Reflections on Friendships

I find giving gifts a hard thing. It’s like if you don’t give anything, nothing happens. But if you send a bad gift, you might lose the friendship. I feel a bit more calmer after learning that someone else also feels the same.

• 暫停鍵 (zhàn tíng jiàn): To press the pause button (metaphor for taking a break from a relationship)
• 禮物殺手 (lǐ wù shā shǒu): “Gift killer” (someone notoriously bad at picking gifts)
• 少根筋 (shǎo gēn jīn): To be scatterbrained or lacking a certain social “nerve”
• 揪團 (jiū tuán): To organize a group activity (like group buy)
• 主揪 (zhǔ jiū): The lead organizer

13. 衛生紙當生日禮物？三十歲後，我學會按下友情的暫停鍵 | Toilet Paper for a Birthday Gift? Pressing Pause on Friendships After 30

Note: This podcast is for upper-intermediate level, but I think it’s generally good just for immersion and one of the few podcasts that provide Zhuyin transcripts.

Mandarin podcasts to listen to for the whole day

Experimenting with the idea of listening to different podcasts at different times of the day.

I listen on Apple Podcasts but I think all of them can also be found on Spotify.

Morning Commute – 還可中文 Haike Mandarin

Multiple hosts on the show, so it’s more of a conversation and also talks about recent events. Also has some episodes dedicated to learning a new phrase.

還可中文 Haike Mandarin

Lunch Break – Learn Taiwanese Mandarin With Miss Lin

I really like Miss Lin’s voice! Talking speed is moderate and calm. Miss Lin also has a YouTube channel.

Learn Taiwanese Mandarin With Miss Lin Podcast│Taiwanese Mandarin Conversation│Taiwanese culture

Home Commute – 大人的 Small Talk

This podcast isn’t for the purpose of learning Mandarin. The topics it discusses are around career/personal development, which gives a nice mental boost after a day in the office.

大人的Small Talk

Bedtime – Ms. Chin’s Bedtime Mandarin

Relatively new podcast. It’s like looking into Ms. Chin’s diary while she is writing it. Filled with personal thoughts which feels okay to fall asleep in the middle of it. Very calming and a nice for language immersion.

Ms.Chin’s Bedtime Mandarin: Learn Taiwanese Mandarin in Your Sleep

I really like podcasts nowadays due to I can do other stuff while listening. (Well except for the bedtime one??? But I’m also doing “sleeping”)