Chinese Learning Podcast | HSK 2 (Season 1)

This final episode wraps up every core HSK2 point you need for test day, with quick refreshers, natural examples, and mini drills to lock it in.

What you’ll review today:
• 是…的 — emphasising details of past events
• 再一次 — asking/doing something “one more time”
• 看看 / 听听 / 试试 — verb reduplication for trying things out
• 比 — making clear comparisons
• …的时候 — talking about “when” something happens
• 过 — expressing life experience (have seen/been/heard)
• 多 — “more” for practice, reading, drinking, etc.

Cultural / exam segment:
• HSK2 structure, timing, question types, and smart test-day tips

Mini checks (try in the comments):
• Use 是…的 to highlight where/when you did something in the past
• Use 比 for A vs. B comparisons
• Turn a base verb into a gentle try with 看看 / 试试

Question for you:
How would you say: “I had tried dumplings once, when I was in Beijing” in Chinese?
Post your sentence below — we’ll check and correct it.

At Hanyu Chinese School, we take pride in offering a unique approach to language learning. What makes our school special? Here are some highlights:

Online Campus: The best virtual campus. Access study materials, interactive exercises, and additional resources from anywhere, anytime.

Private Teachers: Our highly trained teachers provide personalized classes with an individual approach.

Trial Classes: Not sure if this language is for you? Try our trial classes! Immerse yourself in the language and discover if it’s the right choice for you.

Hanyu Blog: Every week, we publish informative and entertaining articles to help you improve your understanding of the language and culture.

Learn more languages with Trainlang!

Visit our websites and start your language journey today

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Jumping from plane to plane
(00:01:38) - HSK2: Review and Prep for Exam
(00:02:18) - Learning Chinese in the Elevator
(00:02:53) - Remembering the Vocabulary
(00:09:51) - The Chinese Sentence Challenge
(00:10:32) - Chinese Class Review
(00:13:59) - How to Take the HSK2 Exam!
(00:19:15) - Chinese Grammar Basics
(00:20:06) - How to prepare for HSK2 Exam
(00:21:39) - Review HSK2

In this episode, Melanie and Emilyn dive into the Chinese grammar point Verb + 着, which is used to describe ongoing actions or states. You’ll learn how to use it naturally in sentences and make your Chinese sound more fluid and authentic in everyday conversations.

We also explore the fun and fascinating world of bubble tea (珍珠奶茶)! Emilyn shares insights into Taiwan’s bubble tea culture, where it’s a daily indulgence, and contrasts it with the surprising prices in Spain. Discover why this Taiwanese drink has become a global sensation and how to enjoy it like a local in Taiwan.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How to use Verb + 着 in Chinese sentences
✅ Real-life examples from our dialogue featuring ongoing actions
✅ Insights into Taiwan’s bubble tea culture and daily life
✅ Tips for ordering bubble tea like a local

Fun Fact:
Did you know that in Taiwan, bubble tea is enjoyed almost every day? It’s so popular that there are even specialized shops where people line up for their favorite flavor combinations.

At Hanyu Chinese School, we take pride in offering a unique approach to language learning. What makes our school special? Here are some highlights:

Online Campus: The best virtual campus. Access study materials, interactive exercises, and additional resources from anywhere, anytime.

Private Teachers: Our highly trained teachers provide personalized classes with an individual approach.

Trial Classes: Not sure if this language is for you? Try our trial classes! Immerse yourself in the language and discover if it’s the right choice for you.

Hanyu Blog: Every week, we publish informative and entertaining articles to help you improve your understanding of the language and culture.

Learn more languages with Trainlang!

Visit our websites and start your language journey today

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Mandarin Podcast
(00:01:49) - Hanyu Chinese School Podcast
(00:02:41) - Grammar for Today
(00:10:37) - Reviewing Grammar
(00:13:14) - Boba Milk Tea in Taiwan vs Boba Tea in China
(00:16:51) - Bubble Milk Tea
(00:20:51) - How to Make a Sentence in Chinese
(00:22:00) - HSK2: Time Flights

In this episode, Melanie and Vicky break down the differences between 让 (ràng), 请 (qǐng), and 叫 (jiào)—key grammar points for making polite requests, giving instructions, and issuing commands in Chinese. You’ll learn when to use each word, with practical examples from school and family settings to help you sound natural and polite in everyday conversations.

We’ll also dive into the busy lives of Chinese students, exploring how they balance schoolwork, family duties, and extracurricular activities. Discover how family expectations influence their daily routines and how these dynamics shape the typical student’s day in China.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How to use 让, 请, and 叫 in everyday conversations
✅ Real-life examples from our dialogue to help you understand context
✅ Insights into Chinese students’ routines and how family shapes their lives
✅ Tips on making your requests sound polite and natural

Fun Fact:
In China, it’s common for students to attend extra classes, tutoring, and work on family-involved homework even on weekends. This helps explain why phrases like 让我去做作业 (let me do my homework) or 请你帮我复习 (please help me review) are so frequently heard!

Question for You:
How would you say: "My mom told me to go do my Chinese homework" in Chinese?
Share your sentence in the comments, and we’ll help you with corrections!

At Hanyu Chinese School, we take pride in offering a unique approach to language learning. What makes our school special? Here are some highlights:

Online Campus: The best virtual campus. Access study materials, interactive exercises, and additional resources from anywhere, anytime.

Private Teachers: Our highly trained teachers provide personalized classes with an individual approach.

Trial Classes: Not sure if this language is for you? Try our trial classes! Immerse yourself in the language and discover if it’s the right choice for you.

Hanyu Blog: Every week, we publish informative and entertaining articles to help you improve your understanding of the language and culture.

Learn more languages with Trainlang!

Visit our websites and start your language journey today

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Chinese Verbs
(00:03:43) - The Dialogues
(00:05:14) - Dialectic X2
(00:07:20) - Basic politeness of qing, jiao and laoshi
(00:10:29) - How Would You Say This in Chinese
(00:11:07) - How to learn English
(00:14:52) - What Chinese Students Do During School and Weekend
(00:19:37) - How to Think Chinese in 2 Minutes!
(00:20:48) - Chinese Students

In this episode, Vicky and Emilyn show you how to use 要、快要、就要 to talk about the near future and actions that are about to happen. Clear, real-life examples will help you sound natural when describing plans, schedules, and imminent events.

We also explore the social term 剩女 (shèngnǚ, often translated as “leftover women”) and discuss how expectations around marriage are changing. From personal choice to career focus and pop culture moments like 乘风破浪的姐姐 (Sisters Who Make Waves), we look at how modern media reflects women’s empowerment in China.

What you’ll learn in this episode
✅ How to use 要、快要、就要 in everyday conversation
✅ Easy patterns to express “about to” and “going to”
✅ The meaning and social context of 剩女
✅ How media and culture influence expectations and personal choices

Helpful examples
• 我们要开会了。
Wǒmen yào kāihuì le.
We’re going to have a meeting.

• 火车快要到了。
Huǒchē kuàiyào dào le.
The train is about to arrive.

• 她就要毕业了。
Tā jiù yào bìyè le.
She’s just about to graduate.

Cultural note
While 剩女 is sometimes used negatively, many women in China are redefining success on their own terms, prioritising independence, education, and careers. Shows like 乘风破浪的姐姐 spotlight confident role models and broader definitions of achievement.

Question for you
Can you write a sentence with 要、快要 or 就要?
Share it in the comments and we’ll help you improve.

At Hanyu Chinese School, we take pride in offering a unique approach to language learning. What makes our school special? Here are some highlights:

Online Campus: The best virtual campus. Access study materials, interactive exercises, and additional resources from anywhere, anytime.

Private Teachers: Our highly trained teachers provide personalized classes with an individual approach.

Trial Classes: Not sure if this language is for you? Try our trial classes! Immerse yourself in the language and discover if it’s the right choice for you.

Hanyu Blog: Every week, we publish informative and entertaining articles to help you improve your understanding of the language and culture.

Learn more languages with Trainlang!

Visit our websites and start your language journey today

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Chinese Phrases for Women in China
(00:02:56) - Chinese Grammar
(00:09:06) - Chinese School
(00:12:15) - The Chinese word for ''
(00:20:23) - Three Chinese Grammar Words

In this episode, Melanie and Emilyn guide you through the grammar points 有时候 (yǒu shíhou – sometimes) and 的时候 (de shíhou – when...), helping you talk naturally about habits, past experiences, and specific situations in Chinese.

We also explore a fun cultural topic: **Chinglish** — the quirky mix of Chinese and English that leads to hilarious signs, menus, and translations. Discover why direct translations happen, what they reveal about language and culture, and enjoy some real-life examples you won’t find in textbooks!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How to use 有时候 and 的时候 in real conversations
✅ Practical examples to express time and frequency
✅ The funniest Chinglish examples from daily life in China
✅ Tips to understand and navigate Chinglish while travelling or living in China

Fun Fact:
Did you know that expressions like “Long time no see” and “No can do” actually come from Chinglish? They started as Chinese-style English and became part of global everyday speech!

At Hanyu Chinese School, we take pride in offering a unique approach to language learning. What makes our school special? Here are some highlights:

Online Campus: The best virtual campus. Access study materials, interactive exercises, and additional resources from anywhere, anytime.

Private Teachers: Our highly trained teachers provide personalized classes with an individual approach.

Trial Classes: Not sure if this language is for you? Try our trial classes! Immerse yourself in the language and discover if it’s the right choice for you.

Hanyu Blog: Every week, we publish informative and entertaining articles to help you improve your understanding of the language and culture.

Learn more languages with Trainlang!

Visit our websites and start your language journey today

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Chinese Grammar
(00:03:36) - Chinese Shiho (action, etc.)
(00:10:15) - Chinese Grammar
(00:11:11) - Tea or Coffee?
(00:13:22) - How do we use the Shi Hou in school?
(00:14:46) - What is Chinglish in China?
(00:20:48) - How to Talk in Chinese