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 listening for ages and thinking about lessons, now’s a good time to start.

0:00 Welcome back and why we disappeared

0:40 Three weeks ill, lost voices, low energy

3:00 Christmas felt quiet this year

6:00 New Year’s Eve with kids and getting sick

10:30 Moving house, 2025 drama, hoping 2026 improves

17:00 Premium Bonds and the monthly million fantasy

20:30 2025 goals review, exercise, habits, tracking

26:00 Journaling, Finch app, wanting better insights

27:30 Disney plans and giving kids real memories

34:00 Hobbies, dates, books, piano, creative projects

40:00 2026 goals, family time, couple time

47:00 Where we might live next, avoiding tourist traps

50:30 Dog debate, Halloumi, dog sitting reality

54:30 Lessons, teachers, Patreon, wrap-up

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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 greetings

• Flying anxiety and turbulence explained

• Typing pinyin with tones

• Christmas traditions and trivia

Merry Christmas and thank you for listening to Mandarin Monkey.

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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 features, why it beats Pleco for usage

18:00 Nativity play recap, Bethlehem Bake Off confusion

24:35 Game time, People Places Projects sound guesses

25:55 Sound: vacuum cleaner 吸塵器

33:10 Sound: “personal trainer”, Schwarzenegger link

38:20 Sound: parking sensor, reversing beep

41:55 Next week schedule, last broadcasts, Christmas plan

43:20 Visa update and Life in the UK test quiz

48:15 Judiciary question confusion

50:55 Habeas Corpus question, 75% pass mark talk

58:50 Wrap

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