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PODCAST

Mandarin Monkey Podcast

Mandarin Monkey

Chinese and English Language podcast. A mixed couple (Tom & Ula) living in Taiwan, teach Chinese through the use of Chinglish (Chinese and English) on a variety of topics. Learn Chinese, study methods, Entertainment, news, life, business, hints and tricks to learning Mandarin. Hear a native speaking naturally and at natural pace but with the English translation so you can follow the context of the conversation. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

education language learning

All Episodes

50:13

Listener Mailbag: Taiwan Ghost Month, Saving Face &...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/03/20

Welcome back to Mandarin Monkey Podcast Episode 456.This one’s a proper listener mailbag episode.We read your emails and end up talking about all sorts: learning Mandarin on a tractor in rural Iowa, a workplace misunderstanding about saving face, the chaos of Taiwan Ghost Month, whether the third tone is designed to ruin lives, typing Chinese on a Mac, and one very wholesome story about using Mandarin to ask for a father’s blessing.As usual, Tom speaks English, Ula speaks Mandarin, and somewhere in

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45:44

This Might Be the Worst Podcast Game Ever

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/03/18

This episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast takes a strange turn.We somehow ended up playing a “tiny acting” game we found online… which is great for YouTube and absolutely terrible for podcast listeners.Expect awkward silence, ridiculous acting challenges, and one very questionable scenario involving a dog in a waiting room.Along the way we also talk about: • why words start to feel strange when you repeat them too much • life stress after moving countries • how comments about your voice can stick

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35:07

Mailbag: Learning Mandarin While Doing the Dishes,...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/03/13

Can you really learn Mandarin while doing the dishes? What about while running, driving, or just surviving family life on broken sleep?In this Mandarin Monkey mailbag episode, we dive into real listener stories and questions about learning Chinese in the middle of normal life. From passive listening and bilingual parenting to sleep deprivation, kids climbing into bed sideways, and the never-ending mystery of 了, this one goes everywhere.In this episode:learning Mandarin while doing the disheswhy some

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51:11

Our 36 Hours in Zurich | Swiss Chocolate, $50...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/03/11

We just spent 36 hours in Zurich, Switzerland filming an event at the FIFA Museum… and somehow turned it into a mini travel adventure.In this episode we talk about:• flying to Switzerland with camera gear • our first taste of real Swiss chocolate • accidentally spending £50 on chocolate • riding electric scooters around Zurich • trying kangaroo steak in an Australian restaurant • discovering how expensive Switzerland really is • meeting our Uber driver with a powerful story about Iran • exploring

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36:10

We Forgot to Press Record… Then Got Hired to Film in...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/03/08

We just recorded 40 minutes of podcast… and realised we never pressed record.So here we are doing it again.In this episode we talk about:• Our first corporate filming job in London• Why we're suddenly flying to Zurich next week• The launch of our new gaming channel Monkey Plays• Whether language exchange apps actually work• Why Pleco is amazing (but not perfect)• Why people in Taiwan don’t really say 你好吗• And how to actually use podcasts to improve your MandarinPlus we answer your emails about:Using

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36:29

I Lost a Translation Job Over “Face” (And Called My...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/02/27

This week’s mailbag episode is… painful.• A freelance translator loses a business contract because he didn’t understand 面子 (miànzi). • Someone tries to compliment their manager… and accidentally calls him a bastard. • Another listener’s Chinese name sounds dangerously close to “horse sh*t.”We talk about cultural competence in business Mandarin, tone disasters, gaming as a language-learning method, and why choosing a Chinese name is more serious than you think.If you’ve ever made a language mistake

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36:38

British Slang That Confuses Mandarin Learners |...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/02/25

Episode 450 is here! 🎉In this fun and chaotic bilingual episode, we chat about life getting back to normal after the holidays, the challenges of new projects, and a possible Mandarin retreat idea… before things take a very British turn 😅We dive into one tiny English word — “piss” — and explore the MANY ways British people actually use it in real life. If you’ve ever been confused by British slang, this episode is for you.This podcast is spoken in both Mandarin and English, making it perfect for

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37:11

From Tears to Taiwan, Real Mandarin Learner Stories...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/02/20

This week on the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, we read three powerful emails from listeners whose Mandarin journeys couldn’t be more different — yet share the same courage.From feeling fluent for the first time, to reconnecting with family and heritage, to quitting a job and moving to Taiwan for love and language…These are real stories from real learners navigating confidence, shame, identity, relationships, and bold life decisions — all through Mandarin.Whether you’re:A beginner starting from scratchA

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48:56

Would You Survive 48 Hours Speaking Only Chinese?

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/02/18

Chinese New Year is here… but we’re not just talking about red envelopes and dumplings.In this episode:Who should give red envelopes (and when it stops)The weird firework pranks from childhoodWhy we chose not to vlog our kidsAnd… our idea for a 48-hour Mandarin-only retreatCould you survive two full days speaking only Chinese?No English. No safety net. Just immersion.Let us know if you’d actually come.🎧 Listen on Spotify📩 Join our community🧧 Happy New Year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

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45:51

I Finally Understood My Mother-in-Law | Mailbag Mandarin

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/02/13

This week’s mailbag:a learner understands his mother-in-law at the worst moment,a tone mistake turns into a workplace disaster,and a four-year-old becomes the teacher.Plus: how to ask to camp in Taiwan without sounding like a tourist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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40:40

My Child Understands Mandarin But Won’t Speak It

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/02/11

What does real bilingual development actually look like?In this episode of Mandarin Monkey, we talk about one of the biggest concerns parents have when raising bilingual children:“My child understands Mandarin… but won’t speak it. Is that normal?”We explore:• What children usually understand first• Why mixing languages is a sign of competence• Whether silence means failure• How long it realistically takes to become conversational• Why input matters more than early outputUla shares personal stories

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56:48

We Tried Listing 100 Life Goals… Then Got Distracted

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/02/06

This episode started as a simple idea:list 100 very specific things to do before you die.We didn’t get to 100.We talked about sharks, Lapland, Route 66, Disney parks, cherry blossoms, tequila in Mexico, collecting memories, and why “someday” is a dangerous word.Mandarin and English.Travel, goals, family, and that quiet feeling of wanting more life in your life.If this episode sparks an idea for you, tell us what you’d add to the list.Mandarin Monkey is a bilingual podcast in Mandarin and English.We

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41:48

444 Episodes Later… This Is Why Learning Mandarin...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/02/04

Learning Mandarin isn’t just about vocabulary or grammar.Sometimes it’s about confidence, fear, and not feeling “good enough”.In episode 444 of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, we talk honestly about:– Why language “levels” can actually hurt learners– Speaking Mandarin without destroying your confidence– Trial lessons that start way too basic– Learning through conversation, not correction– Why progress feels invisible even when it’s real– Being scared to speak, even after years of learning– How

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49:19

Why “Ask” Is Wrong in Mandarin | Mandarin & English...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/01/30

This is a mailbag episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast.We answer listener questions about a deceptively common Mandarin mistake:why you can’t use “ask” the way you do in English.Ula explains why 問 is for asking questions, but doesn’t work when you’re asking someone to do you a favour, and why 請 is often the natural choice, even though it doesn’t translate cleanly into English.We also respond to listener emails about:learning Mandarin without a clear end goalwhy grammar turns people off

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42:09

Would You Risk Your Life for Fame? | Mandarin &...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/01/28

This episode is a fully bilingual English–Mandarin conversation. Tom speaks in English. Ula responds entirely in Mandarin.We talk about:Extreme risk and a climber scaling Taipei 101Whether dangerous stunts should be streamed liveTravel plans including Lapland, skiing holidays, the Maldives, and the USFear, animals, parenting, and how perspective changes over timeThis is not a scripted lesson.It’s how Mandarin is used naturally in real life.If you’re learning Mandarin and want:Real listening

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45:47

Why Mandarin Sounds Easy… Until a Real Person Speaks

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/01/23

Why does Mandarin feel easy when you’re listening…but impossible the moment a real person speaks?In this mailbag episode, we answer real listener questions about learning Mandarin in the real world.Textbooks vs real speech. Tones. Confidence. Speaking to in-laws. And why your brain sometimes just shuts down.We talk about:Why textbooks teach words nobody actually saysWhether tones really matter (and why)Freezing when speaking to native speakersSpeaking Mandarin with your partner’s parentsWhy some

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57:56

We Disappeared, Here’s Why | Mandarin & English...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2026/01/16

We’re back. We both got hit with a nasty illness for a few weeks and lost our voices, so this one is low-energy and coughy. We talk about why we disappeared, why this Christmas felt “off”, a New Year’s Eve living-room campout with the kids, and how fast sickness can wipe you out. Then we look back at some 2025 goals, set fresh 2026 goals, and Tom admits he’s convinced Premium Bonds will make him a millionaire every month. We also share why Disney matters to us, plus a quick reminder: if you’ve been

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1:10:22

Christmas Special Mailbag | Real Chinese Greetings,...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2025/12/19

It’s our Christmas Special Mailbag.We answer listener questions about real Chinese greetings, why “Ni Hao Ma” sounds unnatural, fear of flying explained by a pilot, and how to type pinyin with tone marks properly.We finish with a fun Christmas quiz full of strange traditions and surprising facts from around the world.If you’re learning Mandarin and want natural Chinese, not textbook Chinese, this episode is for you.Topics include • What to say instead of “Ni Hao Ma” • Casual vs polite Chinese

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48:49

Why Your Chinese Sounds “Weird” and the UK...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2025/12/17

Ula explains why some dictionary and app translations feel unnatural, and shares a new Mandarin dictionary app recommendation. Then we mess around with a sound-guessing game, chat about school plays, and end with Tom quizzing Ula on the Life in the UK test. 00:00 Intro, episode 438, Wednesday energy 01:35 What subject do we look like we teach? 07:10 Midweek fatigue and kid sleep chaos 09:20 Why “dictionary Chinese” sounds unnatural 11:40 New app recommendation, 橘子漢語 (J-U-Z-I) 15:20 Free vs paid

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1:01:37

Why 'How Are You' Fails in Chinese | Bilingual...

Mandarin Monkey Podcast ·

2025/12/12

Why doesn’t “How are you?” really exist in Chinese?In this episode, we talk about how Chinese people show care without asking about feelings. Food, warmth, sleep, and daily life matter more than emotional check-ins. We also talk about sleep, anxiety, bilingual kids, accents, affection across cultures, and then completely lose control playing a sound guessing game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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102 results

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