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126 published lessons

Conversation podcastsIntermediate · L5

催婚

"你表姐都二胎了!" Surviving Chinese Marriage Pressure 😅 | 催婚 | Simply Natural Chinese

"Are you seeing anyone yet?" — asked SEVEN times in one family dinner. Welcome to 催婚 (cuīhūn), the Chinese art of marriage pressure. In this episode of Simply Natural Chinese, Xiao Yue reports back from a family dinner that turned into a police-style interrogation ("查户口"), while Leo reveals how his blind date from our last episode ended — and why his relative is already arranging round two. From the legendary "seven aunts and eight aunties", to moms staging fake chance encounters ("安排偶遇"), to the five survival moves every young Chinese person knows — ending with the ultimate answer: 随缘, let fate decide. This is the episode your Chinese textbook would never dare to teach.

Slow monologuesBeginner · L2

打电话给妈妈

A Slow Video Call Home with Mom in Chinese 📞 | 打电话给妈妈 | Simply Natural Chinese

Learn real, useful Chinese the relaxing way. In this slow, beginner-friendly episode, Xiao Yue does what she does every Sunday night — she makes a video call home to her mom. They talk about the small, everyday things: whether she's eaten, how work is going, a quick tour of her little room, Dad leaning in to say hi, Mom holding up a plate of her favorite home cooking, a promise to come home next month, and Mom's gentle reminders to eat well and rest. It's a warm, simple conversation — the kind that quietly feels like home. Everything is spoken slowly and clearly, with Chinese characters, Pinyin, and English on screen the whole time. Just relax, listen, and read along — comprehensible input made for HSK 1-2 beginners.

Conversation podcastsIntermediate · L4

梅雨季

Why Are My Walls Sweating?! 🌧️ Plum Rain Season | 梅雨季 | Simply Natural Chinese

Why are the walls, the mirror, even the floor at home suddenly "sweating"? If you live in southern China, you already know the answer — it's 回南天 (huí nán tiān), and it means the dreaded 梅雨季 (méi yǔ jì), the plum rain season, has arrived. In this episode, Xiao Yue explains to Leo everything about the month when it rains without end: why your clothes 晾不干 (won't dry) no matter what, why everything 发霉 (grows mold), why a 除湿机 (dehumidifier) becomes your best friend, and why the muggy air leaves you 汗流浃背 (drenched in sweat). You'll also learn the perfect comeback 借你吉言, why opening the window is a big mistake, and discover the surprisingly beautiful side of rainy Jiangnan. This is everything you need to survive — and talk about — the rainy season, in Simply Natural Chinese.

Slow monologuesBeginner · L2

去医院看病

A Slow Trip to the Doctor in Chinese 🏥 | 去医院看病 | Simply Natural Chinese

Learn real, useful Chinese the relaxing way. In this slow, beginner-friendly episode, Xiao Yue wakes up with a cold — a headache, a sore throat, a little fever — and takes you along to see a doctor, the way it really works in China: first you register (挂号) and choose a department, wait for your number to be called, tell the doctor what's wrong, get checked (it's just a common cold!), pay at the cashier, and pick up your medicine at the hospital pharmacy — then home for hot water, medicine, and a good rest until you feel better. Everything is spoken slowly and clearly, with Chinese characters, Pinyin, and English on screen the whole time. Just relax, listen, and read along — comprehensible input made for HSK 1-2 beginners.

Conversation podcastsIntermediate · L5

减肥

A Dessert Chef Tries to Diet 🍰 | 减肥 | Simply Natural Chinese

How do you lose weight when you run a dessert shop? In this episode, Xiao Yue makes a bold decision — she's going on a diet — while standing in a shop full of cakes she can't stop tasting. Together with Leo, they break down the real Chinese vocabulary people use to talk about dieting: why you fail when you 管不住嘴 (can't control your mouth), the trap of 报复性进食 (revenge eating), the rule of 三分练七分吃 (30% training, 70% diet), and why she keeps saying 明天再说 (I'll start tomorrow). You'll also learn to 立flag, find a 减肥搭子 (diet buddy), and understand 贴秋膘 — plus a warm reminder that health matters more than the number on the scale. This is everything you need to talk about weight loss — in Simply Natural Chinese.

Slow monologuesBeginner · L2

洗衣服

A Slow, Cozy Laundry Day in Chinese 🧺 | 洗衣服 | Simply Natural Chinese

Learn real Chinese the relaxing way. In this slow, beginner-friendly episode, Xiao Yue takes you through a sunny laundry day — sorting the whites from the colors, loading the washing machine with a little detergent, hanging everything out on the balcony to dry in the sun, then bringing it in, breathing in that sunshine-fresh smell, and folding it all up neat and tidy. Everything is spoken slowly and clearly, with Chinese characters, Pinyin, and English on screen the whole time. Just relax, listen, and read along — comprehensible input made for HSK 1-2 beginners.

Slow monologuesBeginner · L2

吃西瓜

A Slow & Juicy Summer Chinese Story 🍉 | 吃西瓜 | Simply Natural Chinese

Learn real Chinese the relaxing way. In this slow, beginner-friendly episode, Xiao Yue takes you through her hot-summer watermelon ritual — picking a good one at the fruit shop, chilling it in the fridge, cutting it open to reveal the bright red flesh, slicing it into triangles, and eating it messily with juice running down her chin. Everything is spoken slowly and clearly, with Chinese characters, Pinyin, and English on screen the whole time. Just relax, listen, and read along — comprehensible input made for HSK 1-2 beginners.

Conversation podcastsIntermediate · L4

搭子

What's a "Dāzi"? China's Buddy Culture 🧋 | 搭子 | Simply Natural Chinese

Have you heard the word 搭子 (dāzi)? It's everywhere in China right now — and it's quietly changing how young people make friends. In this episode, Xiao Yue and Leo break down China's "activity buddy" culture: the 饭搭子 (meal buddy), the 旅游搭子 (travel buddy), even a 通勤搭子 (commute buddy). You'll learn what makes a dāzi different from a real friend, the unspoken rules behind it (AA制 and 边界感), and how to find one safely. This is everything you need to understand one of China's hottest social trends — in Simply Natural Chinese.

Slow monologuesBeginner · L2

逛街买衣服

A Slow & Easy Chinese Shopping Trip 🛍️ | 逛街买衣服 | Simply Natural Chinese

Learn real Chinese the relaxing way. In this slow, beginner-friendly episode, Xiao Yue takes you shopping for clothes — walking into the mall, looking at all the colors, finding a white shirt she likes, checking the price, trying it on in the fitting room, and paying with her phone. Everything is spoken slowly and clearly, with Chinese characters, Pinyin, and English on screen the whole time. Just relax, listen, and read along — comprehensible input made for HSK 1-2 beginners.

Slow monologuesBeginner · L2

我的房间

A Slow & Cozy Chinese Room Tour 🏠 | 我的房间 | Simply Natural Chinese

Learn real Chinese the relaxing way. In this slow, beginner-friendly episode, Xiao Yue gives you a cozy tour of her room — her bed and window, her little desk, her closet, her favorite reading corner with her cat, and a warm quiet night in. Everything is spoken slowly and clearly, with Chinese characters, Pinyin, and English on screen the whole time. Just relax, listen, and read along — comprehensible input made for HSK 1-2 beginners.

Slow monologuesBeginner · L2

看世界杯

Staying Up All Night for the World Cup ⚽ | 看世界杯 | Simply Natural Chinese

Learn real Chinese the relaxing way. In this slow, beginner-friendly episode, Leo stays up till 2 a.m. to watch the World Cup and tells you all about it — why he loves football, watching the games in the middle of the night, drinking way too much coffee, cheering with friends at a little restaurant, learning to shout jiāyóu, and what happens when his team loses. Everything is spoken slowly and clearly, with Chinese characters, Pinyin, and English on screen the whole time. Just relax, listen, and read along — comprehensible input made for HSK 1-2 beginners.

Conversation podcastsBeginner · L3

暑假计划

What Are Your Summer Break Plans? ☀️ | 暑假计划 | Simply Natural Chinese

Two whole months of summer break — and Tian Tian has no idea what to do with it! In this episode, she and A-Jie map out the perfect summer, from heading back to her 老家 (lǎo jiā, hometown) to finding a 暑假工 (shǔ jiǎ gōng, summer job), traveling to 避暑 (bì shǔ, escape the heat), and yes — a few guilt-free days of 躺平 (tǎng píng, 'lying flat'). Along the way you'll pick up the everyday words real Chinese students use to talk about their summer. Slow, natural, and made for HSK 2-3 learners — this is everything you need to plan your own summer in Chinese.