🔗 Links:

Skritter - Learn to write Chinese

skritter.com?ref=mandarinmonkey

Use promoCode: MANDARINMONKEY

for 10% off everything

🐵 Learn Mandarin with us: https://mandarinmonkey.com/

🎮 Check out our Monkey Plays channel:

/ @monkeyplaysmandarin

🗣️ Want more opportunities to speak Mandarin outside of lessons?

Join learners from around the world for fun discussions, games, and real conversations in our Mandarin Hangouts.

Start speaking more Mandarrin today: https://mandarinmonkey.com/hangouts/

❓ How did we talk about?

How do they choose their Mandarin names? What does your Mandarin name actually say about you?

In this episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, Ula and Tom talk about how Mandarin names are chosen, why parents sometimes use birth dates and birth times when naming their children, and how Mandarin learners can choose a Mandarin name based on pronunciation, personality and meaning.

Tom also shares the story behind his Mandarin name, 唐明偉 Tang Ming Wei, and Ula explains why Mandarin names often carry parents’ hopes and expectations for their children.

Along the way, we also talk about:

🔥 Surviving another UK heatwave without air conditioning

💬 Why British people complain about the weather so much

🎙️ Whether podcast hosts should talk to each other or directly to the audience

🔢 A surprisingly difficult number-guessing game

👓 Whether Ula’s new glasses suit her face — or her personality

🏷️ The differences between Chinese and English naming culture

This is a natural bilingual conversation in Mandarin and English, perfect for upper beginner, intermediate Mandarin learners who want to improve their listening skills and hear how Mandarin is actually used in real conversation.

What’s your Mandarin name? How did you choose it? Tell us in the comments! 👇

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can AI replace human connection? What do Freemasons actually do? And how can learning Mandarin shape your career and life opportunities?

In Episode 470 of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, Tom and Ula explore language learning, artificial intelligence, online education, social media, mental health, and modern life through a relaxed Mandarin and English conversation.

In this episode:

• A listener from Germany shares how Mandarin transformed their career

• The benefits of staying connected to Chinese after formal study

• What Freemasons really do and the charity work behind the organisation

• Building the new Mandarin Monkey learning platform using AI

• Why many language learners feel nervous meeting a new teacher

• The UK's planned social media restrictions for under-16s

• AI as a tool for productivity, creativity, and emotional support

• Whether AI can ever truly understand human struggles

• The future of AI assistants booking travel, events, and everyday tasks

• A surprisingly passionate debate about coconuts

This episode is ideal for Mandarin learners, language enthusiasts, expats, bilingual families, AI enthusiasts, and anyone interested in personal growth, education, and technology.

The Mandarin Monkey Podcast is a bilingual Mandarin Chinese and English podcast designed to help learners improve their listening skills through natural conversations about culture, life, parenting, language learning, travel, technology, and current events.

If you're learning Mandarin and want more natural Chinese listening practice, you'll hear real conversations, authentic vocabulary, and everyday expressions used in context.

Resources:

🐵 Learn Mandarin with us:

https://mandarinmonkey.com/

✍️ Learn Chinese writing with Skritter:

https://skritter.com?ref=mandarinmonkey

Use promo code MANDARINMONKEY for 10% off.

🎮 Watch Monkey Plays:

https://www.youtube.com/@monkeyplaysmandarin

Enjoyed the episode?

Follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with another Mandarin learner. Your support helps us continue creating free Mandarin listening content for learners around the world.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.