to cultivate one’s mind and character
    琴棋书画
    qín qí shū huà
    the four traditional arts: zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting
    志愿者
    zhìyuànzhě
    volunteer
    修炼
    xiūliàn
    to cultivate oneself spiritually; practice
    正能量
    zhèng néngliàng
    positive energy
    焦虑
    jiāolǜ
    anxiety
    闯出一番事业
    chuǎng chū yī fān shìyè
    to make a successful career; build an enterprise
    功德圆满
    gōngdé yuánmǎn
    to have achieved perfect merit; task completed successfully
    影响力
    yǐngxiǎnglì
    influence
    特权
    tèquán
    privilege
    风凉话
    fēngliáng huà
    irresponsible or detached comments; sarcastic remarks
    脱离现实
    tuōlí xiànshí
    to be detached from reality
    资源
    zīyuán
    resources



    Powered by Firstory Hosting
    31 October 2025, 7:17 am
  • 22 minutes 32 seconds
    Bedtime Story #3 | 三毛《荒山之夜 1 》

    Another night of San Mao's night time story - you can hear in my voice that I am having a bad cold and my nose is quite stuffed! Maybe it is a good practice for understanding Mandarin pronunciation without "n" sound.... ;)

    ============

    照例 | zhào lì | as usual; according to routine
    喇叭 | lǎ ba | car horn
    化石 | huà shí | fossil
    急性子 | jí xìng zi | an impatient person; someone with a quick temper
    连身裙 | lián shēn qún | one-piece dress
    皮酒壶 | pí jiǔ hú | leather wine flask
    装备 | zhuāng bèi | equipment; gear
    自言自语 | zì yán zì yǔ | to talk to oneself
    潜伏性 | qián fú xìng | latent; hidden (quality or tendency)
    恋车情结 | liàn chē qíng jié | “car obsession”; attachment to cars
    不妥 | bù tuǒ | inappropriate; not suitable
    一望无际 | yī wàng wú jì | boundless; as far as the eye can see
    哨兵 | shào bīng | sentry; guard
    嬉皮 | xī pí | hippie
    刺眼 | cì yǎn | dazzling; glaring; harsh to the eyes
    海市蜃楼 | hǎi shì shèn lóu | mirage
    死寂 | sǐ jì | deathly silence
    狰狞 | zhēng níng | ferocious; grim
    凶恶 | xiōng è | vicious; fierce
    躯体 | qū tǐ | body; physical form
    扰乱 | rǎo luàn | to disturb; to disrupt
    抵偿 | dǐ cháng | to compensate; to make amends
    迷宫山 | mí gōng shān | “Maze Hill”; name given by Sanmao to a sand dune area
    弧形 | hú xíng | arc-shaped; curved
    半圆 | bàn yuán | semicircle
    方圆 | fāng yuán | area; region; surrounding distance
    不对劲 | bù duì jìn | something feels off; not quite right 顽固 | wán gù | stubborn; obstinate
    安全感 | ān quán gǎn | sense of security
    陌生 | mò shēng | unfamiliar; strange
    沼泽 | zhǎo zé | swamp; marsh
    冒泡泡 | mào pào pào | to bubble up
    煞车 | shā chē | to brake; apply the brakes
    踉跄 | liàng qiàng | to stagger; to stumble
    张口结舌 | zhāng kǒu jié shé | dumbfounded; speechless
    千真万确 | qiān zhēn wàn què | absolutely true; beyond doubt
    泥沼 | ní zhǎo | quagmire; bog; swamp
    呆呆地 | dāi dāi de | blankly; in a daze
    疯狂 | fēng kuáng | crazy; frantic
    单薄 | dān bó | thin; flimsy (clothing); not warm enough



    Powered by Firstory Hosting
    24 October 2025, 7:47 am
  • 27 minutes 24 seconds
    Episode 97 | 朋友以上 恋人未满 More Than Friends, Not Yet Lovers

    Today we chat about a really juicy topic! If you have been in relationships like me and Gloria, you would probably also both LOVE and HATE the beginning phase of a romantic relationship... when you are more than friends, but not yet lovers..

    If this podcast is helpful for you and you want to show your support, you can buy me a coffee here! I really appreciate your support!
    https://buymeacoffee.com/xinqing

    免费的全文内容(汉字,拼音,英语翻译)在这里. Free transcript of the entire podcast with characters, pinyin and English translation:
    https://www.yaya.press/doc/05553ec3-c091-4d88-b516-e56658b9c03a

    ===========

    久经沙场
    jiǔ jīng shā chǎng
    battle-hardened
    空窗期
    kōng chuāng qī
    period of being single
    患得患失
    huàn dé huàn shī
    overanxious about gains/losses
    飞蛾扑火
    fēi é pū huǒ
    moths flying into fire (self-destructive love)
    放手一搏
    fàng shǒu yī bó
    take a chance, risk it all
    青春疼痛文学
    qīng chūn téng tòng wén xué
    “youth pain” literature
    暧昧
    ài mèi
    ambiguous/flirtatious
    心动
    xīn dòng
    heart flutter, infatuation
    恋人未满
    liàn rén wèi mǎn
    more than friends, not yet lovers
    感情顾问
    gǎn qíng gù wèn
    relationship advisor
    恋爱导师
    liàn ài dǎo shī
    love coach
    犯花痴
    fàn huā chī
    be infatuated, starry-eyed
    玩弄感情
    wán nòng gǎn qíng
    toy with feelings
    忽冷忽热
    hū lěng hū rè
    hot and cold (inconsistent)
    忽远忽近
    hū yuǎn hū jìn
    sometimes close, sometimes distant
    感情操纵
    gǎn qíng cāo zòng
    emotional manipulation
    依恋对象
    yī liàn duì xiàng
    attachment figure
    深度交流
    shēn dù jiāo liú
    deep talk
    浪漫话语
    làng màn huà yǔ
    romantic words
    情感流动
    qíng gǎn liú dòng
    emotional flow
    羁绊
    jī bàn
    emotional bond/tie
    承诺
    chéng nuò
    commitment, promise
    牵手
    qiān shǒu
    hold hands
    捅破窗户纸
    tǒng pò chuāng hù zhǐ
    expose hidden feelings
    受尽委屈
    shòu jìn wěi qū
    suffer all the grievances
    小秘诀
    xiǎo mì jué
    little secret/tip
    把话说清楚
    bǎ huà shuō qīng chǔ
    make things clear
    标准模板
    biāo zhǔn mó bǎn
    standard template
    关键成功因素
    guān jiàn chéng gōng yīn sù
    key success factors
    影射
    yǐng shè
    insinuation, hint
    意图
    yì tú
    intention
    调情
    tiáo qíng
    flirt
    情绪波动
    qíng xù bō dòng
    mood swings
    真情实感
    zhēn qíng shí gǎn
    genuine feelings
    深思熟虑
    shēn sī shú lǜ
    careful consideration
    把命运掌握在自己手中
    bǎ mìng yùn zhǎng wò zài zì jǐ shǒu zhōng
    take destiny into your own hands
    爱过就好
    ài guò jiù hǎo
    it’s enough to have loved
    遗憾
    yí hàn
    regret
    惋惜
    wǎn xī
    pity, lament
    冒险精神
    mào xiǎn jīng shén
    adventurous spirit



    Powered by Firstory Hosting
    17 October 2025, 6:17 am
  • 18 minutes 37 seconds
    Bedtime Story #2 | 三毛《结婚记 2 》

    We are continuing the new series of podcast episodes of bedtime stories from Sanmao today!

    Sanmao (三毛, 1943–1991) was a Taiwanese writer known for her travel literature and deeply personal essays. We will read from her most famous work, Stories of the Sahara (《撒哈拉的故事》), recounts her life with her Spanish husband José in the Western Sahara.

    =====
    骷髅 | kū lóu | skeleton / skull
    呲牙咧嘴 | cī yá liě zuǐ | to bare one’s teeth and grimace; to make a fierce face
    啧啧称叹 | zé zé chēng tàn | to click one’s tongue in admiration
    知音 | zhī yīn | soulmate; someone who truly understands you
    田园风味 | tián yuán fēng wèi | rustic / pastoral style or charm
    渺小的身影 | miǎo xiǎo de shēn yǐng | tiny figure; small silhouette
    寂寥 | jì liáo | lonely; desolate
    呼啸 | hū xiào | to whistle or howl (as wind); to rush by noisily
    看热闹 | kàn rè nao | to watch the fun; to be a bystander
    吃瓜 | chī guā | to watch gossip or drama unfold (internet slang: “spectator”)
    装模作样 | zhuāng mú zuò yàng | to put on an act; to pretend
    生平 | shēng píng | in one’s whole life; all one’s life
    木偶 | mù ǒu | puppet
    被人摆布 | bèi rén bǎi bù | to be manipulated / controlled by others
    废话 | fèi huà | nonsense; needless words
    滑天下之大稽 | huá tiān xià zhī dà jī | the most ridiculous thing under heaven
    闷笑 | mèn xiào | to chuckle secretly; to laugh to oneself
    公证结婚 | gōng zhèng jié hūn | to have a marriage notarized / registered officially
    拘束 | jū shù | constrained; reserved; inhibited
    活泼 | huó pō | lively; energetic
    握手 | wò shǒu | to shake hands
    戒指 | jiè zhǐ | ring (especially wedding ring)
    户口名簿 | hù kǒu míng bù | household registration book
    像样的 | xiàng yàng de | decent; presentable
    请客 | qǐng kè | to invite someone (to dinner, event); to treat someone
    预算 | yù suàn | budget
    情愿 | qíng yuàn | to be willing; to prefer
    不主张 | bù zhǔ zhāng | not to advocate / not to favor
    感动 | gǎn dòng | to be moved; touched emotionally
    可贵 | kě guì | precious; valuable; admirable
    礼服 | lǐ fú | formal wear; ceremonial dress
    白纱 | bái shā | white gauze (bridal veil)
    童心大发 | tóng xīn dà fā | to be full of childlike joy; childish enthusiasm
    娃娃 | wá wa | doll
    拔起来 | bá qǐ lái | to pull up / lift up
    补戴戒指 | bǔ dài jiè zhǐ | to put on (the) ring later; to make up for forgotten ring exchange



    Powered by Firstory Hosting
    10 October 2025, 6:32 am
  • 31 minutes 54 seconds
    Episode 96 | 一朝被蛇咬 十年怕井绳 Once bitten, twice shy

    In this episode, we talked about how travel shapes our experiences and makes us wiser along the way! Maybe you’ve been there too—losing a passport abroad, stressing over visas, feeling anxious on a flight, or even worrying about taking an Uber in a new city.....

    If this podcast is helpful for you and you want to show your support, you can buy me a coffee here! I really appreciate your support!
    https://buymeacoffee.com/xinqing

    免费的全文内容(汉字,拼音,英语翻译)在这里. Free transcript of the entire podcast with characters, pinyin and English translation:
    https://www.yaya.press/doc/52c41fdf-18a9-4bbc-a9dc-2e517489feb8

    ======
    短期课程 | duǎnqī kèchéng | short-term course
    倒时差 | dǎoshíchā | to adjust to a time difference; to overcome jet lag
    公路旅行 | gōnglù lǚxíng | road trip
    被砸 | bèi zá | smashed; broken into
    治安 | zhì'ān | public security; law and order
    大意 | dàyì | careless; oversight; main idea
    洛杉矶 | Luòshānjī | Los Angeles
    随身行李 | suíshēnxíngLǐ | carry-on luggage; personal belongings
    放松警惕 | fàngsōng jǐngtì | to lower one's guard; to relax vigilance
    金门大桥 | jīnméndàqiáo | Golden Gate Bridge
    打卡 | dǎkǎ | check in; punch in; clock in
    碎玻璃 | suìbōlí | broken glass; shattered glass
    双肩包 | shuāngjiānbāo | backpack; rucksack
    信用卡 | xìnyòngkǎ | credit card
    随身携带 | suíshēnxiédài | carry with oneself; portable; carry-on
    后备箱 | hòubèixiāng | trunk; boot (of a car)
    全额保险 | quáné bǎoxiǎn | full insurance; full coverage insurance
    拉斯维加斯 | undefined | undefined
    草丛里 | undefined | undefined
    夹克 | jiākè | jacket
    抢劫 | qiǎngjié | robbery; to rob
    迷信 | míxìn | superstition; superstitious
    心理阴影 | xīnlǐ yīnyǐng | psychological shadow; trauma; mental scar
    一朝被蛇咬,十年怕井绳 | yìcháo bèi shé yǎo, shíniánpàjǐngshéng | Once bitten, twice shy
    谚语 | yànyǔ | proverb; saying; adage
    长一个心眼 | cháng yígèxīnyǎn | become more cautious; become more vigilant; be more careful
    教训 | jiàoxun | lesson; moral; teach a lesson
    秘鲁 | Bìlǔ | Peru
    惨痛经历 | cǎntòng jīnglì | painful experience; bitter experience
    转机 | zhuǎnjī | transfer; transit; change planes
    签证 | qiānzhèng | visa
    枢纽 | shūniǔ | hub; pivot; key position
    五星级酒店 | wǔxīngjí jiǔdiàn | five-star hotel
    颠簸 | diānbǒ | bump; jolt; shake
    强的气流 | qiáng de qìliú | strong airflow; strong turbulence
    稳稳降落 | wěnwěn jiàngluò | steady landing; smooth landing
    一回生二回熟 | yìhuíshēng èrhuíshú | strange at first but easy the second time; practice makes perfect
    偏离 | piānlí | deviate; stray; depart
    身外之物 | shēnwàizhīwù | external possessions; worldly possessions
    吃一堑长一智 | chīyíqiànchángyízhì | learn from one's mistakes; gain wisdom from a setback



    Powered by Firstory Hosting
    3 October 2025, 7:02 am
  • 25 minutes 1 second
    Bedtime Story #1 | 三毛《结婚记》

    I am starting a new (bonus) series of podcast episodes! This is going to be me reading Chinese stories to my husband before going to sleep, from one of my favorite author Sanmao!

    Sanmao (三毛, 1943–1991) was a Taiwanese writer known for her travel literature and deeply personal essays. We will read from her most famous work, Stories of the Sahara (《撒哈拉的故事》), recounts her life with her Spanish husband José in the Western Sahara.

    ====================
    麻雀 | máquè | sparrow
    复活节 | fù huó jié | Easter
    阿尔及利亚 | Ā ěr jí lì yà | Algeria
    撒哈拉沙漠 | Sā hā lā shā mò | Sahara Desert
    理所当然 | lǐ suǒ dāng rán | of course; naturally
    爱琴海 | Ài qín hǎi | Aegean Sea
    潜水 | qián shuǐ | to dive
    心愿 | xīn yuàn | wish; aspiration
    摄影师 | shè yǐng shī | photographer
    熊掌 | xióng zhǎng | bear paw (metaphor in idiom: can't have both)
    抱怨 | bào yuàn | to complain
    坚持 | jiān chí | to persist; to insist
    不声不响 | bù shēng bù xiǎng | without making a sound; quietly
    痛楚 | tòng chǔ | pain; anguish
    平实 | píng shí | plain; simple
    宿舍 | sù shè | dormitory
    容光焕发 | róng guāng huàn fā | glowing with health and vigor
    沙哈拉威 | Shā hā lā wēi | Sahrawi (people of the Sahara)
    入籍 | rù jí | to naturalize; to become a citizen
    户籍 | hù jí | household registration
    公证 | gōng zhèng | notarization
    出生证明 | chū shēng zhèng míng | birth certificate
    居留证明 | jū liú zhèng míng | residence permit
    领事馆 | lǐng shì guǎn | consulate
    外交部 | wài jiāo bù | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    审核 | shěn hé | to examine; review
    公告 | gōng gào | announcement
    不伦不类 | bù lún bù lèi | incongruous; neither one thing nor the other
    飞云似的 | fēi yún shì de | as fast as flying clouds
    游牧民族 | yóu mù mín zú | nomadic people
    幻灯片 | huàn dēng piàn | slide (presentation)
    邮局信箱 | yóu jú xìn xiāng | post office mailbox
    文件大战 | wén jiàn dà zhàn | document battle (figurative)
    梦游似的 | mèng yóu shì de | like sleepwalking
    发呆 | fā dāi | to be lost in thought; to stare blankly
    电报 | diàn bào | telegram (a message sent via telegraph)
    浪子 | làng zǐ | prodigal son; drifter
    懊恼 | ào nǎo | annoyed; upset
    失常 | shī cháng | abnormal
    单身 | dān shēn | single; unmarried



    Powered by Firstory Hosting
    1 October 2025, 9:22 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App