I'll help you improve your rusty Chinese in 10 minutes a week | Author of RealTime Mandarin read by 12k China watchers | Columnist Sinica Podcast
Joined April 2014
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10 Jul 2023
Want to improve your Mandarin listening skills?
Immerse yourself in Chinese language podcasts about life in China.
Here are my top 10.👇🧵
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Apr 15
This Chinese phrase is for when someone uses a thin excuse to mask a bigger problem.
"Shame-covering cloth" (遮羞布 zhē xiū bù)
The earliest known use comes from Wang Shuo (王朔) — one of China's most influential modern novelists...
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Apr 15
遮羞布 is a purely Chinese coinage. Same idea, different origin and imagery.
In modern Chinese it's used for any situation where someone is hiding something behind a flimsy facade.
Like cover-ups, hollow excuses, and transparent attempts to avoid accountability.
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Apr 15
Want to learn more advanced Chinese phrases like this?
Tune into RealTime Mandarin every Saturday.
A free newsletter breaking down 5 phrases (which you won't find in a textbook)
And one trending news story in China every week.
realtimemandarin.com
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Andrew Methven 🔥 retweeted
Apr 14
See what's trending in China in under 3 minutes. I've just sent out the shorter & free Quick Eye newsletter so you can get a grasp of what's being talked when you're short on time. Link here: open.substack.com/pub/eyeond…
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Apr 11
One of China’s most famous livestream hosts, Dong Yuhui (董宇辉), is facing a consumer backlash.
It started in early April.
When a reporter exposed a health supplement sold by Dong called Youthit (优思益).
Which claimed to be an Australian brand.
But it wasn't... 🧵
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Apr 11
10/ And this is what we're discussing in this week's RealTime Mandarin.
You get the news story and 12 phrases you need to know to discuss it!
realtimemandarin.com/p/271-t…
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Apr 11
11/ And... If you're enjoying that, you'll love this:
RealTime Mandarin
A free weekly newsletter which helps Mandarin learners stay up to date, on trend, and down with the kids in China.
Sign up for free here:
realtimemandarin.com
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It's used to describe how influencers in China articulate what their fans can't say.
Someone who voices something everyone privately feels but wouldn't say out loud.
An "internet mouth substitute" (互联网嘴替)
Started trending in 2024.
And still popular today
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Who needs Chinamaxxing when you’ve got ChinaNerding?!
Great China Nerdfest gathering in London last night…
100 of us in the usual London pub.
Even had someone fly in especially from the US to join! 🤩
Fancy joining next one? Let me know!
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Here's a wacky Chinese internet phrase I learned this week:
"Dancing in a minefield" (雷区蹦迪 léi qū bèng dí)
It means someone who knows exactly how dangerous what they're doing is.
But does it anyway, for the thrill of it.
Any examples of someone who's done that recently?
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