Coffee Break Chinese · Free podcast

Coffee Break Chinese Level 1

This is Season 1 of our free Mandarin Chinese podcast, for complete beginners. Start at Lesson 1 and work through the 40 lessons in order, as each one builds on the last. In the last 10, Mark travels to China to use what he’s learned.

Level 1A1–A240 lessonsWith teacher Crystal and learner Mark

Start with Lesson 1Learning tips by email

Listen onSeason 1 on YouTubeLesson 1 on Apple PodcastsCoffee Break Chinese on Spotify

Part 1 · Lessons 1 to 10

Meeting people

Ask how someone is, introduce yourself, say where you’re from and where you live, talk about your family, count to 99 and find your way around town.

  1. 1Nǐ hǎo ma? – Asking “how are you?” in Chinese
  2. 2Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ – Greetings and introductions
  3. 3Nǐ cóng nǎ’er lái? – Saying where you come from
  4. 4Nǐ zhù zài nǎ’er? – Talking about where you live in Chinese
  5. 5Zhè shì wǒ māma – Introducing your family in Mandarin
  6. 6Sì shì sì, shí shì shí – More family members and counting up to 99
  7. 7Duōshao qián? – Buying things and asking for directions
  8. 8Xiàng zuǒ guǎi – Finding your way around the town in Chinese
  9. 9Nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén ma? – Talking about languages and language problems in Mandarin Chinese
  10. 10Nǐ de Zhōngwén fēicháng hǎo – Review episodeReview

Part 2 · Lessons 11 to 20

Eating out and getting around

Order drinks and food, check into a hotel, talk about dates and time, go shopping, ask at the tourist office and take the train.

  1. 11Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi lǚchá – Ordering drinks in Chinese
  2. 12Wǒ yào hǎixiān chǎofàn – Ordering food in Mandarin
  3. 13Wǒ nǚpéngyou yào yì bēi bái pútaojiǔ – Ordering drinks in Chinese
  4. 14Wǒ yào yí gè shuāngrénjiān – Hotels in Mandarin
  5. 15Jīntiān shì èr líng yī qī nián Qīyuè wǔ hào – Talking about dates in Chinese
  6. 16Xiǎngyào mǎi shénme? – Shopping in Chinese
  7. 17Bówùguǎn jǐ diǎn kāimén? – Tourist information in Chinese
  8. 18Zuò dìtiè èrshí fēnzhōngGetting around the town
  9. 19Qǐng gěi wǒ yì zhāng qù Guìlín de huǒchēpiàoTaking the train in China
  10. 20Zhǐnéng fù xiànjīnHalf way there!

Part 3 · Lessons 21 to 30

Everyday life

Talk about the weather and your health, make phone calls, deal with emergencies, make friends, talk about your job and what you like, and describe people.

  1. 21Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng? – Talking about the weather in Chinese
  2. 22Wǒ tóu téng – Parts of the body and dealing with illnesses in Chinese
  3. 23Qǐngwèn yǒu fāshāo yào ma? – A visit to the pharmacy in Chinese
  4. 24Qǐngwèn, WiFi mìmǎ shì shénme? – Making phone calls and using the Internet in Chinese
  5. 25Wǒ de hùzhào diū le – Dealing with emergencies in Chinese
  6. 26Nǐ lái Zhōngguó zuò shénme? – Talking about why you’re visiting China
  7. 27Nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò? – Talking about your job in Chinese
  8. 28Wǒ xǐhuān kǎoyā – Talking about your likes and dislikes in Chinese
  9. 29Tā de tóufa shì hēisè de – Describing people in Mandarin Chinese
  10. 30Wǒ yào qù Zhōngguó le – Coffee Break Chinese course reviewReview

Part 4 · Lessons 31 to 40

A trip to China

Follow Mark on a trip to China as he uses his Mandarin with native speakers, from checking into his hotel to a day at the Great Wall.

  1. 31Huānyíng nǐ lái dào Zhōngguó (Welcome to China)
  2. 32Nín qù shìzhōngxīn nǎlǐ? (Where in the city centre are you going?)
  3. 33Zhè shì nín de fáng kǎ. (This is your room card.)
  4. 34Zhèr de bāozi hěn hǎochī! (The baozi here are delicious!)
  5. 35Nín xūyào shénme bāngzhù? (What can I help you with?)
  6. 36Zhèbiān qǐng, shìyījiān zài nà biān (This way, please: the fitting room is over there)
  7. 37Jīntiān tiānqì búcuò, wǒmen qù Chángchéng! (The weather’s lovely today: let’s go to the Great Wall!)
  8. 38Wǒ de péngyǒu shēngbìng le, tā hěn bù shūfu. (My friend is ill and really isn’t feeling well.)
  9. 39Nǐ xiǎng qù wǒ biǎomèi de shēngrì jùhuì ma? (Would you like to come to my cousin’s birthday party?)
  10. 40Huānyíng nǐ zàilái Zhōngguó! (Welcome back to China!)

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