At the risk of triggering people with perhaps the most annoying bit of health advice ever, in today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we explore a familiar bit of timeless Chinese wisdom that anyone living in China has heard countless times: “Drink more hot water.”

So you know you’re going to hear that. But along the way, the dialogue also touches on cultural differences in health habits, everyday expressions of concern, and why simple advice like drinking hot water or going to bed early is so common.

发音: Tone Pair 1-4

The key “1-4” word from this week’s dialogue:

生病 (shēngbìng)

吃药 (chīyào)

失恋 (shīliàn)

压力 (yālì)

Tone 1 stays high and level, while Tone 4 drops sharply from high to low. When these two tones appear together, native speakers usually keep the first tone steady before moving directly into the falling tone. The transition should feel clear and connected, rather than exaggerated.

You’ll hear this combination in several useful words from today’s lesson, including “生病” (shēngbìng), “吃药” (chīyào), “失恋” (shīliàn), and “压力” (yālì). Practicing these words as complete tone pairs, rather than focusing on each syllable separately, can help you develop a more natural rhythm.

The practical takeaway: keep Tone 1 high and steady, then let Tone 4 fall clearly and confidently. Once you get comfortable with the rhythm of 1-4 combinations, many everyday Mandarin words will start to sound more natural and connected.

( https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/pronunciation/Tone_pair_1-4 )

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对话：为什么中国人总让我多喝热水？

（场景：下午办公室。）

晓燕：马克，你脸色怎么这么差？

马克：我生病了，但是我觉得很奇怪。

晓燕：哪里奇怪？

马克：我告诉三个中国朋友我感冒了。

晓燕：然后呢？

马克：三个人都让我多喝热水。

晓燕：哈哈，很正常啊。

马克：可是没有一个人问我：“你吃药了吗？”

晓燕：这个嘛……

马克：我觉得热水好像什么病都能治。

晓燕：也不能这么说。

马克：头疼喝热水，肚子疼喝热水，感冒喝热水。

晓燕：至少不会有坏处。

马克：那如果我心情不好呢？

晓燕：多喝热水。

马克：如果我失恋呢？

晓燕：多喝热水。

马克：如果我工作压力大呢？

晓燕：多喝热水。

马克：所以答案永远是热水？

晓燕：不一定。

马克：还有什么？

晓燕：早点睡。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 喝 (hē) to drink

2. 热水 (rèshuǐ) hot water

3. 脸色 (liǎnsè) complexion

4. 拿 (ná) to get, to pick up

5. 差 (chà) poor quality; to differ

6. 生病 (shēngbìng) to fall ill, to get sick

7. 奇怪 (qíguài) strange, odd; to be baffled

8. 感冒 (gǎnmào) to catch cold, to have a cold; a cold

9. 然后 (ránhòu) and then

10. 哈哈 (hāhā) (onom.) laughing out loud

11. 正常 (zhèngcháng) normal

12. 可是 (kěshì) but

13. 吃药 (chīyào) to take medicine

14. 治 (zhì) to treat, to cure (a disease)

15. 头疼 (tóuténg) headache; to have a headache

16. 肚子 (dùzi) belly, abdomen

17. 至少 (zhìshǎo) at least

18. 坏处 (huàichu) harm, troubles

19. 心情 (xīnqíng) mood

20. 失恋 (shīliàn) to lose one’s love (due to a normal breakup, usually)

21. 压力 (yālì) pressure

22. 答案 (dá’àn) answer

23. 永远 (yǒngyuǎn) forever, eternal

24. 不一定 (bù yīdìng) not necessarily

25. 早点 (zǎodiǎn) a little earlier

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Doing something more with “duo”

In China, you often hear you should do this or that more (eat more, drink more water, wear more warm clothing, etc.), and they often use the word 多 (duō). What’s not intuitive to learners is that the word 多 should come before the verb.

Structure

This structure is often used in commands or suggestions. Note the position of 多:

This structure is not used exclusively as a command, so you could also include a subject if you needed to.

From today’s dialogue:

马克：三个人都让我多喝热水。

晓燕：多喝热水。

文化：Why “Drink More Hot Water” Is Such Common Advice in China

If you tell someone in China that you have a cold or are not feeling well, there is a good chance they will suggest drinking more hot water.

In this week’s dialogue, Mark is surprised when three Chinese friends give him the same advice after he says he has a cold. He wonders why nobody asks whether he has taken any medicine. Is this simply a habit, or does it reflect something deeper?

In China, drinking warm or hot water is a familiar part of daily life. Many people grow up hearing that it is good for their health, and offering hot water is also a simple way to show care and concern.

This dialogue is a bit tongue-and-cheek; of course you do have modern Chinese people taking over-the-counter cold medicine, asking if you’ve taken medicine, and offering you some of theirs. But for sure, you absolutely will hear the “hot water” advice as well.

China’s History with Hot Water

If you’d like to go deeper and get more academic with the issue, we recommend you check out this article from Sixth Tone: The History Behind China’s Obsession With Hot Water. It’s not a new article, but it’s certainly not a new obsession!

An old image from the article:

Remember that long ago Chinese was often written right to left.

1. Title

Traditional: 新生活運動圖解 / Simplified: 新生活运动图解

• 新 (xīn) new

• 生活 (shēnghuó) life; way of living

• 运动 (yùndòng) movement; campaign

• 图解 (tújiě) illustrated explanation

Translation: Illustrated Explanation of the New Life Movement

2. Right panel

Traditional: 小孩要乾淨 / Simplified: 小孩要干净

• 小孩 (xiǎohái) child; children

• 要 (yào) should [be]; need to [be]

• 干净 (gānjìng) clean

Translation: Children should be clean.

3. Left panel

Traditional: 水不沸不喝 / Simplified: 水不沸不喝

• 水 (shuǐ) water

• 不 (bù) not

• 沸 (fèi) to boil

• 不 (bù) not

• 喝 (hē) to drink

Translation: Don’t drink water unless it has been boiled.

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we’re heading to the gym, but signing up turns out to be a little more complicated than expected.

This time, the conversation focuses on choosing between a monthly and annual membership. Along the way, the dialogue also touches on sales techniques, personal training, discounts, and the idea that spending more money might somehow give you more motivation to exercise. (True??)

发音: Tone Pair 3-4

The key “3-4” word from this week’s dialogue:

免费 (miǎnfèi)

体验 (tǐyàn)

In the lesson, you’ll encounter another important tone combination that appears frequently in everyday Mandarin: Tone 3 + Tone 4. This pair can be annoying to get right because the low, dipping tone is followed by that sudden falling tone. The key is to keep Tone 3 low and short, without the final rise (ending lower than in the diagram, actually), and then let Tone 4 fall clearly and confidently.

[More detail on Tone Pair 3-4 on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki.]

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对话：办健身卡

（场景：健身房前台。马克想办一张月卡，销售员张伟拿出价目表。）

销售：先生，办卡吗？月卡三百。

马克：好，那我办月卡。

销售：不过月卡不划算，年卡才两千，平均下来更便宜。

马克：可是我只想试试，先办月卡。

销售：那您得想清楚，健身贵在坚持，办月卡的人一般坚持不下去。

马克：为什么？

销售：因为一个月太短，动力不够。

马克：那年卡就有动力了？

销售：对啊，钱花多了，您舍不得浪费。

马克：好像哪里不对。

销售：您再想想，今天办卡还送一节私教课。

马克：私教课多少钱一节？

销售：正常四百，今天免费送一节，体验一下。

马克：那体验完你是不是又要给我推销私教课？

销售：先生，您真聪明。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 办 (bàn) to do, to manage, to handle

2. 健身卡 (jiànshēn kǎ) gym membership

3. 健身房 (jiànshēnfáng) gym

4. 前台 (qiántái) reception desk

5. 月卡 (yuè kǎ) monthly membership

6. 销售员 (xiāoshòu yuán) salesperson

7. 价目表 (jiàmù biǎo) price list

8. 划算 (huásuàn) worthwhile

9. 年卡 (nián kǎ) annual membership

10. 平均 (píngjūn) average

11. 便宜 (piányi) cheap, inexpensive

12. 清楚 (qīngchu) clear

13. 贵在坚持 (guì zài jiānchí) consistency is key

14. 一般 (yībān) in general; average

15. 动力 (dònglì) motivation

16. 舍不得 (shěbude) to hate to do sth

17. 浪费 (làngfèi) to waste

18. 送 (sòng) to give (a gift); to deliver, to send; to see off (a person)

19. 节 (jié) festival, holiday; node, section

20. 私教课 (sījiāo kè) personal training sessions

21. 正常 (zhèngcháng) normal

22. 免费 (miǎnfèi) free (of charge)

23. 体验 (tǐyàn) to experience onself

24. 推销 (tuīxiāo) to market (sales)

25. 聪明 (cōngming) smart, intelligent

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

A softer “but” with “buguo”

Instead of just using 可是 or 但是, you can also use the softer and more informal 不过 (búguò), which also means “but.”

Structure

Just like its counterparts, 不过 is a conjunction that comes between two distinct clauses.

From today’s dialogue:

销售：不过月卡不划算，年卡才两千，平均下来更便宜。

文化：The Dreaded Gym Membership Sales Conversation

If you visit a gym in China, don’t be surprised if “simply” signing up for a membership can involve more discussion than simply choosing the length of the membership.

In this week’s dialogue, Mark wants to buy a one-month membership, but the salesperson recommends an annual membership instead. The conversation then moves on to motivation, the cost of exercising, and even a free personal training session.

This kind of sales conversation is common in many service businesses. Staff may introduce different packages, explain why a longer membership offers better value, and offer additional services or trial sessions.

For customers, this can sometimes be helpful because they learn about different options. At the same time, it can also be downright annoying. It helps a lot to be very clear on what you want in advance.

Want to Talk About that Gym Membership in Chinese, with Confidence?

If Mark’s gym dialogue made you curious about how service and sales conversations really work in Chinese, why not turn it into a lesson designed just for you?

With our VIP Custom Lesson, you’ll get a 60-minute, one-on-one online lesson for $49, tailored to your Chinese level, interests, and goals. Before your lesson, we’ll arrange a free online interview to understand your needs, then create a personalized lesson and match you with an experienced native Chinese teacher at a time that works for you.

You can learn key vocabulary such as 会员卡 (membership card), 年卡 (annual pass), 划算 (good value), 私教课 (personal training session) and 体验课 (trial class). You can practice useful grammar for comparing options, giving reasons and declining politely, such as “比起……，……更……”, “如果……的话，……” and “虽然……，但是……”. You can also rehearse all the relevant conversations so that you can talk about this topic in Chinese fully and naturally.

[Learn more about our VIP Custom Course]

幽默：刚入职和入职后

Text:

• 刚入职的我。

• 一周后。

关键词：

1. 入职 (rùzhí) to start a job

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we take a closer look at a question that can surprise many foreigners in China: “How much do you make?”

I remember when this first happened to me I was so unprepared to answer such a question that I just honestly answered it. I felt dumb, but at least I knew that was one question I needed to get better at handling.

发音: Tone Pair 1-2

The key “1-2” word from this week’s dialogue:

突然 (tūrán)

当然 (dāngrán)

安全 (ānquán)

In the lesson, you’ll encounter another important tone combination that appears frequently in everyday Mandarin: Tone 1 + Tone 2. At first, this pair can feel a little unusual because the high, level tone is followed by a rising tone, creating a smooth upward movement in pitch.

[More detail on Tone Pair 1-2 on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki.]

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对话：为什么中国人喜欢问你工资多少？

（场景：晚上聚餐结束，马克和朋友晓燕走在路上。）

晓燕：马克，你刚才为什么突然不说话了？

马克：因为你朋友问了我一个问题。

晓燕：什么问题？

马克：她问我：“你工资多少？”

晓燕：哈哈，你不习惯？

马克：当然不习惯！

晓燕：很多中国人在聊天的时候，都会问这个问题。

马克：可是我觉得这是一个个人隐私的问题。

晓燕：嗯，很多外国人都这么觉得。

马克：我差一点说：“关你什么事？”

晓燕：幸好你没说。她可能只是好奇。

马克：可是她还问我房租多少。

晓燕：这个也很常见。

马克：那以后我该怎么回答？

晓燕：简单回答，不想说具体数字，就说一个范围。

马克：比如？

晓燕：比如：“还可以吧，够生活。”

马克：这个回答不错。

晓燕：对，这句话很安全。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 工资 (gōngzī) wages, pay

2. 聚餐 (jùcān) to dine together

3. 结束 (jiéshù) to be finished

4. 突然 (tūrán) sudden; suddenly

5. 问题 (wèntí) question; problem, issue

6. 习惯 (xíguàn) to be used to; habit, custom

7. 当然 (dāngrán) of course, naturally

8. 隐私 (yǐnsī) secrets; private business; privacy

9. 幸好 (xìnghǎo) fortunately

10. 可能 (kěnéng) maybe, might; possible

11. 好奇 (hàoqí) curious

12. 房租 (fángzū) house rental

13. 常见 (chángjiàn) common, commonly seen

14. 回答 (huídá) to reply, to answer; the answer

15. 简单 (jiǎndān) simple

16. 具体 (jùtǐ) specific

17. 数字 (shùzì) number

18. 范围 (fànwéi) range, scope

19. 比如 (bǐrú) for example

20. 够 (gòu) enough

21. 安全 (ānquán) safety

💬 Need to Discuss This Topic in More Depth?

Is it okay to ask someone else’s salary in China? How can you respond politely when a question feels too personal? If you enjoyed today’s dialogue and want to explore this topic further, why not turn it into a lesson designed just for you?

With our VIP Custom Lesson, you’ll get a 60-minute, one-on-one online lesson for $49, tailored to your Chinese level, interests, and goals. Before your lesson, we’ll arrange a free online interview to understand your needs, then create a personalized lesson and match you with an experienced native Chinese teacher at a time that works for you.

You can explore related topics, discuss cultural differences, practice useful expressions, and take the conversation wherever you like.

[Learn more about our VIP Custom Course]

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Expressing “just now” with “gangcai”

In order to say that something “just now” occurred, use the time noun 刚才 (gāngcái). It can be placed in front of the verb or the subject of a statement.

Structure

From today’s dialogue:

晓燕：马克，你刚才为什么突然不说话了？

(And if you’d like to know the difference between 刚 and 刚才, we’ve also got your covered!)

文化：Why Do Chinese People Ask About Your Salary?

If you spend time in China, you may be surprised when someone asks how much you make, how much you pay in rent, or how much something costs.

In China, however, questions about money are often be seen as pure curiosity rather than an attempt to “get into your business.” Among friends, relatives, colleagues, and other people who know each other, people may be more willing to discuss income and other financial matters.

At the same time, not everyone in China feels comfortable answering these questions. Those people have, without a doubt, long mastered the art of deflection and vague answers.

When in Rome, right?

幽默：上学太无聊了

Text:

• 上学实在太无聊了。

• 真想快点长大成人。

关键词：

1. 无聊 (wúliáo) boring; bored

2. 实在 (shízài) actually, indeed; true, honest

3. 真 (zhēn) really, truly; real

4. 长大 (zhǎngdà) to grow up

5. 长大成人 (zhǎngdà chén grén) to grow up and become an adult

Note: 成人 (chéngrén) here does not quite mean the noun “adult.” Context is key!

📮 Your Turn: Help Shape AIC!

Hi friends,

Every issue of AIC brings you five ways to level up your Chinese:

🔊 发音
💬 对话
🧩 语法
🏮 文化
😄 幽默

We want AIC to be as useful and enjoyable as possible, and you’re the best person to tell us how. It takes less than a minute!

Poll 1: Your Favorites

Poll 2: The One to Rethink

Everyone needs to learn vocabulary. That can’t be avoided. But not everyone finds the same vocabulary useful for them personally. Mastering the words you need for your own Chinese language interactions is, then, a process of bridging what you learn in your lessons to what you need in your own life. Although it’s less true for absolute beginners, it becomes truer and truer the longer you study. We’d like to give you a peek into how it worked for one learner.

In this newsletter, we’re introducing 麦凯林 (Mài Kǎilín), an intermediate Chinese learner who has been taking our live, one-on-one online lessons since May 2023. 麦凯林 (Mài Kǎilín) studied in Beijing for a short time while she was in college, and that experience sparked a lasting interest in the Chinese language and culture. Although her career after returning home has nothing to do with Chinese, she has continued learning the language and regularly chats with her Chinese friends over the phone. Now she’s a mother of two! Despite her busy work and family life, she continues to make time for her online Chinese lessons.

Learning Chinese Through 麦凯林 (Mài Kǎilín) ’s Everyday Life

1. Life with Two Little Ones

麦凯林 (Mài Kǎilín) has two young children, so many of her personalized vocabulary words and example sentences relate to parenting and everyday life with her little ones.

鼓 (gǔ) to bulge; to swell

今天宝宝吃了很多，小肚子都鼓起来了。
Jīntiān bǎobao chī le hěn duō, xiǎodùzi dōu gǔ qǐlái le.
The baby ate so much today that their little tummy is all round and full.

蹦 (bèng) to jump; to bounce

这个孩子蹦蹦跳跳地跑过来了。
Zhège háizi bèngbèng-tiàotiào de pǎo guòlai le.
The child came running over, hopping and skipping along the way.

悄悄 (qiāoqiāo) quietly; stealthily

刚才大宝悄悄地进来了。
Gāngcái Dàbǎo qiǎoqiāo de jìnlai le.
Dabao just came in quietly.

启蒙 (qǐméng) to introduce a child to a subject; early education

这是一个给孩子音乐启蒙的方法。
Zhè shì yī gè gěi háizi yīnyuè qǐméng de fāngfǎ.
This is one way to introduce children to music.

2. Keeping Up with Household Chores

卫生 (wèishēng) hygiene; sanitation

今天我要打扫卫生。
Jīntiān wǒ yào dǎsǎo wèishēng.
I’m going to do some cleaning today.

餐具 (cānjù) tableware; dining utensils

我喜欢用环保的餐具。
Wǒ xǐhuan yòng huánbǎo de cānjù.
I like using eco-friendly tableware.

可回收 (kěhuíshōu) recyclable

我们现在去把可回收的垃圾拿到路边。
Wǒmen xiànzài qù bǎ kěhuíshōu de lājī nádào lùbiān.
Let’s take the recyclable waste out to the curb now.

3. A Love of Food and Cooking

舀 (yǎo) to scoop up

我们先舀一勺花生酱。
Wǒmen xiān yǎo yī sháo huāshēngjiàng.
Let’s scoop out a spoonful of peanut butter first.

可口 (kěkǒu) tasty; delicious

今天的饭菜很可口。
Jīntiān de fàncài hěn kěkǒu.
Today’s meal is delicious.

菠萝 (bōluó) pineapple

我打算去超市买一些菠萝。
Wǒ dǎsuàn qù chāoshì mǎi yīxiē bōluó.
I’m planning to go to the supermarket to buy some pineapples.

营养 (yíngyǎng) nutrition; nutritious value

菠菜里的营养很丰富。
Bōcài lǐ de yíngyǎng hěn fēngfù.
Spinach is rich in nutrients.

Inside Hub: Learning Chinese Through Real-Life Situations

We have our own learning platform, the AllSet Learning Hub, where students can log in and access their personalized lesson materials.

Today, we’re sharing a sneak peek at Describe the Picture, featuring a discussion about how seating arrangements at company gatherings in China can reflect employees’ positions and seniority. This everyday situation offers an interesting glimpse into Chinese workplace culture and highlights a cultural difference that learners might not encounter in a textbook.

We’ll be sharing more examples from Hub and introducing other lesson modules in future features. Stay tuned!

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Give it a try and get your Chinese on track!

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we explore another interesting part of the foreigner experience in China: what happens when your Chinese becomes good enough for real conversations.

Along the way, the dialogue touches on language learning, cultural expectations, everyday communication, and the difference between “speaking Chinese” and truly understanding Chinese conversations.

Does today’s dialogue connect with anyone out there? Let us know in the comments!

发音: Tone Pair 3-4

The key “3-4” words from this week’s dialogue:

股票 (gǔpiào)

挑战 (tiǎozhàn)

考试 (kǎoshì)

In the lesson, you’ll encounter another important tone combination that appears constantly in everyday Mandarin: Tone 3 + Tone 4. At first, this pair can feel challenging for learners because the low dipping tone followed by a sharp falling tone creates a strong contrast in pitch.

The practical takeaway: keep Tone 3 short and relaxed, then let Tone 4 drop clearly and confidently. Once you get comfortable with the rhythm of 3-4 combinations, many everyday Mandarin words will start to sound more natural and connected. Words like “gǔpiào” (stock), “tiǎozhàn” (challenge), and “kǎoshì” (exam) are good examples of this tone pattern.

Don’t worry if Tone 3-4 combinations feel difficult at first. With regular listening and practice, this rhythm will become much easier to recognize and produce naturally.

[More detail on Tone Pair 3-4 on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki.]

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对话：“中文太好了”的烦恼

（场景：下午，公司茶水间。马克拿着手机，一脸生气。上海同事小林正在喝咖啡。）

小林：马克，你怎么了？谁惹你了？

马克：我今天不想说中文了。

小林：怎么了？你不是天天说自己中文很好吗？

马克：就是因为太好了。

小林：啊？

马克：刚才打车，司机说：“小伙子，你中文说得真好！”

小林：这是夸你啊。

马克：可是他说完以后，马上开始跟我聊股票。

小林：哈哈，然后呢？

马克：我听了二十分钟，完全不知道他说什么。

小林：那你可以说：“这个我不太懂。”

马克：我说了。

小林：然后？

马克：他说：“没事，我慢慢跟你讲。”

小林：哈哈，你逃不掉了。

马克：我觉得学中文最大的挑战，不是考试。

小林：那是什么？

马克：和中国人聊天。

小林：确实。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 烦恼 (fánnǎo) annoyances, pains, troubling matters

2. 惹 (rě) to provoke, to cause trouble

3. 夸 (kuā) to praise

4. 聊 (liáo) to chat

5. 股票 (gǔpiào) share; stock

6. 懂 (dǒng) to understand

7. 逃不掉 (táo bùdiào) there’s no escape

8. 挑战 (tiǎozhàn) a challenge; to challenge

9. 考试 (kǎoshì) test, exam; to take an exam

10. 确实 (quèshí) indeed

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Two words for “but”

Using “but” in Chinese is really simple to learn. It involves the two words 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). Make no “buts” about it; you’ll understand it in no time!

Structure

There are two main words for “but” in Chinese: 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). These are largely the same. The small difference is that 但是 (dànshì) is slightly more formal, whereas 可是 (kěshì) is just a bit more informal and a tad weaker in tone. You really don’t need to worry about which one is the right one to use though, since they can be used interchangeably.

From today’s dialogue:

马克：可是他说完以后，马上开始跟我聊股票。

文化：

Why “Your Chinese Is So Good!” Can Become Complicated

If you speak Chinese as a foreigner in China, you will probably hear one sentence many times: “Your Chinese is so good!”

In this week’s dialogue, Mark receives this compliment from a taxi driver. However, the compliment quickly leads to a much longer conversation, and Mark realizes that speaking good Chinese also means people may expect him to understand more topics that he might not quite have a handle on.

So is the problem that his Chinese not good enough to discuss trading stocks? Or is it that he’s not prepared to have to deal with people he doesn’t really want to talk to?

There are challenges at every level… we feel like they get more and more interesting, though!

幽默：香蕉上的标签

标签 (biāoqiān) label; tag

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• One carefully designed lesson from one of our 16 online courses for each lesson

• Grammar points which match the material and suit the discussion

• Vocabulary tracking based on what you actually cover with our teachers

• Experienced, trained AllSet Learning teachers patiently guiding you and encouraging you to talk

Give it a try and get your Chinese on track!

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we explore another familiar part of everyday life in China: the excitement around popular food and drink brands.

This time, the conversation focuses on viral milk tea, limited-time offers, and the long lines they can create. Along the way, the dialogue also touches on online trends, marketing, and the question of why people are willing to wait so long for something they may not really need.

发音: Tone Pair 3-2

The key “3-2” word from this week’s dialogue:

网红 (wǎnghóng)

奶茶 (nǎichá)

In the lesson, you’ll encounter another important tone combination that appears frequently in everyday Mandarin: Tone 3 + Tone 2. At first, this pair can feel tricky because the dipping Tone 3 is followed by the rising Tone 2, creating a noticeable change in pitch.

You’ll hear this tone pair in words from today’s lesson, such as “wǎnghóng” and “nǎichá.” Practicing these familiar words can help you get used to the rhythm of Tone 3 + Tone 2 combinations.

The is the tone pair I have personally found most challenging. It’s very easy to get wrong, such as pronounced is as “2-3” in what I like to call the “Tone Swap Error.” You’ll definitely want to practice this one. The practical takeaway: keep Tone 3 low and relaxed, then let Tone 2 rise naturally.

(Audio samples can be found on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki page: Tone pair 3-2)

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对话：网红奶茶

（场景：中午，公司楼下。马克拿着手机排队，同事小美路过。）

小美：马克，你为什么在这里排队？

马克：买奶茶啊，网上说这家特别火。

小美：是吗？我天天路过都没看见有人排队。

马克：今天不一样，今天限量。

小美：限量多少？

马克：好像是一千杯。

小美：那你排多久了？

马克：四十分钟了。

小美：马克，你知道吗，这种”限量”都是营销的说法。

马克：真的假的？

小美：你要是不信，你就一直排着吧。

马克：那……我都排了四十分钟了，不能白排啊。

小美：好吧，那你就继续排吧。

马克：那你怎么还不走？

小美：如果你一定要排队，是不是可以也请我喝一杯？

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 网红 (wǎnghóng) internet-famous

2. 奶茶 (nǎichá) milk tea

3. 排队 (páiduì) to line up

4. 限量 (xiàn liàng) limited edition, limited quantity

5. 营销 (yíngxiāo) marketing

6. 说法 (shuōfǎ) way of speaking, explanation

7. 白 (bái) in vain; for nothing

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Expressing “if… then…” with “yaoshi”

要是⋯⋯，就⋯⋯ (yàoshi..., jiù...) is one of several ways to convey “If..., then...” It is very similar to 如果..., 就... in usage and formality. However, it is important to note that 要是 is considered to be even more informal (and is usually left more to spoken Chinese) than the common 如果 and used more frequently in the northern areas of China.

Structure

Note that the subject can also be placed before 要是. In this case, 要是 can be shortened as 要.

From today’s dialogue:

小美：你要是不信，你就一直排着吧。

文化：

Why Viral Milk Tea Can Create Such Long Lines in China

If you walk around a Chinese city, you may notice long lines outside popular milk tea shops, especially when a new drink or limited-time offer becomes popular online.

In this week’s dialogue, Mark waits in line for a “limited” milk tea because he has seen people talking about the shop online. His coworker points out that the limited offer may also be a clever marketing strategy. So why are people willing to wait so long?

In China, social media plays an important role in making food and drinks popular. A product can become a “viral” sensation when people share photos, videos, and recommendations online.

For many consumers, buying a popular drink is not only about the drink itself. It can also be about trying something new, following a trend, or being part of a shared experience.

For learners, understanding the idea of “viral” products helps explain some of the connections between social media, marketing, and everyday consumer culture in modern China.

幽默：上班

Text:

• 正在上班的我

• 没有班上的我

• 还在找班上的我

关键词：

1. 正在 (zhèngzài) in the process of (doing something or happening); while (doing)

2. 上班 (shàngbān) to go to work

3. 找 (zhǎo) to look for

Never Tried Lessons with AllSet Learning?

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What You’ll Get:

3 live, one-on-one online lessons, 60 minutes each, targeted at your level

• One carefully designed lesson from one of our 16 online courses for each lesson

• Grammar points which match the material and suit the discussion

• Vocabulary tracking based on what you actually cover with our teachers

• Experienced, trained AllSet Learning teachers patiently guiding you and encouraging you to talk

Give it a try and get your Chinese on track!

Although your votes on this newsletter indicated many of you prefer daily life dialogues, we’ll still occasionally do the odd work-related topic (and try to keep it more relevant to more people). In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we continue exploring workplace communication in China.

This time, the conversation focuses on the word “young” and how its meaning can change depending on the situation. In a Chinese workplace, calling someone “young” may refer to age, but it can also suggest that someone is new, inexperienced, or even brings a lot of energy.

发音: Tone Pair 2-2

The key “2-2” word from this week’s dialogue:

年龄 (niánlíng)

成熟 (chéngshú)

In the lesson, you’ll encounter another important tone combination that appears constantly in everyday Mandarin: Tone 2 + Tone 2. This pair can feel challenging because two rising tones appear together, and getting either one wrong can cause miscommunication.

Both Tone 2 sounds rise upward, but when they appear together, native speakers usually make the first Tone 2 slightly lighter and less dramatic. The first syllable still has a rising quality, but it often prepares the listener for the second Tone 2, which carries the clearer rise.

By far the most common mistake, however, is to not pronounce both tones as a second tone. If a 2-2 tone pair comes off as 2-4, or 4-2, or even 3-2, there’s a good chance you’ll be misunderstood. Consistency is key. Attune your ear, and practice, practice, practice!

(Audio samples can be found on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki page: Tone pair 2-2)

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对话：老板说你“很年轻”

（场景：上海办公室，下午开会后。马克和他的中国同事小林聊天。）

小林：马克，你刚才为什么一直笑？

马克：因为老板刚刚说我“年轻”。

小林：这不是好事吗？

马克：可是我已经35岁了！

小林：哈哈，在中国公司里，“年轻”有时候不是指年龄。

马克：那是什么意思？

小林：可能是说你经验还不够。

马克：啊？所以老板不是夸我？

小林：也不一定，也可能是在夸你有活力。

马克：中文太难了。同一个词，可以有两个意思。

小林：欢迎来到中国。

马克：那如果老板说我“很成熟”呢？

小林：那要看情况，才知道老板是什么意思。

马克：太难了。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 年龄 (niánlíng) (a person’s) age

2. 夸 (kuā) to praise

3. 活力 (huólì) energy; vitality; vigor; vital force

4. 成熟 (chéngshú) mature; ripe

5. 看情况 (kàn qíngkuàng) it depends on the situation

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Expressing “just now” with “gangcai”

In order to say that something “just now” occurred, use the time noun 刚才 (gāngcái). It can be placed in front of the verb or the subject of a statement.

Structure

This grammar structure is pretty straightforward. Similar to the English “just now,” you can put 刚才 (gāngcái) right before the verb in a sentence. It can also come before or after the subject.

From today’s dialogue:

小林：马克，你刚才为什么一直笑？

P.S. If you’re already familiar with 刚才 (gāngcái), you might be wondering how it differs from 刚 (gāng) or 刚刚 (gānggāng).

文化：

Hidden Meanings in the Workplace?

In this week’s dialogue, the boss calls Mark “young.” While this sounds like a comment about age, in a workplace context it can also suggest that someone is new, lacks experience, or brings fresh energy to the team.

This kind of indirect communication is common in many Chinese workplaces. Instead of saying something too directly, people may use softer expressions that leave room for different interpretations. For foreign employees, it can be a good idea to assume less, observe more, and ask friendly co-workers what someone meant in private.

幽默：玩不了

Text:

• 小时候：这台电脑根本玩不了什么好玩游戏，等我长大一定攒钱买一台强劲的电脑

• 现在：我找到了工作赚到了钱，并买了梦寐以求的电脑，但现在我似乎完全没有动力再去玩游戏，只想躺在床上静静地看游戏直播

关键词：

1. 玩不了 (wán bùliǎo) can’t play

2. 小时候 (xiǎoshíhou) in one’s childhood

3. 好玩 (hǎowán) fun

4. 游戏 (yóuxì) game

5. 攒钱 (zǎnqián) to save money (usually in a bank account)

6. 强劲 (qiángjìng) powerful

7. 赚到 (zhuàn dào) to make some money

8. 梦寐以求 (mèngmèiyǐqiú) to yearn for sth even in one’s dreams (idiom)

9. 似乎 (sìhū) to seem as if, seemingly

10. 动力 (dònglì) motivation

11. 静静 (jìngjìng) quietly

12. 直播 (zhíbō) livestream

Never Tried Lessons with AllSet Learning?

Well, we have a special deal just for you. It’s called the “New Friend 66” deal. You can try out our highly customized, real-time one-on-one lessons without a big commitment.

What You’ll Get:

3 live, one-on-one online lessons, 60 minutes each, targeted at your level

• One carefully designed lesson from one of our 16 online courses for each lesson

• Grammar points which match the material and suit the discussion

• Vocabulary tracking based on what you actually cover with our teachers

• Experienced, trained AllSet Learning teachers patiently guiding you and encouraging you to talk

Give it a try and get your Chinese on track!

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we move from formal office communication into a very different kind of workplace conversation: what happens when “being sick” is not exactly what it seems.

This dialogue highlights how quickly everyday office interactions in China can shift between casual chat and serious workplace responsibility. From explaining an absence and reacting to social media “evidence,” to navigating group chat messages and urgent deadlines, the situation reflects how modern office communication often blends spoken conversation with digital platforms like WeChat.

There were many language and workplace dynamics we could have explored further in this lesson. Is there a phrase, office situation, or modern workplace habit in China you’d like us to look at more closely? Let us know!

发音: Tone Pair 4-3

The key “4-3” word from this week’s dialogue:

外企 (wàiqǐ)

到底 (dàodǐ)

现场 (xiànchǎng)

冒险 (màoxiǎn)

In the lesson, you’ll encounter another important tone combination that appears frequently in everyday Mandarin: Tone 4 + Tone 3. At first, this pair can feel a bit tricky.

The practical takeaway: let Tone 4 fall clearly but not exaggerated, then allow Tone 3 to stay light and naturally go low without overemphasizing the full contour.

(Audio samples can be found on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki page: Tone pair 4-3)

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对话：装病请假

（场景：上午十点，外企办公室的茶水间。马克正在倒咖啡，碰到同事晓燕。）

晓燕：马克，你昨天到底去哪了？李总找你找了一下午！

马克：我……身体不舒服，在家休息。

晓燕：哦？不舒服？那你朋友圈的烤串照片是谁发的？

马克：那个……那是提前拍好的。

晓燕：你还挺有先见之明的。

马克：好好好，我说实话，我昨天请了病假，但其实是因为要去抢演唱会的门票，现场排队！

晓燕：什么演唱会值得你冒这种险？

马克：周杰伦！你懂的。

晓燕：我懂。但李总不懂。他让你今天交上季度报告。

马克：上季度报告？！今天？没人告诉我啊！

晓燕：微信群里发的。

马克：我……我把群消息设置为免打扰了。

晓燕：你真聪明。

马克：晓燕，你帮我跟李总说一下，就说我今天……状态不太好！

晓燕：马克，我劝你啊，直接去道歉，比让我帮你撒谎强多了。

马克：好吧。

晓燕：走吧，我陪你去。但你欠我一顿饭。

马克：没问题。烤串怎么样？

晓燕：滚。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 装病 (zhuāngbìng) to feign illness

2. 外企 (wàiqǐ) foreign-owned enterprise

3. 茶水间 (cháshuǐ jiān) tea room (common office space)

4. 倒 (dǎo) to pour

5. 碰到 (pèngdào) to meet by chance, to bump into

6. 到底 (dàodǐ) after all

7. 舒服 (shūfu) comfortable

8. 朋友圈 (péngyouquān) (WeChat) Moments

9. 烤串 (kǎo chuàn) meat skewers grilled over charcoal, basically Chinese BBQ on a stick

10. 提前 (tíqián) in advance

11. 先见之明 (xiānjiànzhīmíng) foresight

12. 实话 (shíhuà) the truth

13. 请病假 (qǐng bìng jiǎ) to take sick leave

14. 演唱会 (yǎnchànghuì) (rock/pop) music concert

15. 现场 (xiànchǎng) the scene (of a crime, accident, etc.)

16. 排队 (páiduì) to line up

17. 值得 (zhíde) to be worth (doing)

18. 冒险 (màoxiǎn) to take a risk; adventure

19. 周杰伦 (ZhōuJiélún) Jay Chou (1979-), Taiwanese pop star

20. 你懂的 (nǐ dǒng de) “you know what I mean”

21. 季度 (jìdù) (financial) quarter

22. 微信群 (Wēixìn qún) WeChat group (chat)

23. 设置 (shèzhì) settings; to set

24. 免打扰 (miǎn dǎrǎo) Do Not Disturb

25. 聪明 (cōngming) smart, intelligent

26. 状态 (zhuàngtài) state, condition

27. 劝 (quàn) to advise

28. 直接 (zhíjiē) directly

29. 道歉 (dàoqiàn) apologize; make an apology

30. 撒谎 (sāhuǎng) to lie, to tell a lie

31. 强 (qiáng) strong

32. 欠 (qiàn) to owe

33. 顿 (dùn) classifier for meals, beatings, scoldings etc: time, bout, spell, meal

34. 滚 (gǔn) Get lost!

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Expressing “On Earth” with “daodi”

到底 can be used to mean “on earth” (as in “what on earth?!”) where it is used to add emphasis or urgency to a question. In this sense, 到底 is similar to 究竟.

From today’s dialogue:

晓燕：马克，你昨天到底去哪了？李总找你找了一下午！

文化：

What “Being Sick” Can Mean in Modern Workplace Conversations

If you follow office life in China, you may notice that conversations about “sick leave” are not always as straightforward as they first sound.

In this week’s dialogue, a colleague claims to be unwell, but the situation quickly becomes more complicated when social media posts, group chat messages, and urgent work tasks enter the picture.

In many modern workplaces, especially in international companies, communication often moves across multiple channels at once, including face-to-face chats, WeChat groups, and social media. This makes it easier for small inconsistencies to be noticed quickly, and it also raises expectations around availability and transparency.

At the same time, for employees navigating busy schedules and personal interests, situations like “taking a sick day” can sometimes reflect broader questions about work pressure, time management, and workplace trust.

That said, don’t expect most office workers to be as dumb as “Mark” in our dialogue.

幽默：上网的人

Text:

• 上网的人

• 你听说了吗？今天又发生一件 ... ...

• 世界快要完了，毁灭吧，累了

• 不上网的狗

• 这个世界真美好啊 ...

关键词：

1. 上网 (shàngwǎng) to go online, to use the internet

2. 听说 (tīngshuō) to hear (it) said

3. 发生 (fāshēng) to happen

4. 世界 (shìjiè) world

5. 毁灭 (huǐmiè) to destroy

6. 累 (lèi) tired

7. 美好 (měihǎo) beautiful; fine

Never Tried Lessons with AllSet Learning?

Well, we have a special deal just for you. It’s called the “New Friend 66” deal. You can try out our highly customized, real-time one-on-one lessons without a big commitment.

What You’ll Get:

3 live, one-on-one online lessons, 60 minutes each, targeted at your level

• One carefully designed lesson from one of our 16 online courses for each lesson

• Grammar points which match the material and suit the discussion

• Vocabulary tracking based on what you actually cover with our teachers

• Experienced, trained AllSet Learning teachers patiently guiding you and encouraging you to talk

Give it a try and get your Chinese on track!

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we step into an office setting and explore a common social situation in China: giving a gift to a friend or colleague.

This time, the conversation focuses on how people talk about gift value, price, and politeness. Along the way, the dialogue also touches on cultural differences in gift-giving, including how expensive a gift should be and how people express appreciation without making others feel uncomfortable.

发音: Tone Pair 3-4

The key “3-4” word from this week’s dialogue:

礼物 (lǐwù)

In the Lesson, you’ll encounter another important tone combination that appears constantly in everyday Mandarin: Tone 3 + Tone 4. At first, this pair can feel challenging because the low dipping tone followed by the sharp falling tone requires a quick change in pitch direction.

Tone 3 starts low and has a dipping quality, while Tone 4 begins high and falls sharply. When these two tones appear together, native speakers usually do not make Tone 3 a full “dipping” tone. Instead, Tone 3 is often pronounced as a shorter low tone before the clear drop of Tone 4.

Many learners make the mistake of making Tone 3 too long or too dramatic, which can interrupt the natural rhythm of the phrase. Instead, focus on keeping Tone 3 short and low, then make Tone 4 clear and confident with a strong falling movement.

[More detail on Tone Pair 3-4 on the Chinese Pronunciation Wiki.]

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对话：“很贵”的礼物

（场景：周五下班前，办公室。马克提着一个漂亮的礼盒，偷偷放到晓燕桌上。）

晓燕：马克，这是什么东西？

马克：送给你的。感谢你的。

晓燕：不行不行，这个太贵了。

马克：不贵不贵，就是一点小意思。

晓燕：你拿回去吧。

马克：为什么？在我们国家，送给朋友礼物很正常。

晓燕：在中国也很正常。但是你送我一盒五百块的茶叶，这不正常。

马克：你怎么知道五百块？

晓燕：这个盒子上有价格标签。

马克：啊！我忘了撕价格标签了！

晓燕：五百块的礼物太贵了！

马克：其实我是网上买的，只花了五十块！

晓燕：啊？

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 礼盒 (lǐhé) gift box

2. 偷偷 (tōutōu) secretly, stealthily

3. 小意思 (xiǎoyìsi) a small token

4. 拿 (ná) to get, to pick up

5. 礼物 (lǐwù) gift, present

6. 正常 (zhèngcháng) normal

7. 盒 (hé) small box; case

8. 茶叶 (cháyè) tea

9. 价格 (jiàgé) price

10. 标签 (biāoqiān) label, tag

11. 忘 (wàng) to forget

12. 撕 (sī) to tear (paper)

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

The “shi... de” construction for emphasizing details

The 是⋯⋯的 (shì... de) construction is used to draw attention to certain information in a sentence. It’s often used to ask questions that seek specific information, or to explain a situation by emphasizing a particular detail. While not strictly tied to any “tense,” the 是⋯⋯的 construction is frequently used when asking or telling details about the past.

This use of 是⋯⋯的 (shì... de) is usually emphasized in textbooks over other uses, and therefore is sometimes called the “classic” 是⋯⋯的 construction.

Structure

This structure can be used to emphasize any detail, but most commonly it emphasizes time, manner, or place. Don’t worry if this still seems a little confusing; what you need is lots of helpful examples, and there are plenty of those on the wiki.

From today’s dialogue:

马克：其实我是网上买的，只花了五十块！

文化：

Why Choosing the Right Gift Can Be More Complicated Than It Seems

If you give a gift in China, you may notice that the value of the gift is not always the most important thing. The relationship between the giver and receiver, as well as the situation, often matters a lot.

In this week’s dialogue, Mark gives Xiaoyan an expensive box of tea to show his appreciation. However, Xiaoyan feels uncomfortable because the gift seems too pricy. This reflects an important idea in Chinese gift culture: a good gift should show kindness without creating pressure or a feeling of obligation.

In many social situations in China, people think carefully about the price, meaning, and timing of a gift. A gift that is too expensive may sometimes make the receiver feel they need to return the favor. Fruit and snacks are common gifts that rarely feel overly expensive.

幽默：我的假期是怎么过的

Text:

• 我的假期是怎么过的 [does this pattern look familiar??]

• 想着去什么地方玩

• 哪里都没去所以很难过

关键词：

1. 假期 (jiàqī) vacation

2. 难过 (nánguò) to feel upset

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What You’ll Get:

3 live, one-on-one online lessons, 60 minutes each, targeted at your level

• One carefully designed lesson from one of our 16 online courses for each lesson

• Grammar points which match the material and suit the discussion

• Vocabulary tracking based on what you actually cover with our teachers

• Experienced, trained AllSet Learning teachers patiently guiding you and encouraging you to talk

Give it a try and get your Chinese on track!

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we join a company dinner and explore an important part of Chinese social culture: drinking etiquette.

This dialogue highlights the challenges many foreigners face at Chinese business meals, from responding to toasts and understanding the idea of “giving face” to finding a polite way to explain personal limits.

There are many cultural details behind drinking traditions in China, including how relationships, respect, and communication are often expressed at the dinner table. Learning these expressions can help learners better understand both the language and the social situations behind them.

发音: Tone Pair 1-3

The key “1-3” word from this week’s dialogue:

喝酒 (hējiǔ)

Some learners make the mistake of trying to exaggerate the rise of Tone 3 every time they say it. This can make speech sound slow or unnatural. Instead, after the steady high pitch of Tone 1, think of Tone 3 as dropping comfortably into a lower pitch before continuing smoothly into the next sound.

[More detail on Tone pair 1-3 on the Chinese Pronunciation Wiki.]

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对话：劝酒的艺术

（场景：晚上八点，公司聚餐的饭店里，厕所门口。马克躲在这里，晓燕找到他。）

晓燕：马克，你怎么又跑出来了？王总都要敬酒了！

马克：我……肚子不舒服，去了一趟厕所。

晓燕：哦？肚子不舒服？那你手里的可乐是怎么回事？

马克：那个……那是等一下要偷偷倒进酒杯里的。

晓燕：你这个办法我上次就用过，王总早就看出来了。

马克：好好好，我说实话，我是真不能喝酒，一喝就想吐，头也疼。

晓燕：那你干嘛不早说？

马克：说了怕王总不高兴，觉得我不给面子。

晓燕：那你现在跑出来，他更不高兴了。

马克：啊？！那怎么办？

晓燕：他刚才还问我，你是不是看不起我们中国人的酒桌文化。

马克：我没有！我特别尊重！

晓燕：那你自己跟他说去。

马克：晓燕，你能不能帮我一下，就说我胃不好，医生不让喝？

晓燕：马克，我劝你，直接跟王总说实话，比让我帮你编故事强多了。

马克：好吧。

晓燕：走吧，我陪你回去。但你这顿饭欠我一个人情。

马克：没问题。改天请你吃火锅？

晓燕：好呀。我要吃不辣的那种啊，我怕上火。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 劝酒 (quànjiǔ) to urge to drink

2. 艺术 (yìshù) art

3. 聚餐 (jùcān) to dine together

4. 厕所 (cèsuǒ) toilet, restroom

5. 躲 (duǒ) to dodge, to hide

6. 敬酒 (jìngjiǔ) to make a toast, to clink wine glasses

7. 趟 (tāng) a measure word for trips or times you go somewhere

8. 肚子 (dùzi) belly, abdomen

9. 可乐 (kělè) cola

10. 偷偷 (tōutōu) secretly, stealthily

11. 倒 (dǎo) to pour

12. 说实话 (shuō shíhuà) to tell the truth

13. 吐 (tǔ) to vomit, to throw up

14. 面子 (miànzi) face (as in “losing face”)

15. 酒桌文化 (jiǔzhuō wénhuà) drinking culture

16. 尊重 (zūnzhòng) to respect

17. 胃 (wèi) stomach

18. 编 (biān) to make up (a story, an excuse)

19. 故事 (gùshi) story

20. 陪 (péi) to accompany; to keep someone company

21. 顿 (dùn) classifier for meals, beatings, scoldings etc: time, bout, spell, meal

22. 欠 (qiàn) to owe

23. 人情 (rénqíng) favor

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Measure words for verbs

When a verb is done more than once, it also requires a measure word to accompany it. This way the measure word is acting as a way to count the frequency or re-occurrence of an action. The most basic one you probably already know is 次 (cì).

Structure

The grammar pattern is very similar to English. For example, “看三次” and “saw three times” mirror each other in structure. In Chinese sentences, these measure words come after the verb. You should also know that, like nouns, some verbs have special measure words to go with them. The basic verbal measure word, however, is 次, as in the number of “times” something is done or happens.

Common verb measure words include 次 (cì), 遍 (biàn), and 下 (xià).

From today’s dialogue:

马克：我……肚子不舒服，去了一趟厕所。

文化：

Why Drinking Is Often Part of Chinese Business Culture

If you attend a business dinner in China, you may notice that drinking can sometimes be an important part of the social interaction.

In this week’s dialogue, Mark struggles with how to respond to a toast from his boss. For many Chinese people, drinking together at a meal is not only about the alcohol itself, but also about building relationships, showing respect, and creating a more relaxed atmosphere.

At business dinners, toasts often carry social meanings. The way people accept, refuse, or respond to a drink can be connected to ideas like politeness, friendship, and “giving face.”

At the same time, attitudes toward drinking are changing. Many younger people and professionals today are more comfortable setting personal limits and finding different ways to socialize.

For learners, understanding drinking etiquette helps explain not just vocabulary, but also the social expectations behind Chinese dinner conversations.

幽默：我喜欢你的衬衫

Text:

• 说“谢谢”

• 低头看看自己穿的是什么衬衫

关键词：

1. 衬衫 (chènshān) dress shirt

2. 低头 (dītóu) to bow the head

3. 穿 (chuān) to wear

Never Tried Lessons with AllSet Learning?

Well, we have a special deal just for you. It’s called the “New Friend 66” deal. You can try out our highly customized, real-time one-on-one lessons without a big commitment.

What You’ll Get:

3 live, one-on-one online lessons, 60 minutes each, targeted at your level

• One carefully designed lesson from one of our 16 online courses for each lesson

• Grammar points which match the material and suit the discussion

• Vocabulary tracking based on what you actually cover with our teachers

• Experienced, trained AllSet Learning teachers patiently guiding you and encouraging you to talk

Give it a try and get your Chinese on track!

Every AIC dialogue starts from the same place: a real situation you’d actually run into living in (or visiting) China. No textbook filler, just people getting things done (or maybe getting mildly annoyed at each other), in Mandarin.

Twenty-one issues in, two flavors of “real life” keep showing up:

Modern Daily Life Situations

This is the stuff of actual life outside the office: ordering delivery, hailing a ride, checking in and out of hotels, buying something online, paying with your phone, negotiating screen time with your kid. Typically it’s one scene, one task, and useful vocab you can use in China.

Some examples from AIC:

• AIC #2: Mobile Payments — QR-code menus and the WeChat Pay vs. Alipay shuffle after dinner

• AIC #16: Ordering Delivery — two coworkers splitting a lunch delivery order to dodge the fee

• AIC #17: Ride-Hailing in China — a rush-hour ride where driver and passenger chat routes and small talk

Workplace Scenarios

And this is the distilled reality of of office life in China: meetings, job intros, project assignments, work hours. Its own vocabulary, its own etiquette, its own culture.

Some examples from AIC:

• AIC #4: Job Introductions — an HR employee envies a coworker’s business trips, until he remembers he can’t take any

• AIC #6: Attending a Meeting — a manager reshuffles who’s leading a new project

• AIC #11: “9-9-6” Work Hours — good news (an acquisition) turns into bad news (the 9am–9pm, 6-day schedule that comes with it)

We can lean harder into either direction, but which would you prefer?
Cast your vote below!

Don’t overthink it; just cast a quick vote. We’re listening.

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we take a ride through a very common part of modern Chinese city life: the electric scooter.

This dialogue focuses on traffic rules, road safety, and the challenges of adapting to a new way of getting around in China. Along the way, the conversation also touches on helmets, bike lanes, traffic violations, and the funny misunderstandings that can happen when people are unfamiliar with local rules.

There were many transportation and daily life topics we could have explored further in this lesson. Is there a traffic rule, commuting experience, or part of life in China you’d like us to look at more closely? Let us know!

发音: Tone Pair 1-4

In the lesson, you’ll encounter another important tone combination that appears constantly in everyday Mandarin: Tone 1 + Tone 4. At first, this pair can feel challenging because the high, steady Tone 1 is followed by the sharp drop of Tone 4, creating a strong contrast in pitch.

Tone 1 stays high and level, while Tone 4 starts high and falls quickly. When these two tones appear together, native speakers usually keep the first tone clear and stable, then move naturally into the strong falling movement of the fourth tone. (Audio samples can be found on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki page: Tone pair 1-4)

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对话：那你应该知道交通规则

（场景：早上八点半，公司楼下。马克抱着头，一脸崩溃地跑过来，正好碰到准备进公司的晓燕。）

马克： 完了完了！我这个月又要白干两天了！

晓燕： 怎么了？老板扣你工资了？

马克： 不是老板，是我自己。

晓燕： 又怎么了？

马克： 我昨天买了一辆电动车，今天第一天骑。

晓燕： 挺好啊，终于不用天天挤地铁了。

马克： 我也是这么想的。结果我刚才被交警拦下来了。

晓燕： 你没戴头盔？

马克： 戴了。

晓燕： 那你闯红灯了？

马克： 没有。

晓燕： 那为什么？

马克： 因为我骑到机动车道上去了。我真的不知道不能骑那里！

晓燕： 哈哈，你是不是一直跟着前面的汽车走？

马克： 对啊！我觉得他们都走这条路，我就跟着。

晓燕： 马克，你把电动车当汽车开了。

马克： 交警还问我：“你来中国多久了？”

晓燕： 你怎么回答的？

马克： 我说：“三年。”

晓燕： 然后呢？

马克： 他看了我三秒，说：“那你应该知道交通规则了。”

晓燕： 哈哈哈，这句话已经很客气了。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 交通规则 (jiāotōng guīzé) traffic rules

2. 崩溃 (bēngkuì) to collapse

3. 白干 (bái gàn) working for nothing

4. 扣工资 (kòu gōngzī) to dock pay

5. 电动车 (diàndòngchē) electric bike

6. 终于 (zhōngyú) at last; in the end; finally; eventually

7. 挤 (jǐ) crowded; to squeeze (onto)

8. 结果 (jiéguǒ) result; in the end, as a result

9. 交警 (jiāojǐng) traffic police

10. 拦 (lán) to block sb’s path

11. 戴 (dài) to carry; to wear (an accessory)

12. 头盔 (tóukuī) helmet

13. 闯红灯 (chuǎnghóngdēng) to run a red light

14. 机动车道 (jīdòngchē dào) motor vehicle lane

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Using “bei” sentences

被 (bèi) sentences, which are called 被字句 (bèizìjù) in Chinese, are a key way to express the passive voice in modern Mandarin Chinese. In passive sentences, the object of an action becomes the subject of the sentence, and the “doer” of the action, which would have been the subject of the normal (active voice) sentence, becomes secondary and may or may not be mentioned in the passive sentence.

Structure

From today’s dialogue:

马克： 我也是这么想的。结果我刚才被交警拦下来了。

文化：

Why Electric Scooters Are Everywhere in Chinese Cities

If you spend time in Chinese cities, you will quickly notice that electric scooters are a very common way to get around.

In this week’s dialogue, Mark buys an electric bike because he wants to avoid crowded public transportation. However, he soon learns that riding an electric scooter in China is not as simple as just following the cars on the road. Different vehicles have different rules about where they can go.

In many Chinese cities, electric scooters are popular because they are affordable, convenient, and practical for short-distance travel. They are especially useful for commuting, shopping, and daily errands.

At the same time, as the number of electric scooters has increased, cities have also paid more attention to traffic safety, including helmet use, road rules, and vehicle management.

For learners, understanding electric scooter culture helps explain not just transportation vocabulary, but also an important part of everyday urban life in modern China.

幽默：我给手机设密码的原因

Text:

• 手机被盗时保护个人信息

• 防止身边人乱翻我的手机

关键词：

1. 设 (shè) to set up

2. 密码 (mìmǎ) password, PIN

3. 原因 (yuányīn) cause, reason

4. 盗 (dào) to steal

5. 保护 (bǎohù) to protect

6. 个人 (gèrén) personal, individual

7. 信息 (xìnxī) information; news; message

8. 防止 (fángzhǐ) to prevent

9. 身边 (shēnbiān) at one’s side

10. 乱 (luàn) chaotic, messy, disorganized

11. 翻 (fān) to turn over

Never Tried Lessons with AllSet Learning?

Well, we have a special deal just for you. It’s called the “New Friend 66” deal. You can try out our highly customized, real-time one-on-one lessons without a big commitment.

What You’ll Get:

3 live, one-on-one online lessons, 60 minutes each, targeted at your level

• One carefully designed lesson from one of our 16 online courses for each lesson

• Grammar points which match the material and suit the discussion

• Vocabulary tracking based on what you actually cover with our teachers

• Experienced, trained AllSet Learning teachers patiently guiding you and encouraging you to talk

Give it a try and get your Chinese on track!

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we step into a typical office meeting situation in China and follow what happens when a “routine” calendar invite turns out to be anything but routine.

This dialogue highlights how workplace communication often flows across multiple channels, from email subject lines and meeting invites to group chat messages. It also shows how easily important information can be missed when messages are assumed to be low priority based on their wording alone.

At the same time, the story reflects a very real office experience for many learners working in or with Chinese teams: not all “standard” or “sync” meetings are just formalities, and key decisions are often made in settings that look unremarkable at first glance.

发音: Tone Pair 3-1

In this lesson, we’ll focus on another very common tone combination in Mandarin that appears constantly in everyday conversations: Tone 3 + Tone 1.

3rd Tone is low, while 1st Tone stays high and flat. When these two tones appear together, native speakers usually skip making the full dip of Tone 3. Instead, Tone 3 is often shortened to a low tone, so the transition into Tone 1 feels smoother and more natural.

Many learners make the mistake of fully dropping Tone 3 and then jumping sharply up to Tone 1, which can make the phrase sound broken or overly dramatic. Instead, think of it as a light dip or gentle low tone followed by a steady high tone without a big break in between.

(Audio samples can be found on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki page: Tone pair 3-1)

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对话：那个“不重要”的会议

（场景：周二下午两点，马克坐在工位上戴着一只耳机，晓燕走过来拍了拍他的肩膀。）

晓燕：马克，你怎么还坐着？两点开会，大家都在会议室等你。

马克：开会？什么会？

晓燕：周二的部门例会啊。你没看邮件？

马克：哦……那封邮件。我看了标题，觉得不重要，就没点进去。

晓燕：你怎么知道不重要？

马克：标题写的是“本周工作同步”。每次写这种标题的邮件，里面都是废话。

晓燕：这次不是废话。老板要宣布新项目，还要定负责人。

马克：什么？新项目？你怎么不早说？

晓燕：我在群里发了消息，你没看？

马克：我把群消息设为免打扰了。

晓燕：你上次还没吸取教训？装病请假那次？

马克：快走快走。现在进去还来得及吗？

晓燕：来得及。不过老板已经讲了一半了。你悄悄从后门进去，别出声。

马克：好。晓燕，老板有没有说项目是什么方向的？

晓燕：跟海外市场有关。我觉得特别适合你。

马克：真的？那我必须拿下。

晓燕：想拿下项目，第一步是什么？

马克：什么？

晓燕：先把群消息的免打扰关掉。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 戴 (dài) to carry; to wear (an accessory)

2. 耳机 (ěrjī) headphones, earphones

3. 肩膀 (jiānbǎng) shoulder

4. 标题 (biāotí) title; heading; headline; caption; subject

5. 同步 (tóngbù) synchronous

6. 废话 (fèihuà) nonsense

7. 免打扰 (miǎn dǎrǎo) do not disturb [mode]

8. 吸取 (xīqǔ) to draw (a lesson, insight etc)

9. 教训 (jiàoxun) to lecture (on issues of morality)

10. 装病 (zhuāngbìng) to feign illness/to malinger

11. 悄悄 (qiāoqiāo) quietly

12. 拿下 (náxià) to win (a set, a game etc)

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Direction complement

A direction complement is a complement used to describe the direction of a verb. Verbs often already have some inherent movement implied, but by adding a direction complement, it becomes clearer where, exactly, that action is going.

Structure

The most basic (and common) form of direction complement is formed by a verb and 来 or 去.

From today’s dialogue:

晓燕走过来拍了拍他的肩膀。

马克：哦……那封邮件。我看了标题，觉得不重要，就没点进去。

马克：快走快走。现在进去还来得及吗？

晓燕：来得及。不过老板已经讲了一半了。你悄悄从后门进去，别出声。

文化：

Why “Unimportant” Meeting Emails Are Never Really Unimportant in Chinese Office Culture

In this week’s dialogue, the character assumes that a meeting titled “work update” is not important and chooses to ignore the email entirely. However, the actual meeting turns out to include key decisions about a new project and team responsibilities.

In many Chinese workplaces, especially in fast-paced corporate settings, information is often distributed across multiple channels, including email and group chats. As a result, employees are expected to pay attention to both formal messages and informal updates to avoid missing important details.

At the same time, for newcomers or learners, it can feel confusing when “routine” or “generic” titles actually hide high-priority information. This reflects a communication style where context and habit often matter as much as the wording itself. (Sometimes your Chinese coworkers may all know that something big is coming, but you were left out of the office buzz.)

Takeaway: take all meetings seriously until you have a good feel for the role meetings play in the company. Everything is a learning opportunity!

幽默：变成一只狗

Text:

• 你有没有幻想过变成一只狗？

• 有的，无忧无虑，永远快乐。

• 你有没有幻想过变成一个人类？

• 我没有。

• 别理他们！我们去那边玩。

关键词：

1. 幻想 (huànxiǎng) delusion

2. 变成 (biànchéng) to turn into

3. 无忧无虑 (wúyōuwúlǜ) carefree and without worries (idiom)

4. 永远 (yǒngyuǎn) forever, eternal

5. 快乐 (kuàilè) happy

6. 人类 (rénlèi) humankind

7. 别理 (biélǐ) ignore it!

8. 玩 (wán) to play (with); to have fun

More from AllSet Learning

This summer, we’re launching a brand-new course: “Beyond the Guidebook: A Chinese Travel Course”, and it’s unlike any travel-focused Chinese course you’ve seen before.

Each lesson takes you deep into one of China’s most fascinating cities, from iconic destinations like Beijing and Chengdu to lesser-known gems that even seasoned travelers often overlook. Beyond the landmarks, you’ll discover the side streets, the hidden restaurants, the local stories. The kind of detail that only makes sense once you can actually speak the language.

The course is designed for intermediate learners (B1 and above) and combines cultural reading, real-life travel dialogues, and travel-centric discussion to build both your fluency and your confidence. Every lesson is a live, one-on-one session with a trained native Chinese teacher, so you get the local insight and the language practice, all in 60 minutes.

Looking forward to traveling to China someday, but not quite ready yet? This is the next best thing! Get valuable, practical conversation practice while preparing yourself for your future journey. Future you will thank you!

Learn more and enroll here →

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we step out of the typical work routine and into a very relatable modern urban scenario: the mystery of the “missing” food delivery.

This dialogue highlights how a simple lunch order can quickly turn into a communication breakdown involving app notifications, saved addresses, and real-world location details. From “delivered” status messages to outdated workplace information, the conversation reflects how much we rely on digital systems to handle everyday logistics.

Has this ever happened to you, like it has to John? Is there a phrase, customer service interaction, or digital life experience in China you’d like us to look at more closely? Let us know in the comments!

发音: Tone Pair

In this lesson, we’ll look at another very common tone pattern in Mandarin that appears in everyday conversations: the 1-1 tone pair.

At first, this combination may seem simple because both tones are high and level. However, many learners actually struggle with it because they tend to make the two syllables sound too identical or too flat, without enough natural rhythm between them.

Tone Pair 1-1: Why does it feel so repetitive?

Tone 1 is a high-level tone, which means it stays relatively flat and high in pitch. When two Tone 1 syllables appear together, native speakers do not pronounce them as two identical “monotone” beats. Instead, the first Tone 1 is usually slightly stronger and more stable, while the second Tone 1 is a bit lighter and smoother to keep the phrase flowing naturally.

It’s possible to make the mistake of over-flattening both tones equally, which can make the phrase sound robotic or disconnected. Don’t worry about this too much; it’s better to sound like a robot than to not be understood. The more you speak, the more natural your pronunciation will be.

(Audio samples can be found on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki page: Tone pair 1-1)

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对话：那个“消失”的外卖

（场景：下午一点，在一栋办公楼里。马克正在前台焦急地翻找，同事晓燕端着咖啡路过。）

晓燕：马克，你干嘛呢？你在找什么？

马克：我在找我的午饭。它……消失了。

晓燕：消失了？怎么可能？

马克：是一个外卖。我花了六十八块。它显示“已送达”，但是，没有。

晓燕：你再找找，是不是哪个同事帮你拿了？

马克：你看，“您的订单已送达，感谢您的耐心等待”。我很有耐心，可是它没到。

晓燕：你有没有想过，可能是外卖小哥放错地方了？

马克：不可能。我的地址写得很清楚：创新路八十八号，A座，十五楼，一五零三室，“门口的小桌子上”。

晓燕：等等……创新路八十八号？

马克：对啊。

晓燕：这里是……科技路六十六号。

马克：啊！

晓燕：创新路八十八号是我们公司去年的地址。我们搬家了，你记得吗？上个月的事。

马克：啊……那个地址是系统自动填的。

晓燕：那你为什么不改？

马克：我觉得……它应该懂我。

晓燕：你觉得一个点饭的软件应该懂你？

马克：购物软件懂我，看剧软件懂我，为什么点饭软件不懂我？

晓燕：因为它只是一个点饭的工具，不是你前女友。

马克：你说得对。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 消失 (xiāoshī) to disappear

2. 外卖 (wàimài) takeout, to go (for food bought at a restaurant)

3. 前台 (qiántái) reception desk

4. 焦急 (jiāojí) anxious

5. 翻 (fān) to turn over

6. 端 (duān) to hold sth level with both hands

7. 路过 (lùguò) to pass through, to pass by

8. 订单 (dìngdān) (purchase) order

9. 送达 (sòngdá) to deliver

10. 耐心 (nàixīn) to be patient; patience

11. 等待 (děngdài) to wait

12. 外卖小哥 (wàimài xiǎogē) delivery guy

13. 地址 (dìzhǐ) address

14. 清楚 (qīngchu) clear

15. 创新路 (Chuàngxīn Lù) Chuangxin Road

16. 科技路 (Kējì Lù) Keji Road

17. 搬家 (bānjiā) to move house

18. 记得 (jìde) to remember

19. 系统 (xìtǒng) system

20. 自动 (zìdòng) automatic

21. 填 (tián) (of a form etc) to fill in

22. 改 (gǎi) to change, to alter

23. 点饭 (diǎn fàn) to order food

24. 软件 (ruǎnjiàn) software

25. 购物 (gòuwù) shopping

26. 看剧 (kàn jù) to watch a TV series

27. 工具 (gōngjù) tool

28. 前女友 (qiánnǚyǒu) ex-girlfriend

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Complements after Verbs

Once you learn to use degree complements, a whole new layer of expressiveness is infused into your language. You will be able to express degree of verbs and adjectives with much more precision and color. Today we are using degree complements to express how a verb happened or assess its quality.

Structure

From today’s dialogue:

马克：不可能。我的地址写得很清楚：……

Negative Form

The only difference between the affirmative and negative forms is swapping a 得 for a 不.

Structure

So the example from today’s dialogue, in negative form, would be:

我的地址写得不清楚：……

文化：

When “Delivered” Does Not Always Mean “Received” in Modern Chinese Delivery Culture

If you use food delivery apps in China, you may occasionally encounter situations where the system says an order has arrived, but the food is not actually in hand.

In this week’s dialogue, the confusion comes from a mismatch between digital confirmation and physical reality, as well as an outdated address still stored in the system. Is this a rare mistake or something more common?

In many fast-paced urban environments, delivery services rely heavily on automation, default settings, and previously saved user information. This can make the process extremely efficient, but it also means that small data errors can quickly lead to confusion at the delivery point.

At the same time, conversations like this highlight how people often interact with technology as if it understands context and intention, even when it is simply following programmed instructions.

For learners, this helps illustrate not just language for delivery problems, but also how digital dependency and everyday expectations intersect in modern China.

幽默：在意我的看法

Text:

• 你不该在意别人的看法

• 那我该在意什么？

• 我的看法

关键词：

1. 不该 (bùgāi) should not

2. 在意 (zàiyì) to care about;to mind

3. 别人 (biérén) other people

4. 看法 (kànfǎ) point of view

More from AllSet Learning

This summer, we’re launching a brand-new course: “Beyond the Guidebook: A Chinese Travel Course”, and it’s unlike any travel-focused Chinese course you’ve seen before.

Each lesson takes you deep into one of China’s most fascinating cities, from iconic destinations like Beijing and Chengdu to lesser-known gems that even seasoned travelers often overlook. Beyond the landmarks, you’ll discover the side streets, the hidden restaurants, the local stories. The kind of detail that only makes sense once you can actually speak the language.

The course is designed for intermediate learners (B1 and above) and combines cultural reading, real-life travel dialogues, and travel-centric discussion to build both your fluency and your confidence. Every lesson is a live, one-on-one session with a trained native Chinese teacher, so you get the local insight and the language practice, all in 60 minutes.

Looking forward to traveling to China someday, but not quite ready yet? This is the next best thing! Get valuable, practical conversation practice while preparing yourself for your future journey. Future you will thank you!

Learn more and enroll here →

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we step into a modern Chinese office and explore a very common part of everyday life: online shopping.

This dialogue focuses on livestream shopping (very popular in China), low-price deals, and the way online platforms influence people’s buying decisions. Along the way, we also touch on impulse buying, the attraction of “too good to be true” prices, and how technology has changed the way people shop in China.

There were many interesting topics about online shopping habits and consumer culture we could have explored further in this lesson. Is there a phrase, shopping experience, or modern lifestyle trend you’d like us to unpack more deeply? Let us know!

发音: Tone Pair

In the lesson, you’ll encounter another important tone combination that appears constantly in everyday Mandarin: Tone 1 + Tone 1. At first, this pair may feel simple because both syllables have the same high, level tone, but keeping the pitch stable can still be challenging for learners.

Tone 1 is a high and steady tone. When two Tone 1 syllables appear together, native speakers usually keep both syllables at a similar pitch level, creating a smooth and balanced rhythm. (Can it sound like a robot? Well, maybe a little, but better to sound like a robot and be understood!)

In today’s lesson, you’ll hear words such as 标签 (biāoqiān) and 周一 (Zhōuyī). Both words contain the 1-1 tone pair, so each syllable should stay high and flat without dropping in the middle.

Jiāyóu!

[More detail on Tone pair 1-1 on the Chinese Pronunciation Wiki.]

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对话：“太便宜”的衣服

（场景：周一早上，办公室。马克穿着一件新衣服，标签还在袖子上晃来晃去。）

晓燕：马克，你衣服上有个东西在飘。

马克：啊，标签又忘了撕。

晓燕：等等……你这个标签上写的什么？

马克：别看了，就是一件T恤。

晓燕：九块九？！

马克：你小声点！

晓燕：你买了一件九块九的T恤？在哪里买的？

马克：网上。有个直播间，主播说“今天只要九块九”，我就买了。

晓燕：你还看直播买东西？

马克：对，我觉得很有意思。

晓燕：然后你就买了？

马克：不只这个。我还买了一个手电筒，也是九块九。

晓燕：手电筒你用得着吗？

马克：不一定用得着。但是便宜啊！

晓燕：好吧。以后我就叫你“九块九”。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 穿 (chuān) to wear, to put on; to pierce

2. 标签 (biāoqiān) label, tag

3. 袖子 (xiùzi) sleeve

4. 晃来晃去 (huàng lái huàng qù) swing back and forth

5. 飘 (piāo) to float

6. 撕 (sī) to tear (paper)

7. T恤 (T-xù) T-shirt

8. 块 (kuài) chunk, piece; [measure word for money]

9. 小声 (xiǎoshēng) in a low voice

10. 直播间 (zhíbōjiān) livestreaming room

11. 主播 (zhǔbō) livestreamer

12. 有意思 (yǒuyìsi) interesting

13. 不只 (bùzhǐ) not only;not merely

14. 手电筒 (shǒudiàntǒng) electric flashlight

15. 用得着 (yòngdezháo) (in interrogative sentence) to be necessary to

16. 便宜 (piányi) cheap, inexpensive

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Expressing “stop doing” with “bie… le”

You may know how to make negative commands with “bie,” but what if someone is already doing it? The pattern 别⋯⋯了 (bié... le) is all you need to tell someone to STOP DOING THAT (which they’re already doing).

Structure

Instead of just a verb, it can also be a verb phrase.

From today’s dialogue:

马克：别看了，就是一件T恤。

文化：

What “9.9 Yuan” Says About China’s Online Shopping Culture

If you shop online in China, you may notice that extremely low prices are everywhere, from discounted clothes to daily necessities.

In this week’s dialogue, the customer buys a T-shirt for only 9.9 yuan after watching a livestream. The conversation highlights a common part of modern Chinese shopping culture: the attraction of low prices, limited-time offers, and products recommended by online hosts.

In recent years, livestream shopping has become a major way for people in China to discover and purchase products. Sellers often use exciting presentations, special discounts, and direct interaction with viewers to encourage buying decisions.

At the same time, low prices can sometimes lead people to buy things they do not actually need. This creates an interesting balance between enjoying a good deal and making thoughtful choices.

For learners, understanding online shopping culture helps explain not just vocabulary, but also how technology has changed everyday consumer habits in modern China.

幽默：生日的惊喜

Text:

• 生日快乐

• 啊？我的生日还有两个多月呢

• 要是等到你生日当天才办，那就算不上惊喜了

关键词：

1. 生日 (shēngrì) birthday

2. 惊喜 (jīngxǐ) (a pleasant) surprise

3. 当天 (dāngtiān) that day

4. 办 (bàn) to do, to manage, to handle

5. 算不上 (suànbushàng) can’t be considered as

More from AllSet Learning

This summer, we’re launching a brand-new course: “Beyond the Guidebook: A Chinese Travel Course”, and it’s unlike any travel-focused Chinese course you’ve seen before.

Each lesson takes you deep into one of China’s most fascinating cities, from iconic destinations like Beijing and Chengdu to lesser-known gems that even seasoned travelers often overlook. Beyond the landmarks, you’ll discover the side streets, the hidden restaurants, the local stories. The kind of detail that only makes sense once you can actually speak the language.

The course is designed for intermediate learners (B1 and above) and combines cultural reading, real-life travel dialogues, and travel-centric discussion to build both your fluency and your confidence. Every lesson is a live, one-on-one session with a trained native Chinese teacher, so you get the local insight and the language practice, all in 60 minutes.

And yes, one lesson is a complete surprise. We call it the 盲盒课 (mystery box lesson): a destination kept secret until the moment class begins. You won’t know where you’re going. That’s the point.

Learn more and enroll here →

Today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson takes us into another important part of daily life in modern China: ride-hailing.

What makes this dialogue interesting is how many practical interactions happen during a single trip. The passenger and driver discuss pickup locations, traffic conditions, route choices, payment methods, and even engage in a bit of friendly small talk along the way.

As always, we had to be selective about which language and cultural points to focus on. Was there an expression, transportation phrase, or aspect of everyday life in China that you’d like us to explore further? Let us know!

发音: Tone Pair

In the lesson, you'll encounter another important tone combination that appears frequently in everyday Mandarin: Tone 3 + Tone 4. This pair can be confusing for learners because Tone 3 is often taught as a "falling-rising" tone, while Tone 4 falls sharply. In real speech, however, Tone 3 usually behaves a little differently.

Tone Pair 3-4: Why doesn’t Tone 3 seem to rise?

When Tone 3 comes before Tone 4, it is usually pronounced as a half third tone. Instead of dipping down and then rising back up, it simply falls to a low pitch and stops there. The following Tone 4 then begins high and drops sharply.

Many learners make the mistake of fully pronouncing the rise of Tone 3 before moving to Tone 4. This can make the pair sound more like 2-4. Instead, think of Tone 3 as low, followed immediately by the strong fall of Tone 4.

The practical takeaway: don’t let Tone 3 rise. Let it dip low and then move directly into Tone 4. Once you get comfortable with this rhythm, many common Mandarin phrases will sound much more natural and fluent. (Audio samples can be found on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki page: Tone pair 3-4)

Thanks for reading AIC (Accessible Intermediate Chinese)! This post is public so feel free to share it.

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对话：叫网约车

（场景：早高峰，大卫在公司楼下用手机App打了一辆网约车，司机接单后打来电话）

司机：喂，您好，是尾号9977的乘客吗？

大卫：对，是我。你好，你现在在哪里？

司机：我马上到您定位的上车点了。您在路边等我一下，是一辆白色的车。

大卫：好的，我在路边，看到你了。

（大卫上车后）

司机：您好，麻烦系一下安全带。目的地是国金中心，对吧？

大卫：是的，去国金中心。我们走哪条路？

司机：现在是早高峰，延安路高架有点堵。我建议走地面，从陆家嘴环路过去，可能更快一点。您看可以吗？

大卫：没问题，我听你的，您对路线更熟。

（路上）

司机：您是去那边上班吧？那边金融公司很多。

大卫：对，我在那边工作。

司机：哦，那您中文说得真不错，是在上海很久了吗？

大卫：谢谢！我来上海两年多了，但平时工作用英语比较多，中文还在学。

司机：已经很好了！我们到了，前面就是国金中心。您看靠边停可以吗？

大卫：可以的，就停在这里吧。多少钱？

司机：系统上显示42块。您可以在APP上支付。

大卫：好的，我已经在手机上付好了。谢谢你！

司机：好的，谢谢您，请拿好随身物品，再见！

大卫：再见！

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 高峰 (gāofēng) peak; summit; height

2. 网约车 (wǎngyuēchē) online on-demand ride services

3. 接单 (jiēdān) order (for goods etc)

4. 尾号 (wěihào) last few digits of a phone number

5. 乘客 (chéngkè) passenger

6. 定位 (dìngwèi) position, location; positioning (in marketing speak)

7. 上车点 (shàngchē diǎn) pickup point

8. 系 (jì) to tie up, to fasten (e.g. a seatbelt)

9. 安全带 (ānquándài) seat belt, safety belt

10. 目的地 (mùdìdì) destination

11. 国金中心 (Guójīn Zhōngxīn) Shanghai IFC (Shanghai International Finance Center)

12. 延安路高架 (Yán’ān Lù Gāojià) Yan’an Road Elevated Highway

13. 高架 (gāojià) elevated road; highway

14. 地面 (dìmiàn) ground

15. 陆家嘴环路 (Lùjiāzuǐ Huánlù) Lujiazui Ring Road

16. 路线 (lùxiàn) route

17. 金融 (jīnróng) banking; finance; financial

18. 靠边 (kàobiān) move aside

19. 系统 (xìtǒng) system

20. 显示 (xiǎnshì) to display

21. 支付 (zhīfù) to pay; payment

22. 随身物品 (suíshēn wùpǐn) personal belongings

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Expressing “rather” with “bijiao”

The word 比较 (bǐjiào) can be a verb which means “to compare.” But it can also be an adverb meaning “comparatively” or “rather.”

Structure

The adverb 比较 can be used to express “quite,” “rather,” or “relatively.”

From today’s dialogue:

大卫：谢谢！我来上海两年多了，但平时工作用英语比较多，中文还在学。

文化：

Culture Crumbs: Why Ride-Hailing Apps Became So Popular in China

If you spend time in China, you will quickly notice how common ride-hailing apps are.

In this week’s dialogue, David uses an app to call a car, confirms his pickup location, pays through the app, and never handles cash. For many people in China this is a completely normal transportation experience and the “regular taxi experience” doesn’t even exist anymore.

Ride-hailing services have become deeply integrated into daily life, especially in large cities. Many commuters use them to get to work, catch trains, or travel between meetings. The apps also provide navigation, estimated arrival times, and mobile payment in one place. The days of tourists getting ripped off by unscrupulous taxi drivers are mostly over.

幽默：裁掉老板

Text:

• 咱们得裁掉效率最低的那个人

• 啊我们要换新老板来吗？

关键词：

1. 裁掉 (cái diào) to lay off

2. 效率 (xiàolǜ) efficiency

3. 换 (huàn) to replace; to exchange

More from AllSet Learning

This summer, we’re launching a brand-new course: “Beyond the Guidebook: A Chinese Travel Course”, and it’s unlike any travel-focused Chinese course you’ve seen before.

Each lesson takes you deep into one of China’s most fascinating cities, from iconic destinations like Beijing and Chengdu to lesser-known gems that even seasoned travelers often overlook. Beyond the landmarks, you’ll discover the side streets, the hidden restaurants, the local stories. The kind of detail that only makes sense once you can actually speak the language.

The course is designed for intermediate learners (B1 and above) and combines cultural reading, real-life travel dialogues, and travel-centric discussion to build both your fluency and your confidence. Every lesson is a live, one-on-one session with a trained native Chinese teacher, so you get the local insight and the language practice, all in 60 minutes.

And yes, one lesson is a complete surprise. We call it the 盲盒课 (mystery box lesson): a destination kept secret until the moment class begins. You won’t know where you’re going. That’s the point.

Learn more and enroll here →

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we focus on a very common part of office life: ordering lunch with coworkers.

So many everyday workplace interactions are packed into a simple food order. Along the way, the colleagues discuss delivery apps, sharing orders, payment methods, delivery times, and even which dishes they recommend.

There were many language and cultural details we could have explored further in this lesson. Is there a phrase, food-related expression, or aspect of office life in China that you’d like us to unpack more deeply? Let us know!

发音: Tone Pair

In the lesson, you’ll encounter another important tone combination that appears frequently in everyday Mandarin: Tone 4 + Tone 1. At first, this pair can feel a little unusual because it combines the strongest falling tone in Mandarin with the highest and most level tone.

Tone Pair 4-1: Why does it sound so clear and decisive?

Tone 4 starts relatively high and falls sharply downward, while Tone 1 stays high and level. When these two tones appear together, the contrast between the falling motion and the steady high pitch creates a very distinct rhythm that native speakers produce naturally.

Many learners make the mistake of not completing the fall of Tone 4 before moving into Tone 1. As a result, the first syllable may sound weak, or the second syllable may lose its high, level quality. Instead, think of Tone 4 as a confident drop that fully finishes before Tone 1 begins.

The practical takeaway: allow Tone 4 to fall clearly and decisively, then hold Tone 1 high and steady. Once you become comfortable with the rhythm of 4-1 combinations, many common Mandarin phrases will start sounding more natural and easier to understand. (Audio samples can be found on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki page: Tone pair 4-1)

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对话：点外卖

（场景：中午12点半，公司休息区。大卫的同事小李正准备点外卖）

小李：大卫，一起去附近的餐厅吃饭吗？

大卫：今天不太想去，外面太热了。我打算点个外卖。

小李：好主意！我也正想点。你准备点什么？要不要一起凑个单？可以免配送费。

大卫：好啊，我准备点公司旁边那家陕西面馆。你想吃面吗？

小李：陕西面馆？他家的油泼面很不错！我也来一份。你手机能点吗？帮我一起点了，我待会儿转给你钱。

大卫：没问题。我来看看……你吃什么？还是要油泼面吗？

小李：对，还是要油泼面，多放点蔬菜。你呢？

大卫：我想试试他家的刀削面，听说很有名。再加一个肉夹馍。

小李：肉夹馍也很好吃！那你点好了叫我，大概多久能到？

大卫：我看一下……现在下单，预计30分钟送到。那我们就12点45分下去拿？

小李：行，正好。对了，你用什么支付？支付宝还是微信？

大卫：我两个都用。这次用微信吧。

小李：好的，多少钱？我现在转给你。

大卫：你那份油泼面是32块。

小李：转给你了，你收一下。

大卫：收到了。一会儿外卖到了会打电话，我们直接下去拿就行。

小李：太好了，谢谢你帮我点！下次我请你喝咖啡。

大卫：别客气！

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 点外卖 (diǎn wàimài) to order takeout

2. 同事 (tóngshì) co-worker, colleague

3. 附近 (fùjìn) nearby, (in the) vicinity

4. 凑单 (còu dān) to pool orders together (to meet a minimum for free delivery or discount)

5. 免配送费 (miǎn pèisòngfèi) no delivery fee

6. 旁边 (pángbiān) the side, next to

7. 陕西 (Shǎnxī) Shaanxi province (Shensi) in northwest China, abbr. 陝|陕

8. 面馆 (miànguǎn) noodle shop

9. 油泼面 (yóupō miàn) oil-splashed noodles (a Shaanxi specialty)

10. 刀削面 (dāoxiāomiàn) knife-shaved noodles (pared or shaved into strips), a Shanxi specialty

11. 肉夹馍 (ròujiāmó) sliced meat sandwich popular in north China

12. 支付 (zhīfù) to pay; payment

13. 支付宝 (Zhīfù Bǎo) AliPay

14. 微信 (Wēixìn) WeChat (text and chat app by Tencent)

15. 转 (zhuǎn) to transfer money

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Expressing “not very” with “bu tai”

You may be familiar with using 太 (tài) to express “too,” such as when something is “too expensive” or “too hot.” 不太 (bù tài) is a similar pattern for the negative, which just means “not very” or “not so” (literally “not too”). Note that this pattern does not normally use 了 (le).

Structure

Note: This pattern can also be used with non-adjectives. See below for more info.

From today’s dialogue:

大卫：今天不太想去，外面太热了。

文化：

Why Ordering Together Is So Common at Work

If you work in an office in China, ordering delivery with coworkers is extremely common.

You might notice that in this week’s dialogue, the two colleagues decide to place a single order together so they can avoid the delivery fee. Is that realistic? Very much so.

In many Chinese workplaces, coworkers often coordinate lunch orders through delivery apps. By combining orders, they may qualify for free delivery, discounts, or promotional deals.

This habit is not only practical but also social. Ordering together creates small opportunities for conversation and helps strengthen workplace relationships during a busy workday.

For learners, understanding this delivery culture offers a glimpse into everyday office life in modern China.

幽默：狗和人

关键词：

1. 幻想 (huànxiǎng) delusion

2. 变成 (biànchéng) to turn into

3. 无忧无虑 (wúyōuwúlǜ) carefree and without worries (idiom)

4. 永远 (yǒngyuǎn) forever, eternal

5. 快乐 (kuàilè) happy

6. 人类 (rénlèi) humankind

7. 别理 (biélǐ) Ignore it!

More from AllSet Learning

This summer, we’re launching a brand-new course: “Beyond the Guidebook: A Chinese Travel Course”, and it’s unlike any travel-focused Chinese course you’ve seen before.

Each lesson takes you deep into one of China’s most fascinating cities, from iconic destinations like Beijing and Chengdu to lesser-known gems that even seasoned travelers often overlook. Beyond the landmarks, you’ll discover the side streets, the hidden restaurants, the local stories. The kind of detail that only makes sense once you can actually speak the language.

The course is designed for intermediate learners (B1 and above) and combines cultural reading, real-life travel dialogues, and travel-centric discussion to build both your fluency and your confidence. Every lesson is a live, one-on-one session with a trained native Chinese teacher, so you get the local insight and the language practice, all in 60 minutes.

And yes, one lesson is a complete surprise. We call it the 盲盒课 (mystery box lesson): a destination kept secret until the moment class begins. You won’t know where you’re going. That’s the point.

Learn more and enroll here →

Today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson takes us out of the office and into a modern Chinese coffee shop.

What makes this dialogue useful is how much communication can happen during a simple coffee order. Beyond choosing a drink, the customer is asked about cup size, milk options, membership programs, desserts, dine-in service, and payment methods.

As always, we had to be selective about which language and cultural points to focus on. Was there a phrase, customer service expression, or aspect of daily life in China that you’d like us to explore further? Let us know!

发音: Tone Pair

Tone 1 is high, level, and sustained. When two first tones appear together, native speakers generally keep both tones relatively stable and even. The challenge is maintaining that high pitch across both syllables without letting the second one become weaker or lower.

Many learners start the first syllable correctly but then relax too much on the second syllable. As a result, the phrase can sound uneven or lose its natural rhythm. Instead, think of the two syllables as riding on the same smooth, level line.

The practical takeaway: keep both tones clear, steady, and comfortably high. Don’t worry about sounding like a robot! Once you become comfortable with the rhythm of 1-1 combinations, many common Mandarin phrases will sound more natural and confident. (Audio samples can be found on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki page: Tone pair 1-1)

Thanks for reading AIC (Accessible Intermediate Chinese)! This post is public so feel free to share it.

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对话：买咖啡

店员：先生，下午好！请问您想喝什么？

大卫：你好！请给我一杯热美式，谢谢。

店员：好的，一杯热美式。请问您要中杯、大杯，还是超大杯？

大卫：大杯的就可以了。

店员：没问题。需要加糖或者牛奶吗？我们今天有新鲜的燕麦奶。

大卫：好的，请帮我加一点牛奶，谢谢。糖就不用加了。

店员：明白了。我们最近有新会员活动，充值100元送15元，您要不要考虑一下？以后买咖啡可以积分，很划算。

大卫：哦，谢谢。不过我平时不常来，这次就先不办了。

店员：没关系。那您需要搭配一块蛋糕或者饼干吗？我们的芝士蛋糕今天有第二块半价的优惠。

大卫：不用了，我只要咖啡就好。

店员：好的。您是在店里喝还是打包？

大卫：在店里喝。

店员：好的。1杯大杯的热美式加牛奶，一共是35元。您是在这边扫码支付吗？

大卫：对，我扫码支付。

店员：好的，请您稍等，咖啡马上就好。

大卫：好的，不着急。

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 美式 (Měi-shì) American style

2. 新鲜 (xīnxiān) fresh

3. 燕麦奶 (yànmài nǎi) oat milk

4. 充值 (chōngzhí) to recharge (money onto a card)

5. 考虑 (kǎolǜ) to consider

6. 积分 (jīfēn) accumulated points

7. 划算 (huásuàn) worthwhile

8. 平时 (píngshí) usually

9. 搭配 (dāpèi) to pair; collocation

10. 蛋糕 (dàngāo) cake

11. 饼干 (bǐnggān) cracker, cookie

12. 芝士 (zhīshì) cheese (loanword)

13. 半价 (bànjià) half price

14. 优惠 (yōuhuì) favorable treatment

15. 打包 (dǎbāo) to ask for a doggy bag (at a restaurant)

16. 扫码 (sǎomǎ) to scan a QR code or barcode

17. 稍等 (shāoděng) to wait a moment

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

A softer “but” with “buguo”

Instead of just using 可是 or 但是, you can also use the softer and more informal 不过 (búguò), which also means “but.”

Structure

Just like its counterparts, 不过 is a conjunction that comes between two distinct clauses.

From today’s dialogue:

大卫：哦，谢谢。不过我平时不常来，这次就先不办了。

文化：

Culture Crumbs: Why Coffee Memberships Are Everywhere in China

If you buy coffee in China, you may be surprised by how often staff recommend a membership program. You might notice that in this week’s dialogue, the barista suggests recharging 100 RMB to receive an extra 15 RMB. Is this just a sales tactic? Not exactly.

Many Chinese coffee shops, convenience stores, and restaurant chains use membership programs to encourage repeat visits. Customers often receive discounts, bonus credit, points, or special promotions in exchange for joining. Because mobile payment is so common, these memberships are usually linked directly to a phone number or app account. Signing up often takes less than a minute.

Of course, not everyone accepts these offers, especially if they are just visiting or do not come often. But frequent customers can save quite a bit of money, which is why membership promotions have become a very familiar part of everyday consumer life in China.

幽默：周末活动

关键词：

1. 周末活动 (zhōumò huódòng) weekend activities

2. 健身 (jiànshēn) to work out

3. 瑜伽 (yújiā) yoga

4. 社交 (shèjiāo) social contact, social (media)

5. 取消 (qǔxiāo) to cancel; cancellation

More from AllSet Learning

This summer, we’re launching a brand-new course: “Beyond the Guidebook: A Chinese Travel Course”, and it’s unlike any travel-focused Chinese course you’ve seen before.

Each lesson takes you deep into one of China’s most fascinating cities, from iconic destinations like Beijing and Chengdu to lesser-known gems that even seasoned travelers often overlook. Beyond the landmarks, you’ll discover the side streets, the hidden restaurants, the local stories. The kind of detail that only makes sense once you can actually speak the language.

The course is designed for intermediate learners (B1 and above) and combines cultural reading, real-life travel dialogues, and travel-centric discussion to build both your fluency and your confidence. Every lesson is a live, one-on-one session with a trained native Chinese teacher, so you get the local insight and the language practice, all in 60 minutes.

And yes, one lesson is a complete surprise. We call it the 盲盒课 (mystery box lesson): a destination kept secret until the moment class begins. You won’t know where you’re going. That’s the point.

Learn more and enroll here →

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we follow a guest through the hotel check-out process in China.

This dialogue highlights how even a simple departure from a hotel can involve several practical steps, including confirming the room number and length of stay, reviewing charges, checking for minibar usage, processing payment by credit card, and issuing an official invoice. The conversation also includes common travel services such as luggage storage after check-out.

There were many useful language points and real-life travel situations we could have explored further in this lesson. Is there a phrase, hotel service interaction, or travel experience in China you’d like us to look at more closely? Let us know!

发音: Tone Pair

In the Lesson, we’ll answer one more common question about Mandarin pronunciation.

Question: What happens when two Tone 2 syllables appear together in a phrase?

When two Tone 2 syllables appear side by side, although it’s not wrong to pronounce them exactly equally, native speakers do not pronounce both rising tones equally strong. Instead, the first Tone 2 is often slightly reduced or shortened so the overall phrase sounds smoother and easier to say.

If you emphasize both rising tones too strongly, it can sound a bit choppy or exaggerated. Let the first Tone 2 stay softer and shorter, and allow the second one to carry the main rise. With practice, this will make your Mandarin sound much more natural and connected.

Jiāyóu!

[More detail on Tone pair 2-2 on the Chinese Pronunciation Wiki.]

Thanks for reading AIC (Accessible Intermediate Chinese)! This post is public so feel free to share it.

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对话：办理退房

（场景：中午11点半，大卫拖着行李箱来到酒店前台）

前台：早上好，先生！请问需要帮忙吗？

大卫：你好，我想退房。

前台：好的，请问您的房间号是多少？

大卫：821号，大卫·史密斯。

前台：请稍等，我查一下。您住了三个晚上，对吗？

大卫：对，昨晚是最后一晚。

前台：好的，您入住期间有使用房间里的付费物品吗？比如冰箱里的饮料或零食？

大卫：没有，我只喝了房间里的免费矿泉水。

前台：好的。这是您的账单，请核对一下。三个晚上的房费加上税费，一共是1680元。

大卫：我看一下……没问题。请问可以刷信用卡吗？

前台：可以的，我们接受Visa和MasterCard。请把卡给我。

大卫：给你。

前台：好的，请在这里签字。

大卫：签好了。请问可以给我一张发票吗？

前台：可以的。这是您的发票和信用卡，请收好。

大卫：谢谢。我的行李可以先寄存在这里吗？我下午两点来取。

前台：没问题，我们提供免费寄存服务。请把行李放在这边。

大卫：好的，太感谢了。

前台：不客气。欢迎下次再来！祝您一路平安！

大卫：谢谢，再见！

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 退房 (tuì fáng) to check out of a hotel room

2. 稍等 (shāoděng) to wait a moment

3. 入住期间 (rùzhù qījiān) during your stay

4. 付费物品 (fùfèi wùpǐn) paid items (e.g., minibar items)

5. 饮料 (yǐnliào) beverage; drinks

6. 零食 (língshí) snack

7. 矿泉水 (kuàngquánshuǐ) mineral spring water

8. 账单 (zhàngdān) bill

9. 核对 (héduì) to check

10. 税费 (shuìfèi) tax

11. 刷 (shuā) to brush, to swipe

12. 信用卡 (xìnyòngkǎ) credit card

13. 签字 (qiānzì) to sign (one’s name); signature

14. 发票 (fāpiào) invoice; receipt or bill for purchase

15. 寄存 (jìcún) to deposit

16. 一路平安 (yīlùpíngān) to have a pleasant journey

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Using “ba” sentences

The 把 (bǎ) sentence is a useful structure for constructing longer sentences which focus on the result or influence of an action. One of its key features is that it brings the object of the verb closer to the front of the sentence and precedes it with a 把. It’s really common in Mandarin but can feel a bit awkward at first for English speakers.

What is a 把 sentence?

A basic sentence in Mandarin is formed with a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order, as in English:

A 把 sentence shakes things up a bit, and you get this structure:

Note that the object has moved, and is preceded by 把. You now have SOV word order.

From today’s dialogue:

前台：请把卡给我。

前台：请把行李放在这边。

文化：

The Final Step of the Hotel Experience in China

Hotel check-out in China is often more than just returning a key or saying goodbye. In this week’s dialogue, the guest goes through a series of practical steps, including confirming the stay, checking for minibar usage, reviewing the bill, signing the payment, and requesting an invoice.

Is this level of detail necessary? In many Chinese hotels, especially in cities, check-out is designed as a structured process to ensure accuracy in billing and smooth financial settlement. Staff are trained to confirm all possible charges before the guest leaves.

At the same time, services like luggage storage show how hotels try to extend convenience even after check-out, especially for travelers with later departure times.

For learners, understanding check-out language helps explain not only vocabulary, but also how service interactions are carefully organized in modern China.

幽默：钓鱼的意义

关键词：

1. 钓鱼 (diàoyú) to fish

2. 意义 (yìyì) meaning, significance

3. 亲近 (qīnjìn) to get close to

4. 社交 (shèjiāo) social contact, social (media)

5. 成就感 (chéngjiùgǎn) feeling of accomplishment

6. 放松 (fàngsōng) to loosen; to relax

7. 身心 (shēnxīn) body and mind

More from AllSet Learning

This summer, we’re launching a brand-new course: “Beyond the Guidebook: A Chinese Travel Course”, and it’s unlike any travel-focused Chinese course you’ve seen before.

Each lesson takes you deep into one of China’s most fascinating cities, from iconic destinations like Beijing and Chengdu to lesser-known gems that even seasoned travelers often overlook. Beyond the landmarks, you’ll discover the side streets, the hidden restaurants, the local stories. The kind of detail that only makes sense once you can actually speak the language.

The course is designed for intermediate learners (B1 and above) and combines cultural reading, real-life travel dialogues, and travel-centric discussion to build both your fluency and your confidence. Every lesson is a live, one-on-one session with a trained native Chinese teacher, so you get the local insight and the language practice, all in 60 minutes.

And yes, one lesson is a complete surprise. We call it the 盲盒课 (mystery box lesson): a destination kept secret until the moment class begins. You won’t know where you’re going. That’s the point.

Learn more and enroll here →

In today’s Accessible Intermediate Chinese (AIC) lesson, we move beyond hotel check-in and into a very common travel situation: asking for local recommendations at a hotel front desk.

In this dialogue, a guest asks about nearby attractions, local food, and available day trips. The receptionist introduces famous Chengdu streets, local snacks, and organized tours to well-known destinations like Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain. This reflects how hotels in China often act as informal travel information centers.

There were many practical travel expressions and cultural details we could have explored further in this lesson. Is there a phrase, travel service, or sightseeing experience in China you’d like us to break down more deeply? Let us know!

发音: Tone Pair

In the lesson, you’ll encounter another important tone combination that appears constantly in everyday Mandarin: Tone 1 + Tone 2. At first, this pair can feel a bit unusual for learners because a high, steady tone followed by a rising tone can sound slightly uneven or over-contrasted if both tones are pronounced too strongly.

Tone Pair 1-2: Why does it feel so smooth but tricky?

Tone 1 is high and level, while Tone 2 rises upward. When these two tones appear together, native speakers usually soften the contrast by making Tone 1 slightly lighter and less “stiff,” so the phrase flows naturally into the rising movement of Tone 2.

The practical takeaway: keep Tone 1 stable, then allow Tone 2 to rise naturally without exaggeration. Once you get comfortable with the rhythm of 1-2 combinations, many everyday Mandarin travel phrases will start to sound more connected and natural in real conversations.

(Audio samples can be found on the AllSet Learning Pronunciation Wiki page: Tone pair 1-2)

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对话：旅游咨询

（场景：晚上，大卫入住酒店后，来到前台咨询）

大卫：你好，我是821房间的客人。我想问一下，这附近有什么好玩的地方吗？

前台：您好！春熙路就在酒店旁边，走路5分钟就到，那里很热闹，有很多商店和小吃。

大卫：春熙路？我听说过。那里有什么好吃的推荐吗？

前台：有的。春熙路附近有很多成都小吃，您可以尝尝龙抄手、担担面，还有三大炮。

大卫：听起来不错。除了逛街，酒店有没有提供旅游团的服务？

前台：有的。我们酒店合作了一家旅行社，可以帮您预订一日游。

大卫：一日游都去哪些地方？

前台：有去都江堰的，也有去青城山、武侯祠的。明天早上就有一班去都江堰的团，早上8点出发，下午4点回来。

大卫：这个不错。请问多少钱一个人？

前台：成人，1人280块，包括车费和门票，不含午餐。包括车费和门票，不含午餐。

大卫：好的，我想报一个。需要现在付钱吗？

前台：可以现在付，也可以明天上车的时候付。麻烦您告诉我您的房间号和姓名，我帮您登记一下。

大卫：好的。821房间，大卫·史密斯。明天早上在哪里集合？

前台：就在酒店大堂。请您7点50分到这里，导游会来找您。

大卫：明白了。谢谢你的帮助！

前台：不客气。祝您玩得开心！

NOTE: If you need more pinyin, be sure to install a pinyin popup browser extension. We like the “Zhongwen” one because the name is so easy to remember.

词汇：

1. 房间 (fángjiān) room

2. 客人 (kèrén) visitor, guest, customer, client

3. 附近 (fùjìn) nearby, (in the) vicinity

4. 春熙路 (Chūnxī Lù) a famous shopping street in Chengdu

5. 热闹 (rènao) bustling with noise and excitement; lively

6. 商店 (shāngdiàn) store

7. 小吃 (xiǎochī) snacks

8. 推荐 (tuījiàn) to recommend; recommendation

9. 龙抄手 (lóng chāoshǒu) long wonton: a traditional Sichuan wonton dish

10. 担担面 (dàndànmiàn) Sichuan noodles with a spicy and numbing sauce

11. 三大炮 (sāndàpào) lit. “three cannonballs”: a sweet Chengdu snack made of sticky rice balls.

12. 逛街 (guàngjiē) to browse some shops

13. 提供 (tígōng) to provide

14. 旅游团 (lǚyóutuán) tour group

15. 服务 (fúwù) service

16. 合作 (hézuò) to cooperate

17. 旅行社 (lǚxíngshè) travel agency

18. 预订 (yùdìng) to place an order

19. 一日游 (yīrì yóu) one-day tour

20. 都江堰 (Dūjiāngyàn) Dujiangyan in Sichuan, a famous water engineering project and World Heritage Site/Dujiangyan county level city in Chengdu 成都, Sichuan

21. 青城山 (Qīngchéngshān) Mount Qingcheng

22. 武侯祠 (wǔhóucí) memorial hall to Zhuge Liang 諸葛亮

23. 包括 (bāokuò) to include, to involve, to consist of

24. 车费 (chēfèi) passenger fare

25. 门票 (ménpiào) ticket (for theater, cinema etc)

26. 不含 (bù hán) not included

27. 报 (bào) to sign up

28. 登记 (dēngjì) to register

29. 集合 (jíhé) to gather, set (mathematics)

30. 玩得开心 (wán de kāixīn) Have fun!

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语法：

We’ll just look at one basic pattern this time. For more explanation, be sure to follow the links to AllSet Learning’s very own Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Direction complement “-qilai”

起来 (qǐlái) comes up very frequently in Chinese and can be used both literally and figuratively. This is a little like the usage of “up” in English, which can be used literally, as in “stand up,” or figuratively, as in “add up.” When used figuratively, 起来 often serves as a direction complement.

Structure

起来 can be used to express an upward movement like “up,” as in the English examples of “stand up” or “pick up.”

From today’s dialogue:

大卫：听起来不错。

文化：

Why Hotel Front Desks in China Often Function as Local Travel Guides

If you stay in hotels in China, you may notice that front desk conversations often go far beyond check-in.

In this week’s dialogue, the guest asks about nearby attractions, local food, and even organized day trips. The receptionist responds with walking directions to popular areas, recommendations for famous Chengdu snacks, and options for guided tours to nearby cultural and natural sites. Is this just helpful service or something more?

In many Chinese cities, hotel staff are often expected to act as informal travel guides, especially for visitors who may be new to the area. They provide not only directions but also curated suggestions for food and sightseeing. At the same time, this reflects how travel services are often integrated into everyday hospitality experiences in China.

For learners, understanding these interactions helps explain not just vocabulary, but also how travel support is commonly delivered in real-life situations.

幽默：最热的夏天

Text:

• 今年的夏天是有史以来最热的夏天

• 一年过去了

关键词：

1. 有史以来 (yǒushǐyǐlái) since the beginning of history

More from AllSet Learning

This summer, we’re launching a brand-new course: “Beyond the Guidebook: A Chinese Travel Course”, and it’s unlike any travel-focused Chinese course you’ve seen before.

Each lesson takes you deep into one of China’s most fascinating cities, from iconic destinations like Beijing and Chengdu to lesser-known gems that even seasoned travelers often overlook. Beyond the landmarks, you’ll discover the side streets, the hidden restaurants, the local stories. The kind of detail that only makes sense once you can actually speak the language.

The course is designed for intermediate learners (B1 and above) and combines cultural reading, real-life travel dialogues, and travel-centric discussion to build both your fluency and your confidence. Every lesson is a live, one-on-one session with a trained native Chinese teacher, so you get the local insight and the language practice, all in 60 minutes.

And yes, one lesson is a complete surprise. We call it the 盲盒课 (mystery box lesson): a destination kept secret until the moment class begins. You won’t know where you’re going. That’s the point.

Learn more and enroll here →