Think gift-giving is easy? Not always — especially in Chinese culture 😅

In this episode, we talk about Chinese gift-giving taboos and the surprising reasons why clocks, shoes, umbrellas, pears, and even green hats can send the wrong message.

With funny examples, natural dialogues, and pronunciation practice, you’ll learn Chinese while picking up real cultural tips you can actually use. Learn how to avoid awkward moments, sound more natural, and understand what gifts really mean in Chinese.

送礼看起来很简单，但在中国文化里，可没那么容易 😅

这一集我们用轻松有趣的对话，带你认识常见的送礼禁忌，看看为什么钟、鞋、伞、梨，甚至绿帽子，都可能让人误会你的意思。

通过真实情境、自然对话和发音练习，帮你在开心中学中文，不仅学会怎么说，更懂中国文化在想什么。

Sònglǐ kàn qǐlái hěn jiǎndān, dàn zài Zhōngguó wénhuà lǐ, kě méi nàme róngyì 😅

Zhè yí jí wǒmen yòng qīngsōng yǒuqù de duìhuà, dài nǐ rènshi chángjiàn de sònglǐ jìnjì, kànkan wèishénme zhōng, xié, sǎn, lí, shènzhì lǜ màozi, dōu kěnéng ràng rén wùhuì nǐ de yìsi.

Tōngguò zhēnshí qíngjìng, zìrán duìhuà hé fāyīn liànxí, bāng nǐ zài kāixīn zhōng xué Zhōngwén, Bù jǐn xuéhuì zěnme shuō, gèng dǒng Zhōngguó wénhuà zài xiǎng shénme.

Dialogue 1:

小王: 我打算买个钟送给李老师，你觉得怎么样？

(Xiǎo Wáng): Wǒ dǎsuàn mǎi gè zhōng sòng gěi Lǐ lǎoshī, nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng?

I’m thinking about giving a clock to Teacher Li — what do you think?

小李: 千万别！送钟在中国是大忌！

(Xiǎo Lǐ): Qiānwàn bié! Sòng zhōng zài Zhōngguó shì dà jì!

Don’t ever do that! Giving a clock is a big taboo in China!

小王: 啊？为什么？

(Xiǎo Wáng): A? Wèishénme?

Huh? Why?

小李: 因为“送钟”听起来像“送终”，很不吉利。

(Xiǎo Lǐ): Yīnwèi “sòng zhōng” tīng qǐlái xiàng “sòng zhōng”, hěn bù jílì.

Because “giving a clock” sounds like “attending a funeral” — it’s unlucky!

小王: 原来如此！那我改送点别的吧。(I can comment on this structure here)

(Xiǎo Wáng): Yuánlái rúcǐ! Nà wǒ gǎi sòng diǎn bié de ba.

I see! Then I’ll give something else instead.

Dialogue 2:

小美: 你看我给男朋友买了一双鞋，好看吗？

(Xiǎo Měi): Nǐ kàn wǒ gěi nánpéngyou mǎi le yì shuāng xié, hǎokàn ma?

Look, I bought a pair of shoes for my boyfriend! Aren’t they nice?

小芳: 鞋很好看，不过听说送鞋有点不吉利。

(Xiǎo Fāng): Xié hěn hǎokàn, búguò tīngshuō sòng xié yǒudiǎn bù jílì.

They’re nice, but I heard giving shoes is a bit unlucky.

小美: 是吗？那怎么办？

(Xiǎo Měi): Shì ma? Nà zěnmebàn?

Really? What should I do then?

小芳: 很简单，你让他给你一块钱，就当是“买”的，不是“送”的。

(Xiǎo Fāng): Hěn jiǎndān, nǐ ràng tā gěi nǐ yí kuài qián, jiù dāng shì “mǎi” de, bú shì “sòng” de.

Easy! Just ask him to give you one yuan — that way, it’s like he bought the shoes, not that you gave them.

小美: 哈哈，好主意！

(Xiǎo Měi): Hāhā, hǎo zhǔyì!

Haha, good idea!

Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? In this episode, we talk about the popular Mandarin phrase 小确幸 (xiǎo què xìng) — the Chinese concept of “small but certain happiness” that has become a modern lifestyle mindset across Asia.

You’ll learn:• The meaning and origin of 小确幸• Why it became so influential in Chinese culture• How to use 小确幸 naturally in real Mandarin conversations• Practical examples of everyday “small joys”• A guided pronunciation breakdown to help you sound more natural• A full dialogue review for listening practice

We also talk about stress, burnout, workplace drama, and how noticing small moments of joy can help you recharge — emotionally and linguistically.

Conversation 1:

小王: 最近工作太忙了，压力好大。

(Xiǎo Wáng: Zuìjìn gōngzuò tài máng le, yālì hǎo dà.)

You’ve been so busy lately—so stressed out.

小刘: 是啊，不过今天早上喝到一杯特别好喝的咖啡，算是小确幸吧。

(Xiǎo Liú: Shì a, búguò jīntiān zǎoshang hē dào yì bēi tèbié hǎohē de kāfēi, suàn shì xiǎo què xìng ba.)

Yeah, but I had a really good cup of coffee this morning—that’s my little happiness for the day.

小王: 哈哈，小确幸也很重要啊！

(Xiǎo Wáng: Hāhā, xiǎo què xìng yě hěn zhòngyào a!)

Haha, those small joys really matter!

Conversation 2 :

小美: 最近真的有点累，什么事都提不起劲。

(Xiǎo Měi): Zuìjìn zhēn de yǒudiǎn lèi, shénme shì dōu tí bù qǐ jìn.

Lately I’ve been exhausted—nothing really excites me.

小芳: 我懂，不过我发现，生活里的小确幸能让我重新充满能量。

(Xiǎo Fāng): Wǒ dǒng, búguò wǒ fāxiàn, shēnghuó lǐ de xiǎo què xìng néng ràng wǒ chóngxīn chōngmǎn néngliàng.

I know the feeling, but I’ve realized that the little happinesses in life can really recharge me.

小美: 对，你说得对。也许我们都该学会去发现这些小确幸。

(Xiǎo Měi): Duì, nǐ shuō de duì. Yěxǔ wǒmen dōu gāi xuéhuì qù fāxiàn zhèxiē xiǎo què xìng.

You’re right. Maybe we should all learn to notice those small joys in life.

Example Sentences:

1. ​ 吃到第一口冰淇淋的感觉，就是小确幸。

The feeling of that first bite of ice cream—that’s a little happiness.

1. ​ 下班回家发现外卖刚好送到，小确幸！

Coming home from work just as your food delivery arrives—that’s a small joy!

1. ​ 听喜欢的歌、闻到咖啡香，这些都是生活里的小确幸。

Hearing your favorite song or smelling fresh coffee—these are the small pleasures of life.

Contact Us: Chineseconvoclub@gmail.com

In today’s episode, we’re doing something a little different—we’re going to explore a trending topic: the viral Starbucks Bearista Bear cup. Why did it sell out instantly? Why were some stores given only one or two? And what’s the Chinese term for “Manufactured Scarcity”—a marketing strategy that exists in both English and Chinese?

You’ll learn key vocabulary like 饥饿营销 (jī’è yíngxiāo) plus hear a short dialogue using these words in context, and follow along with pronunciation training so you can say the sentences naturally and confidently.

✨ Special Giveaway!
At the end of the episode, we’ll announce how you can enter to win a free Starbucks Bearista Bear (China version)—shipped directly from us. Don’t miss it!

Great for learners who want to expand their real-world vocabulary, understand Chinese marketing culture, and improve speaking fluency—all while following a fun viral story.

Email us at: Chineseconvoclub@gmail.com

中文简介：
这一集我们来聊一个最近非常热门的话题：星巴克的 Bearista 小熊杯 为什么会在发布当天瞬间售罄？有的门店甚至只收到一两个？这背后到底是不是一种 “饥饿营销” 的策略？

节目中我们会带你认识这些中文营销词汇，播放一段实用对话，并进行发音训练，让你能够自然流畅地说出这些句子。

✨ 特别赠品！
节目最后，我们会公布如何免费抽到一只 星巴克中国版 Bearista 小熊。千万不要错过！

⭐ Dialogue:

A: 你最近有看到星巴克的 Bearista 吗？被炒得很火。

Pinyin: Nǐ zuìjìn yǒu kàn dào Xīngbākè de Bearista ma? Bèi chǎo de hěn huǒ.

English: Have you seen the Starbucks’ Bearista? It’s going viral.

B: 看到了！发布当天数量很少，根本抢不到。

Pinyin: Kàn dào le! Fābù dāngtiān shùliàng hěn shǎo, gēnběn qiǎng bú dào.

English: Yeah! On release day the quantity was so limited—you couldn’t get one at all.

A: 我觉得他们是故意制造稀缺，用饥饿营销的方式让大家更想买。

Pinyin: Wǒ juéde tāmen shì gùyì zhìzào xīquē,yòng jī'è yíngxiāo de fāngshì ràng dàjiā gèng xiǎng mǎi.

English: I think they intentionally created scarcity to make people want it more.

B: 对啊，越难买，越让人觉得有收藏价值。

Pinyin: Duì a, yuè nán mǎi, yuè ràng rén juéde yǒu shōucáng jiàzhí.

English: Exactly—the harder it is to get, the more collectible it feels.

For the Full Transcript Click Here:

https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/4611686018488220516/TNLeLX0Ql1OBnTAG0uzbioGR70kF_N3L26kOy8LSgQg/bearista-bear-4th-edit1

Ever tried to bluff your way through an exam, a project, or even a date? In this episode, we dive into the hilarious (and slightly sneaky) Chinese idiom 蒙混过关, which literally means “to muddle through a checkpoint.” We’ll chat about this useful expression, when it’s risky, and how Chinese people use it in daily life.

🎧 Learn Mandarin through real examples, personal stories, and our usual dose of laughter!

Sentence Examples:

• 1. 他靠蒙混过关拿到了那份工作。

  Tā kào méng hùn guò guān ná dào le nà fèn gōngzuò.

  He got the job through deception.

  2. 这次考试不能蒙混过关，要认真复习。

  Zhè cì kǎoshì bù néng méng hùn guò guān, yào rènzhēn fùxí.

  You can’t b.s. your way through this exam; you have to study seriously.

  3. 有些人试图蒙混过关，但最终被发现了。

  Yǒu xiē rén shìtú méng hùn guò guān, dàn zuìzhōng bèi fāxiàn le.

  Some people tried cheating to get by, but were eventually found out.

  
  

  Dialogue 1

  A: 听说小张考试的时候蒙混过关了？
  Tīngshuō Xiǎo Zhāng kǎoshì de shíhòu méng hùn guò guān le?
  I heard Xiao Zhang faked his way through the exam?

  B: 是的，他没好好复习，靠作弊蒙混过关。
  Shì de, tā méi hǎohǎo fùxí, kào zuòbì méng hùn guò guān.

  Yeah — he didn’t study properly; he cheated to get by.

  A: 这样很危险吧？一旦被抓就麻烦了。
  Zhèyàng hěn wēixiǎn ba? Yídàn bèi zhuā jiù máfan le.
  That’s really risky, right? If he gets caught it’ll be a big problem.

  B: 对啊，老师现在越来越严格了。
  Duì a, lǎoshī xiànzài yuè lái yuè yángé le.
  Totally — teachers are getting stricter and stricter now.

  A: 我觉得还是踏实学习，不要想蒙混过关。
  Wǒ juéde háishì tàshí xuéxí, bú yào xiǎng méng hùn guò guān.

  I think it’s better to study properly — don’t try to bluff your way through.

  B: 我也是，靠实力才是长久之计。
  Wǒ yě shì, kào shílì cái shì chángjiǔ zhī jì.
  Same here — relying on real ability is the long-term plan.

  
  

  Dialogue 2

  A: 你觉得我们这次项目能蒙混过关吗？
  Nǐ juéde wǒmen zhè cì xiàngmù néng méng hùn guò guān ma?
  Do you think we can get away with this project?

  B: 不能，我们必须准备充分，不能耍花招。
  Bù néng, wǒmen bìxū zhǔnbèi chōngfèn, bù néng shuǎ huāzhāo.
  No — we must prepare thoroughly; we can’t pull any tricks.

  A: 但是时间不够，蒙混过关好像很诱人。
  Dànshì shíjiān bù gòu, méng hùn guò guān hǎoxiàng hěn yòurén.
  But there isn’t enough time — bluffing our way through sounds tempting.

  B: 这不好，如果被发现，后果很严重。
  Zhè bù hǎo, rúguǒ bèi fāxiàn, hòuguǒ hěn yánzhòng.
  That’s not good — if we get found out, the consequences will be serious.

  
  

Practice your Mandarin with a chilling Chinese ghost story 空无一人的巷子! Learn spooky new words like 纸钱 (zhǐqián) “ghost money,” 低语 (dīyǔ) “whisper,” and 门缝 (ménfèng) “crack of a door” as you follow 小王 (Xiǎo Wáng) through a deserted alley late at night.
🎧 Listen for comprehension, build vocabulary, and test yourself with our mini-quiz at the end! Perfect for intermediate learners who love stories, culture, and a little bit of creepiness in their study routine.

Story:

深夜，小王下班回家，经过一条空无一人的小巷。
Shēnyè, Xiǎo Wáng xiàbān huí jiā, jīngguò yì tiáo kōng wú yī rénde xiǎoxiàng.
Late at night, Xiao Wang washeading home from work, passing through a deserted alley.

风吹过，纸钱飘舞。
Fēng chuī guò, zhǐqián piāowǔ.
The wind blew, andghost money fluttered in the air.

他忽然听见身后有人轻声喊他的名字。
Tā hūrán tīngjiàn shēnhòu yǒu rén qīngshēng hǎn tā demíngzi.
Suddenly, he heard someone softly callinghis name from behind.

回头，却什么也没有。
Huítóu, què shénme yě méiyǒu.
He turned around, butnothing was there.

加快脚步时，耳边又传来低语：“别走那么快……”
Jiākuài jiǎobù shí, ěrbiān yòu chuánlái dīyǔ: “Bié zǒu nàmekuài……”
As he quickened his pace, a whisperbrushed past his ear: “Don’t walk so fast…”

小王吓得跑回家，猛地关上门，透过门缝，却看到一双苍白的手，缓缓拍着门板。
Xiǎo Wáng xià de pǎo huí jiā, měng de guān shàng mén, tòuguò ménfèng, què kàndào yì shuāng cāngbái de shǒu, huǎnhuǎn pāizhe ménbǎn.
Terrified, Xiao Wang ran home andslammed the door shut. Through the crack, he saw a pair of pale hands slowly tapping on the door.

Mini-Quiz:

1. 故事发生在什么时候？
(When does the story take place?)

2. 小王在什么地方听见有人叫他？
(Where was Xiao Wang when he heard someone call his name?)

3. 小王回到家后，从门缝里看到了什么？
(What did Xiao Wang see through the crack of the door?)

In this episode, we explore the Chinese phrase 离不开 (lí bù kāi) — which means “can’t live without.” Learn how native speakers use it to express dependence, habits, and deep connections. We’ll break it down with clear examples, a short dialogue, and pronunciation practice to help you sound more natural when speaking Mandarin.

Examples:

1. 他离不开咖啡，每天都要喝。

Tā lí bù kāi kāfēi, měitiān dōu yào hē.

He can’t live without coffee; he drinks it every day.

2. 他离不开他的家人。

Tā lí bù kāi tā de jiārén.

He can't be apart from his family

3. 成功离不开努力和机会。

Chénggōng lí bù kāi nǔlì hé jīhuì.

Success depends on both effort and opportunity.

4.这件事离不开大家的努力。

Zhè jiàn shì lí bù kāi dàjiā de nǔlì.

This matter can't succeed without everyone's effort.

🗣 Dialogue: 离不开 (Lí bù Kāi)

A: 你觉得你离不开什么东西？
Nǐ juéde nǐ lí bù kāi shénme dōngxī?
What do you think you can’t live without?

B: 我觉得我离不开手机和家人。
Wǒ juéde wǒ lí bù kāi shǒujī hé jiārén.
I think I can’t live without my phone and my family.

A: 为什么手机排在第一位呢？
Wèishénme shǒujī páizài dì yī wèi ne?
Why is your phone in first place?

B: 因为手机帮我工作，也让我跟朋友保持联系。
Yīnwèi shǒujī bāng wǒ gōngzuò, yě ràng wǒ gēn péngyǒu bǎochí liánxì.
Because my phone helps me with work and lets me stay in touch with my friends.

A: 是啊，现在大家都离不开手机了。
Shì a, xiànzài dàjiā dōu lí bù kāi shǒujī le.
Yeah, these days everyone can’t live without their phones.

B: 对，而且家人也很重要，离开他们我会很孤单。
Duì, érqiě jiārén yě hěn zhòngyào, lí kāi tāmen wǒ huì hěn gūdān.
Right, and family is very important too — without them, I’d feel really lonely.

In this episode, we dive into the Chinese slang phrase 露馅儿 (lòu xiànr) — literally “the filling is showing.” Learn how native speakers use it to describe moments when secrets slip out, someone accidentally reveals too much, or a cover-up fails. We’ll share clear examples, cultural context, and easy practice sentences so you can start using 露馅儿 naturally in conversation.

在这一集节目里，我们要聊一聊中文俚语“露馅儿 (lòu xiànr)”——字面意思是“馅儿露出来了”。它常常用来形容秘密被揭穿了、有人不小心说漏了嘴，或者掩饰失败的情况。我们会分享清晰的例子、文化背景，以及简单的练习句子，帮助你在对话中自然地使用“露馅儿"。

Zài zhè yì jí jiémù lǐ, wǒmen yào liáo yī liáo Zhōngwén lǐyǔ “lòu xiànr” —— zìmiàn yìsi shì “xiànr lòu chū lái le.”
Tā chángcháng yòng lái xíngróng mìmì bèi jiēchuān le, yǒu rén bù xiǎoxīn shuō lòu le zuǐ, huòzhě yǎnshì shībài de qíngkuàng.
Wǒmen huì fēnxiǎng qīngxī de lìzi, wénhuà bèijǐng, yǐjí jiǎndān de liànxí jùzi, bāngzhù nǐ zài duìhuà zhōng zìrán de shǐyòng “lòu xiànr.”

Conversation 1:

小张: 你不是说你今天请假是去看医生吗？

(Xiǎo Zhāng): Nǐ bù shì shuō nǐ jīntiān qǐngjià shì qù kàn yīshēng ma?

小李: 是啊，怎么了？

(Xiǎo Lǐ): Shì a, zěnme le?

小张: 可是我在商场看到你在排队买鞋，你露馅儿啦！

(Xiǎo Zhāng): Kěshì wǒ zài shāngchǎng kàndào nǐ zài páiduì mǎi xié, nǐ lòu xiànr la!

小李: 哎呀，被你发现了……

(Xiǎo Lǐ): Āiyā, bèi nǐ fāxiàn le……

English Translation – Conversation 1:

Xiaozhang: Didn’t you say you took the day off to see a doctor?

Xiaoli: Yeah… why?

Xiaozhang: I saw you at the mall lining up to buy shoes—your cover’s blown!

Xiaoli: Aiya, you caught me…

Conversation 2:

小美: 你是不是偷偷喜欢他？

(Xiǎo Měi): Nǐ shì bù shì tōutōu xǐhuan tā?

小芳: 没有啊，别乱说！

(Xiǎo Fāng): Méiyǒu a, bié luàn shuō!

小美: 可你一听到他的名字就脸红，早就露馅儿啦！

(Xiǎo Měi): Kě nǐ yì tīng dào tā de míngzì jiù liǎnhóng, zǎo jiù lòu xiànr la!

小芳: 啊？我有吗？

(Xiǎo Fāng): A? Wǒ yǒu ma?

English Translation – Conversation 2:

Xiaomei: Do you secretly like him?

Xiaofang: No way—don’t say that!

Xiaomei: But you blush every time you hear his name. You totally gave yourself away!

Xiaofang: Huh? I did?

Example Sentences:

• 他紧张得说错了话，一下子就露馅儿了。

He got nervous and said the wrong thing—he totally gave himself away.

• 他们本来想骗我，结果一问就露馅儿了。

They tried to fool me, but I caught them right away.

• 假装不知道结果，结果自己先露馅儿了。

Pretended not to know, but ended up revealing it accidentally.

It’s that time of year again — back to school season! In this episode, we dive into the popular Chinese expression 神兽归笼 (“the mythical beasts return to their cages”), a humorous way parents describe sending kids back to school after summer break. You’ll learn how this phrase is used in daily conversation and pick up practical Mandarin expressions to talk about the social aspect of this time of year. Perfect for Chinese learners who want to sound more natural and stay up-to-date with trending slang.

对话：

小李：哎，今天开学第一天，家长群都在刷屏。

Xiǎo Lǐ: Āi, jīntiān kāixué dì yī tiān, jiāzhǎng qún dōu zài shuāpíng.

(Sigh, it’s the first day of school, and the parents’ group is blowing up.)

小王：哈哈，是啊，大家都在感叹“神兽归笼”。

Xiǎo Wáng: Hāhā, shì a, dàjiā dōu zài gǎntàn “shénshòu guī lóng.”

(Haha, yeah, everyone is sighing with relief: “the little beasts are back in their cages.”)

小李：终于能安静一点了，不用每天被孩子吵醒。

Xiǎo Lǐ: Zhōngyú néng ānjìng yīdiǎn le, bùyòng měitiān bèi háizi chǎoxǐng.

(Finally some peace and quiet—no more being woken up by the kids every day.)

小王：可不是嘛. 暑假天天陪着我女儿，累得不行。现在上班反而像休息

Xiǎo Wáng: Kě bù shì ma, Shǔjià tiāntiān péizhe wǒ nǚ’ér, lèi de bùxíng. Xiànzài shàngbān fǎn’ér xiàng xiūxi.

(Tell me about it—During summer vacation I was with my daughter every single day — it was exhausting. Now going to work actually feels like taking a break.”)

小李：现在交给老师了，我们也能喘口气。

Xiǎo Lǐ: Xiànzài jiāogěi lǎoshī le, wǒmen yě néng chuǎn kǒuqì.

(Now that the teachers are in charge, we can finally take a breather.)

小王：不过老师才是真正的英雄，得面对几十只“神兽”！

Xiǎo Wáng: Bùguò lǎoshī cái shì zhēnzhèng de yīngxióng, děi miànduì jǐshí zhī “shénshòu”!

(But the teachers are the real heroes—they have to face dozens of these “little beasts”!)