Mandarin From the Ground Up

By: Isaac Myers
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  • Summary

  • Learn to speak Mandarin the same way you learned your native language: by imitating what you hear. No memorizing, no tedious grammar lessons, no superhuman willpower, just the sounds of Chinese, your ears, and you. Let's start speaking Chinese for real this time. Subscribe to start building your Mandarin from the ground up! Logo artwork by Alex Wang • 老汪
    © 2023 Isaac Myers
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Episodes
  • Daily Practice (Normal Speed) - S3 - Lesson 08

    Daily Practice (Normal Speed) - S3 - Lesson 08
    Jun 25 2024
    After listening to Season 3, Lesson 08, start reinforcing what you've learned by taking six minutes a day to practice listening and imitating the material. Repetition makes progress.How to practiceThis episode's daily practice session doesn't include spoken instructions, but the process is the same as previous episodes of this season:In the first part, you'll hear a short snippet of the dialogue, followed by a pause of 2-4 seconds. During the pause, try to echo aloud exactly what you heard. In the second part, the dialogue plays again without pauses. Try to shadow the dialogue by repeating it aloud simultaneously with the recording.Note that in both parts, speaking aloud is important, as this practice helps you gain confidence making the sounds of Mandarin, increasing your speaking fluency over time. It also gives you invaluable feedback, as you hear the sounds coming out of your mouth, and can compare them to the sounds you just heard. If only done once or twice, this might not seem to have much effect; repeated on a daily basis, however, this is a powerful mechanism for bootstrapping your pronunciation and speaking ability.Magic Phrase (4-2)This phrase is composed entirely of words that use the 4-2 tone pair. We use it to practice identifying and then pronouncing the tones, hearing how they interact with each other in context. 櫃台負責配合客人Guìtái fùzé pèihé kèrén櫃台 / guìtái / reception, front desk負責 / fùzé / to be responsible for, to take responsibility for配合 / pèihé / to cooperate with客人 / kèrén / customers, guestsTranscript of the dialogue (Chinese characters only)L：嘿，教授，你叫我過來？P：小李，你進來。我要談談你的論文。L：我的論文內容，你看完了嗎？P：我看完了，你的論文主題很… 特別：「地球鳳梨種植的範圍跟價格」…L：我知道，我知道，你好奇我的調查是怎麼進行的。P：其實… 這麼說不如說…L：我去年去印尼做調查，我發現印尼竟然沒有任何鳳梨！P：不過，真正的問題更大…L：我知道了！是數學的問題，例如鳳梨在不同季節的價格不正常。P：不是這個…L：這些數學問題確實很複雜，而且你知道我不太擅長數學。P：所以我…L：但我認為這是一個過程。我一定會克服！我會練習數學…P：好了！夠了！問題不是數學，問題是… 鳳梨。L：問題是鳳梨？P：對，鳳梨這個話題，不適合作為論文題目！L：不適合？P：對！所以，很抱歉，我只能拒絕你目前的論文。L：不會吧！P：很遺憾。L：不如…. 我就換個主題重寫！P：你有時間嗎？怕時間不足，你的論文快到期了。L：我可以的！我證明給你看！P：好，那你要換什麼主題？L：我來寫… 酪梨！「酪梨的價格地圖」… 你覺得怎麼樣？Transcript of the dialogue (w/ pinyin and translation)Use this as a visual listening guide, or if you want to check your tone comprehension. Tones are indicated by marks above the letters in the pinyin transliteration, as follows: (1) ā (2) á (3) ǎ (4) àL：嘿，教授，你叫我過來？Hēi, jiàoshòu, nǐ jiào wǒ guòlái?Hey, professor, you called me over?P：小李，你進來。我要談談你的論文。Xiǎo lǐ, nǐ jìnlái. Wǒ yào tán tán nǐ dì lùnwén.Xiao Li, come in. I want to discuss your thesis.L：我的論文內容，你看完了嗎？Wǒ dì lùnwén nèiróng, nǐ kàn wán le ma?The contents of my thesis, you finished reading it?P：我看完了。你的論文主題很… 特別：「地球鳳梨種植的範圍跟價格」Wǒ kàn wán le, nǐ dì lùnwén zhǔtí hěn… tèbié: 「Dìqiú fènglí zhòngzhí de fànwéi gēn jiàgé」I finished reading it. The topic of your thesis is very… special: 「Earth’s pineapple growing regions: range, and prices」L：我知道，我知道。你好奇我的調查是怎麼進行的。Wǒ zhīdào, wǒ zhīdào. nǐ hàoqí wǒ de diàochá shì zěnme jìnxíng de.I know, I know. You’re curious how I undertook my survey.P：其實… 這麼說，不如說…Qíshí… zhème shuō bù rú shuōActually, it would be better to say…L：我去年去印尼做調查，我發現印尼竟然沒有任何鳳梨！Wǒ qùnián qù yìnní zuò diàochá, wǒ fāxiàn yìnní jìngrán méiyǒu rènhé fènglí!Last year I went to Indonesia to do a survey, I realized Indonesia doesn’t have any pineapples at all!P：不過，真正的問題更大…Bùguò, zhēnzhèng de wèntí gèng dà...But, the real problem is bigger…L：我知道了！是數學的問題，例如鳳梨在不同季節的價格不正常。Wǒ zhīdàole! Shì shùxué de wèntí, lìrú fènglí zài bùtóng jìjié de jiàgé bù zhèngcháng.I know! It’s the math problems. For example, pineapples in different seasons have abnormal prices.P：不是這個…Bùshì zhège…It’s not this…L：...
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    5 mins
  • S3 ~ 08 ~ The front desk is responsible 櫃台負責配合客人！

    S3 ~ 08 ~ The front desk is responsible 櫃台負責配合客人！
    Jun 24 2024
    Show notes:Here is a link to my conversation with Mischa Wilmers on his I'm Learning Mandarin podcast. Taipei Shorts, an annual theater event that showcases multilingual theater written, directed, and performed by local artists in Taipei. Lesson Outline:[00:21] Intro / updates / announcements [03:53] Magic Phrase: 櫃台負責配合客人[05:56] A ramble on tones, context, and imitation[11:52] Dialogue[14:43] TranslationMagic Phrase (4-2)This phrase is composed entirely of words that use the 4-2 tone pair. We use it to practice identifying and then pronouncing the tones, hearing how they interact with each other in context. 櫃台負責配合客人Guìtái fùzé pèihé kèrén櫃台 / guìtái / reception, front desk負責 / fùzé / to be responsible for, to take responsibility for配合 / pèihé / to cooperate with客人 / kèrén / customers, guestsTranscript of the dialogue (Chinese characters only)L：嘿，教授，你叫我過來？P：小李，你進來。我要談談你的論文。L：我的論文內容，你看完了嗎？P：我看完了，你的論文主題很… 特別：「地球鳳梨種植的範圍跟價格」…L：我知道，我知道，你好奇我的調查是怎麼進行的。P：其實… 這麼說不如說…L：我去年去印尼做調查，我發現印尼竟然沒有任何鳳梨！P：不過，真正的問題更大…L：我知道了！是數學的問題，例如鳳梨在不同季節的價格不正常。P：不是這個…L：這些數學問題確實很複雜，而且你知道我不太擅長數學。P：所以我…L：但我認為這是一個過程。我一定會克服！我會練習數學…P：好了！夠了！問題不是數學，問題是… 鳳梨。L：問題是鳳梨？P：對，鳳梨這個話題，不適合作為論文題目！L：不適合？P：對！所以，很抱歉，我只能拒絕你目前的論文。L：不會吧！P：很遺憾。L：不如…. 我就換個主題重寫！P：你有時間嗎？怕時間不足，你的論文快到期了。L：我可以的！我證明給你看！P：好，那你要換什麼主題？L：我來寫… 酪梨！「酪梨的價格地圖」… 你覺得怎麼樣？Transcript of the dialogue (w/ pinyin and translation)Use this as a visual listening guide, or if you want to check your tone comprehension. Tones are indicated by marks above the letters in the pinyin transliteration, as follows: (1) ā (2) á (3) ǎ (4) àL：嘿，教授，你叫我過來？Hēi, jiàoshòu, nǐ jiào wǒ guòlái?Hey, professor, you called me over?P：小李，你進來。我要談談你的論文。Xiǎo lǐ, nǐ jìnlái. Wǒ yào tán tán nǐ dì lùnwén.Xiao Li, come in. I want to discuss your thesis.L：我的論文內容，你看完了嗎？Wǒ dì lùnwén nèiróng, nǐ kàn wán le ma?The contents of my thesis, you finished reading it?P：我看完了。你的論文主題很… 特別：「地球鳳梨種植的範圍跟價格」Wǒ kàn wán le, nǐ dì lùnwén zhǔtí hěn… tèbié: 「Dìqiú fènglí zhòngzhí de fànwéi gēn jiàgé」I finished reading it. The topic of your thesis is very… special: 「Earth’s pineapple growing regions: range, and prices」L：我知道，我知道。你好奇我的調查是怎麼進行的。Wǒ zhīdào, wǒ zhīdào. nǐ hàoqí wǒ de diàochá shì zěnme jìnxíng de.I know, I know. You’re curious how I undertook my survey.P：其實… 這麼說，不如說…Qíshí… zhème shuō bù rú shuōActually, it would be better to say…L：我去年去印尼做調查，我發現印尼竟然沒有任何鳳梨！Wǒ qùnián qù yìnní zuò diàochá, wǒ fāxiàn yìnní jìngrán méiyǒu rènhé fènglí!Last year I went to Indonesia to do a survey, I realized Indonesia doesn’t have any pineapples at all!P：不過，真正的問題更大…Bùguò, zhēnzhèng de wèntí gèng dà...But, the real problem is bigger…L：我知道了！是數學的問題，例如鳳梨在不同季節的價格不正常。Wǒ zhīdàole! Shì shùxué de wèntí, lìrú fènglí zài bùtóng jìjié de jiàgé bù zhèngcháng.I know! It’s the math problems. For example, pineapples in different seasons have abnormal prices.P：不是這個…Bùshì zhège…It’s not this…L：這些數學問題確實很複雜，而且你知道我不太擅長數學。Zhèxiē shùxué wèntí quèshí hěn fùzá, érqiě nǐ zhīdào wǒ bù tài shàncháng shùxuéThese math problems are indeed very complicated, and you know I’m not too good at math.P：所以我…Suǒyǐ wǒ…So I…L：但我認為這是一個過程。我一定會克服！我會練習數學…Dàn wǒ rènwéi zhè shì yīgè guòchéng. Wǒ yīdìng huì kèfú! Wǒ huì liànxí shùxué…But I believe this is a process. I will definitely overcome it! I will practice math…P：好了！夠了！問題不是數學，問題是… 鳳梨。Hǎole! Gòule! Wèntí bùshì shùxué, wèntí shì… fènglí.Ok! Enough! ...
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    26 mins
  • Daily Practice (Normal Speed) - S3 - Lesson 07

    Daily Practice (Normal Speed) - S3 - Lesson 07
    Nov 1 2023
    After listening to Season 3, Lesson 07, start reinforcing what you've learned by taking six minutes a day to practice listening and imitating the material. Repetition makes progress.How to practiceThis episode's daily practice session doesn't include spoken instructions, but the process is the same as previous episodes of this season:In the first part, you'll hear a short snippet of the dialogue, followed by a pause of 2-4 seconds. During the pause, try to echo aloud exactly what you heard. In the second part, the dialogue plays again without pauses. Try to shadow the dialogue by repeating it aloud simultaneously with the recording.Note that in both parts, speaking aloud is important, as this practice helps you gain confidence making the sounds of Mandarin, increasing your speaking fluency over time. It also gives you invaluable feedback, as you hear the sounds coming out of your mouth, and can compare them to the sounds you just heard. If only done once or twice, this might not seem to have much effect; repeated on a daily basis, however, this is a powerful mechanism for bootstrapping your pronunciation and speaking ability.Magic Phrase (4-1)This phrase is composed entirely of words that use the 4-1 tone pair. We use it to practice identifying and then pronouncing the tones, hearing how they interact with each other in context. 帥哥上班，外公退休Shuàigē shàngbān, wàigōng tuìxiū帥哥 / shuàigē / handsome man上班 / shàngbān / to go to work外公 / wàigōng / maternal grandfather退休 / tuìxiū / retired, to retireTranscript of the dialogue (Chinese characters only)M：阿芬！你來了！F：嘿！不好意思遲到了。我剛剛才下班。M：沒事！趕快進來坐！F：謝謝。M：你看起來好喘！F：唉，爬樓梯真的好喘！M：對，我們沒有電梯。只好讓你運動一下。F：我好久沒運動。M：沒關係，現在可以放鬆。小李，這是我的朋友，慧芬，她是律師。L：你好。F：嗨。M：來，慧芬，要不要吃麵包？小李做的！F：好厲害！M：你可以放心，他的麵包很健康！F：好好吃！你開麵包店嗎？L：沒有，其實，就是，呃… 我是一個… 呃… 作家。M：小李很害羞，可是他是一個很認真的作家。F：你寫小說嗎？L：沒有。但那是我的目標。M：來，我們先坐。正好要開始唱歌！F：我最愛唱歌！M：小李，你還沒點歌，對吧。L：我不用了。F：你真的很害羞。M：小李，拜託，唱一首給大家聽。然後我就放過你。L：可是，在很多陌生人的面前…M：什麼陌生人？我們都是朋友，你放心！L：還是我先去吃蛋糕…M：你不要逃避了啦！不唱歌，你要吃辣椒！L：什麼？M：我家的規定。L：OK，OK，好啦。我唱。F：你要唱什麼？我幫你點。L：呃… 夢中人？好嗎？F：王菲的還是蔡琴的？L：哦… 蔡琴的。M：老靈魂。L：哈哈，對啊。F：好，點好了。L：這麼快！好，請大家要有耐心…M：不要害羞！L：不能錄音哦。M：沒有人會錄音！Transcript of the dialogue (w/ pinyin and translation)Use this as a visual listening guide, or if you want to check your tone comprehension. Tones are indicated by marks above the letters in the pinyin transliteration, as follows: (1) ā (2) á (3) ǎ (4) àM：阿芬！你來了！Ā fēn! Nǐ láile!A-Fen, you’re here!F：嘿！不好意思遲到了。我剛剛才下班。Hēi! Bù hǎoyìsi chídàole. Wǒ gānggāng cái xiàbān. Hey! Sorry, I’m late. I just got off work.M：沒事！趕快進來坐！Méishì! Gǎnkuài jìnlái zuò!No worries! Hurry up and come in!F：謝謝。Xièxie.Thank you.M：你看起來很喘。Nǐ kàn qǐlái hǎo chuǎn!You look really out of breath.F：唉，爬樓梯好喘！Yeah, climbing the stairs is really tiring (makes one out of breath)!Āi, pá lóutī zhēn de hěn chuǎn!M：對，我們沒有電梯。只好讓你運動一下。 Duì, wǒmen méiyǒu diàntī. Zhǐhǎo ràng nǐ yùndòng yīxià.Yeah, we don’t have an elevator. No other choice but to make you exercise a bit.F：我好久沒運動。Wǒ hǎojiǔ méi yùndòng.I haven’t exercised in a long time.M：沒關係，這裡可以放鬆。小李，這是我的朋友，慧芬，她是律師。Méiguānxì, xiànzài kěyǐ fàngsōng. Xiǎo lǐ, zhè shì wǒ de péngyǒu, huì fēn, tā shì lǜshī.It’s ok, you can relax here. Xiao Li, this is my friend, Hui Fen. She’s a lawyer.L：你好。Nǐ hǎo.Hi.F：嗨。Hāi.Hi.M：來，慧芬，要不要吃**麵包？**小李做的！Lái, huì fēn, yào bùyào chī miànbāo? Xiǎo lǐ zuò de!Here, Hui-Fen, do you want to eat some bread? Xiao Li made it!F：好厲害！Hǎo lìhài!That’s amazing!M：你可以放心，他的麵包很健康！Nǐ kěyǐ fàngxīn, tā de miànbāo hěn jiànkāng!You don’t have to worry, his bread is really healthy.F：好好吃...
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    6 mins

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Loved and still love it.

This podcast is well done. The author engages with his listeners. His encouragement has helped me to continue to learn Mandarin, when I feel discouraged, I am reminded by what he says "It's a marathon and not a sprint."

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