Podcasts about Mandarin

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Fireworks, Fate, and The Unforgettable Night in Shanghai Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-29-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 上海外滩的灯光闪烁，在冬季的新年夜，空气中弥漫着期待。En: The lights of Shanghai's Bund flickered on the New Year's Eve of winter, with an air of anticipation in the air.Zh: 街道拥挤，游客们裹着围巾，脸上带着微笑。En: The streets were crowded, and tourists wrapped in scarves wore smiles on their faces.Zh: 黄浦江的水面反射着灯光，天空渐渐暗下来，等待着烟花表演的开始。En: The surface of the Huangpu River reflected the lights as the sky gradually darkened, awaiting the start of the fireworks display.Zh: 梅琳站在人群中，心里既兴奋又紧张。En: Mei Lin stood among the crowd, feeling both excited and nervous.Zh: 她是第一次来上海，期待与多年的笔友建见面。En: It was her first time in Shanghai, and she was eager to meet her pen pal of many years, Jian.Zh: 今晚，他们计划一起迎接新年，对梅琳来说，这个夜晚承载着许多期待。En: Tonight, they planned to greet the New Year together, and for Mei Lin, this night carried a lot of expectations.Zh: 渐渐地，四周的人越来越多，梅琳看到身边的人们都在欢声笑语。En: Gradually, more and more people surrounded her, and Mei Lin saw the people around her laughing and chatting joyfully.Zh: 她的小心脏扑通扑通跳得飞快。En: Her little heart was pounding rapidly.Zh: 突然，她看见一个熟悉的身影，以为是建。En: Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure and thought it was Jian.Zh: 她急忙向那个方向走去，心中默念着，希望他的真实模样如她想象的一样美好。En: She hurried in that direction, silently hoping that his real appearance would be as wonderful as she imagined.Zh: 但不知为何，她跟随的人其实是莉莉的哥哥。En: But for some reason, the person she followed was actually Lili's brother.Zh: 此时，莉莉正巧和建一起在人群中寻找梅琳。En: Meanwhile, Lili coincidentally was with Jian in the crowd, looking for Mei Lin.Zh: 莉莉是一位热情的本地导游，喜欢为游客制造神奇的瞬间。En: Lili was a passionate local tour guide who loved creating magical moments for tourists.Zh: 她很快发现梅琳跟错了人。En: She quickly realized that Mei Lin had followed the wrong person.Zh: 莉莉灵机一动，决定在最完美的时刻安排他们见面。En: Lili had a quick idea and decided to arrange their meeting at the perfect moment.Zh: 建急切地想找到梅琳。En: Jian was eagerly wanting to find Mei Lin.Zh: 他的心就像冬日的气氛一样紧张。En: His heart was as tense as the winter atmosphere.Zh: 旁边的莉莉则调皮地笑着，安慰他说她有办法。En: Next to him, Lili playfully smiled, reassuring him that she had a plan.Zh: 午夜即将来临，烟花即将绽放。En: Midnight was approaching, and the fireworks were about to bloom.Zh: 当梅琳意识到自己跟错人时，心里一凉，但很快烟花在空中开始绽放。En: When Mei Lin realized she had followed the wrong person, her heart sank, but soon the fireworks began to explode in the sky.Zh: 她抬头仰望，欣赏这美丽的光景。En: She looked up, admiring the beautiful spectacle.Zh: 这时，莉莉手中拿着一个小旗子挥舞着，指引着梅琳的方向。En: At that moment, Lili was waving a small flag to guide Mei Lin in the right direction.Zh: 梅琳顺着指引，看到了在人群另一侧的建。En: Mei Lin followed the guidance and saw Jian on the other side of the crowd.Zh: 他正向她微笑，眼里充满了坚定和温暖。En: He was smiling at her, his eyes filled with determination and warmth.Zh: 当时钟指向午夜，天空中一朵巨大的烟花绽放，形成了"爱"的字样，正如莉莉精心安排的那样。En: As the clock struck midnight, a huge firework bloomed in the sky, forming the word "love," just as Lili had meticulously arranged.Zh: 梅琳和建终于在人群中相遇，分享着属于他们的温暖时刻。En: Mei Lin and Jian finally met in the crowd, sharing a warm moment that belonged to them.Zh: 在这一刻，所有紧张和担忧都化为乌有。En: At this moment, all tension and worries vanished.Zh: 莉莉看到这一幕，微笑着向后退去，消失在热闹的人群中。En: Lili watched this scene, smiled, and quietly retreated into the lively crowd.Zh: 此刻，梅琳和建心中都有了不同的改变。En: At this moment, both Mei Lin and Jian felt a change in their hearts.Zh: 梅琳开始享受命运的惊喜，而建则鼓起勇气，终于大胆说出自己的心声。En: Mei Lin began to enjoy the surprises of fate, while Jian gathered the courage to finally express his feelings boldly.Zh: 在外滩，灯火辉煌，烟花如梦如幻，这真是一个难忘的新年夜。En: At the Bund, the lights were brilliant, and the fireworks were dreamlike, making it truly an unforgettable New Year's Eve. Vocabulary Words:flickered: 闪烁anticipation: 期待reflected: 反射surface: 水面darkened: 暗下来expectations: 期望surrounded: 围绕pounding: 扑通扑通familiar: 熟悉appearance: 模样coincidentally: 正巧eagerly: 急切reassuring: 安慰approaching: 将临spectacle: 光景guidance: 指引determination: 坚定meticulously: 精心vanished: 化为乌有retreated: 后退unforgettable: 难忘pen pal: 笔友crowded: 拥挤nervous: 紧张tourists: 游客chatting: 聊天magical: 神奇moment: 瞬间fireworks: 烟花bloomed: 绽放

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: A Snow-Covered Campus: Ming's Journey to Balance Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-28-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 南京大学的校园在冬日里，一片宁静的白雪覆盖着。En: Nanjing University's campus is covered in a serene blanket of white snow during the winter.Zh: 她的校园浑然天成，处处充满了低调的诗意。En: Her campus appears naturally beautiful, filled everywhere with understated poetic charm.Zh: 几束暗黄的路灯把寂寥的街道照亮，温暖而明亮的灯光流泄在一旁的书架上，映照出书本的影子。En: A few dim yellow street lights illuminate the desolate streets, and the warm and bright light spills onto the bookshelves on the side, casting shadows of the books.Zh: 明是这里的一名勤奋大学生，他每天都在努力学习，为了取得优异成绩并获得奖学金。En: Ming is a diligent student here; he studies hard every day to achieve excellent grades and obtain a scholarship.Zh: 这几天，他忙于准备期末考试，一边翻阅着厚厚的课本，一边做着笔记。En: These days, he is busy preparing for his final exams, both perusing thick textbooks and taking notes.Zh: 他的朋友李却截然不同。En: His friend Li, on the other hand, is quite different.Zh: 李总是随性而为，常常招呼明去休息放松。En: Li always goes with the flow, often urging Ming to take a break and relax.Zh: 即将到来的新年夜，是学生们期盼已久的时光。En: The upcoming New Year's Eve is a time long-awaited by the students.Zh: 但对于明来说，这却是一个两难的选择。En: But for Ming, it presents a dilemma.Zh: 他知道很快就必须在欢庆的阵容中抽身而出，继续准备他的重要考试。En: He knows he will soon have to withdraw from the celebratory crowd to continue preparing for his important exam.Zh: 随着时间的流逝，明的压力越来越大，他甚至开始感受到隐约的焦虑。En: As time passes, Ming's stress grows; he even begins to feel a vague anxiety.Zh: 新年夜的喧嚣声似乎也不断刺激着他的神经。En: The sounds of New Year's Eve festivities seem to constantly stimulate his nerves.Zh: 这天晚上，他在书桌前奋战到深夜，疲惫不堪地趴在课本上，却不小心进入梦乡。En: That night, he works at his desk into the late hours, exhaustedly resting his head on his textbook, inadvertently falling asleep.Zh: 当明醒来时，外面传来鞭炮的响声，钟声也在耳边敲响。En: When Ming wakes up, the sound of firecrackers and the ringing of bells reach his ears.Zh: 他惊慌地看着钟表，不知所措。En: He looks at the clock in panic, not knowing what to do.Zh: 是继续留在寝室补习，还是加入李的行列，体验一下新年的狂欢？En: Should he stay in his dorm to continue studying or join Li and experience a bit of New Year's revelry?Zh: 李走进来，微微笑着说：“明，走吧，大家都在等你。”En: Li walks in with a slight smile and says, "Ming, come on, everyone is waiting for you."Zh: 经过一番思索，明决定放下笔，穿上外套，随着李走出寝室。En: After some thought, Ming decides to put down his pen, put on his coat, and follow Li out of the dorm.Zh: 在寒冷的空气中，他忽然感到一阵轻松。En: In the cold air, he suddenly feels a sense of relief.Zh: 他来到校园中心，和朋友们站在一起，看着漫天的烟火，心中渐渐释然。En: He goes to the center of the campus, stands with his friends, watching the fireworks fill the sky, and gradually feels at ease.Zh: 新年钟声敲响，明感受到了一种久违的平和。En: As the New Year's bells toll, Ming experiences a long-lost sense of tranquility.Zh: 他明白，适度的放松有助于缓解压力，让大脑更清晰地去迎接挑战。En: He understands that moderate relaxation can help relieve stress and allow the mind to face challenges more clearly.Zh: 回到书桌前，明的心态变得平稳。En: Returning to his desk, Ming feels calm.Zh: 他学会了在努力学习和自我放松之间寻找平衡，En: He learns to find a balance between hard work and self-relaxation.Zh: 这次新年，他不仅找到了放松的方式，也为来年的挑战储备了新的动力。En: This New Year, he not only found a way to relax but also stored up new energy for the challenges of the coming year.Zh: 通过这种调整，他认识到勤奋固然重要，但明智地放松也是成功不可或缺的一部分。En: Through this adjustment, he realizes that diligence is important, but wise relaxation is also an indispensable part of success. Vocabulary Words:serene: 宁静desolate: 寂寥diligent: 勤奋achieve: 取得scholarship: 奖学金perusing: 翻阅vague: 隐约anxiety: 焦虑inadvertently: 不小心revelry: 狂欢ringing: 敲响panic: 惊慌slight: 微微relief: 轻松tranquility: 平和moderate: 适度的relieve: 缓解adjustment: 调整indispensable: 不可或缺understated: 低调cherish: 期盼dilemma: 两难stimulate: 刺激exhausted: 疲惫不堪festivities: 喧嚣calm: 平稳balance: 平衡wise: 明智extensive: 厚厚的noteworthy: 优异

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: A Hotpot Mishap: New Year's Eve Adventure in Taipei Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-28-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在台北的冬日夜晚，热闹的火锅店里人声鼎沸，空气中弥漫着汤底浓郁的香气。En: On a winter night in Taipei, a lively hotpot restaurant was bustling with people, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of the broth.Zh: 红灯笼与金色装饰将整个餐厅点缀得温馨而喜庆。En: Red lanterns and golden decorations adorned the entire restaurant, creating a warm and festive atmosphere.Zh: 门旁贴着“新年快乐”，每个人脸上洋溢着期待的笑容。En: A Happy New Year sign was pasted by the door, and everyone's face was beaming with expectant smiles.Zh: 琳娜和她的好友江正围坐在一只咕嘟作响的鸳鸯锅前。En: Lina and her friend Jiang were sitting around a bubbling yuanyang pot.Zh: 琳娜是一名年轻的市场营销专业人员，做事细心却常常健忘。En: Lina, a young marketing professional, did her work carefully but often forgot things.Zh: 此刻，她注意力全在桌上的牛肉片和虾滑之中。En: At that moment, her attention was entirely focused on the beef slices and shrimp paste on the table.Zh: 江则忙着逗趣，给服务员打趣道：“过年不来吃火锅，那还叫什么生活！”En: Jiang, on the other hand, was busy joking with the waiter, saying, 'If you don't have hotpot for the New Year, is that even living!'Zh: 突然，琳娜的手机响了。En: Suddenly, Lina's phone rang.Zh: 她掏出手机，没发现自己的包发生了微妙的变化——一个棕色的皮包，静静地被放在她的位置。En: She took out her phone, not noticing a subtle change with her bag—a brown leather bag was quietly placed in her spot.Zh: 然而，琳娜并没有留意。En: However, Lina didn't pay attention to it.Zh: 不久，一位名叫明的陌生男子经过他们的桌边，走向出口。En: Before long, a stranger named Ming passed by their table, walking towards the exit.Zh: 明也是一名与朋友共度新年的单身汉。然而，明提着一个看似料峭的女士手提包，显然与他不符。En: Ming, also a bachelor spending New Year's with friends, was carrying what appeared to be a delicate women's handbag, clearly not matching his persona.Zh: 时间流转，琳娜终于意识到自己的包被换了。En: Time passed, and Lina finally realized her bag had been switched.Zh: 她脸色微红，紧张地低语：“江，我拿错包了。”En: Her face turned slightly red as she nervously whispered, 'Jiang, I took the wrong bag.'Zh: 考虑到餐厅里的人声和络绎不绝的宾客，琳娜不愿引起注意。En: Considering the bustling restaurant and the stream of guests, Lina didn't want to draw attention.Zh: “我得找回我的包，拜托帮个忙。”她对江说。En: 'I need to get my bag back, please help me,' she said to Jiang.Zh: 于是，这对搭档展开了行动。En: With that, the duo sprang into action.Zh: 江迅速扫视四周，锁定了那位已经快要走出门的明。En: Jiang quickly scanned the area, pinpointing Ming, who was nearly out the door.Zh: 江轻声笑道：“好，咱们来个不显山不露水的包包大作战。”En: Jiang chuckled softly, 'Alright, let's have a stealthy bag operation.'Zh: 两人起身，随着人群挪动，时不时地弯下腰以免引起别人的关注。En: They stood up and moved with the crowd, occasionally bending down to avoid drawing attention.Zh: 明似乎也很快发现了自己的包不对，站在门口有些茫然。En: Ming seemed to have quickly realized his wrong bag as well, standing bewildered at the entrance.Zh: 就在江准备打招呼时，琳娜因避开一位走过的服务员，不小心撞入了热闹的庆祝人群中，大声地喊着“新年快乐！”En: Just as Jiang was about to greet him, Lina, while trying to avoid a passing waiter, accidentally bumped into a lively celebrating crowd, loudly shouting, 'Happy New Year!'Zh: 所有人都跟着举起酒杯欢呼。En: Everyone followed her and raised their glasses in cheer.Zh: 琳娜不得不微笑着加入新年祝酒，满脸通红。En: Lina had no choice but to smile and join the New Year's toast, thoroughly blushing.Zh: 明也被这声势浩大吸引，看到了琳娜的囧境。En: Ming was also drawn by the grand scene and saw Lina's awkward situation.Zh: 几步赶上来，他在琳娜耳边低声说：“看来我们的包发生了小意外。”En: He quickly approached her and whispered, 'It seems our bags had a little mishap.'Zh: “是啊！”琳娜边微笑边说，心里松了一口气。En: 'Yes!' Lina said with a smile, feeling relieved inside.Zh: 在人们的微笑祝福中，他们迅速交换了包，正好赶上新年倒计时。En: Amid the smiles and blessings of the people, they swiftly exchanged bags just in time for the New Year countdown.Zh: 随着钟声敲响，琳娜和明共举杯，笑声混合在烟花的爆响中。En: As the clock struck, Lina and Ming raised their glasses, their laughter mingling with the booming fireworks.Zh: 通过这次意外，琳娜意识到，生活中的小错误并非全都需要那么完美来处置。En: Through this unexpected incident, Lina realized that not all small mistakes in life need to be dealt with perfectly.Zh: 迎着新年的祝福，她向快乐和放松的自己迈了一步。En: Embracing the New Year's blessings, she took a step towards a happier and more relaxed self. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 人声鼎沸adorned: 点缀festive: 喜庆beaming: 洋溢bubbling: 咕嘟作响marketing: 市场营销subtle: 微妙delicate: 料峭pinpointing: 锁定stealthy: 不显山不露水bewildered: 茫然joking: 打趣mishap: 小意外mingling: 混合embracing: 迎着realized: 意识到awkward: 囧境smiles: 微笑swiftly: 迅速cheer: 欢呼shouted: 喊着nervously: 紧张地blessing: 祝福avoiding: 避开crowd: 人群lively: 热闹的bachelor: 单身汉festooned: 装饰persona: 形象relaxed: 放松的

Anna still feels uneasy about people gossiping about her and gaining weight. Gao Yue comforts her, saying self-love means accepting both the “slim” and “chubby” versions of herself. Anna sighs, “Easier said than done". —————————————————————————————————高月：怎么了？一直皱着眉头？有什么心事？安娜：哎，也没有大事。前两天我跟张丽聊天，说起我听到别人在背后评价我身材的事。虽然张丽已经开导过我了，我还是偶尔会想起来。高月：啊，那件事啊。安娜：对啊。我知道我不应该再想了。这是“内耗”。 可是我发现最近我确实长胖了许多，每次看到镜子里的自己，都觉得自己不够好。高月：我理解你的焦虑。你知道吗？我很喜欢你的真诚，在我面前不害怕承认自己的脆弱。其实，你只需要好好地爱自己就好了。每个人的外貌都会变化。但是，胖的你也是你，瘦的你也是你，胖和瘦都是你。你不需要以一个固定的模式生长。你这样要求自己是在和自己过不去。安娜：嗯。不内耗？高月：对啊。你知道一个人不内耗的最高境界是什么吗？是和自己和解，和周围的一切和解。安娜：说起来容易做起来难。道理都懂，但是做起来不容易。高月：我知道。这不是一下子就能做到的。这个是一个需要花一辈子来修炼的能力。安娜：啊～～～高月：但是现在我们可以做的第一步就是：放下”应该“，感受”那好吧“。安娜：那好吧！高月：对啊，那好吧！—————————————————————————————————If you're enjoying this story, there's so much more waiting for you inside maayot:✅ Daily bite-sized stories that suit your level ✅ native audio ✅ One tap Pinyin, explain in context for words and sentences✅ Writing and speaking exercises with teacher feedback ✅ Track your learning streak — never lose your momentum!

OPINION: Trump's NSS: The consequential document our mandarins ignore | Dec. 28, 2025Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribeVisit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcherTune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein#TheManilaTimes#KeepUpWithTheTimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: A New Year's Reunion: Li Wei's Journey to Reconnect Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-27-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 蓝天白云，阳光洒在圣托里尼的白色建筑上，海水碧蓝如宝石。En: Blue skies and white clouds, sunlight shimmering on the white buildings of Shengtuolini, and the sea as blue as a jewel.Zh: 李伟站在阳台上，远远望着地中海。En: Li Wei stood on the balcony, gazing out at the Dizhonghai.Zh: 冬季的海风微凉，夹杂着即将到来的新年的气息。En: The winter sea breeze was slightly cool, carrying the breath of the approaching New Year.Zh: 他闭上双眼，心中默念着：这次，一定要与家人重新连接。En: He closed his eyes, silently meditating: this time, I must reconnect with my family.Zh: 几年前，李伟为了工作搬到了国外。En: A few years ago, Li Wei moved abroad for work.Zh: 工作繁忙，他疏于与家人联络，甚至几次错过家族聚会。En: Busy with work, he neglected to keep in touch with his family, even missing several family gatherings.Zh: 今年，他决心改变这一切。En: This year, he was determined to change all that.Zh: 李伟邀请了父母和妹妹梅过来圣托里尼一起庆祝新年。En: Li Wei invited his parents and his sister Mei to come to Shengtuolini to celebrate the New Year together.Zh: 终于，李伟在机场见到了父母还有妹妹张。En: Finally, Li Wei met his parents and sister Zhang at the airport.Zh: 寒暄过后，三人跟着李伟回到了海边的小酒店。En: After exchanging pleasantries, the three followed Li Wei back to a small hotel by the sea.Zh: 每个人的脸上都浮现出期待的喜悦，但李伟心里却有种说不出的紧张。En: Each face was filled with joyful anticipation, yet Li Wei felt an unspoken nervousness.Zh: 他一直担心，自己未能达到家人期待，也许无法得到真正的理解与接纳。En: He constantly worried that he hadn't met his family's expectations and perhaps couldn't receive true understanding and acceptance.Zh: 那天晚上，李伟带着家人到当地一家餐馆，品尝特色希腊菜肴。En: That evening, Li Wei took his family to a local restaurant to taste some traditional Greek dishes.Zh: 梅开心地说：“这里的风景太美了，哥哥，你这里生活一定很有趣。”En: Mei exclaimed happily, “The scenery here is so beautiful. Brother, your life here must be very interesting.”Zh: 张也笑着附和：“是啊，我们都很想你。”En: Zhang smiled and echoed, “Yes, we've all missed you a lot.”Zh: 李伟微微一笑，但心里却在犹豫，En: Li Wei smiled lightly, but in his heart, he hesitated.Zh: 当梅的目光移开时，他还是选择了沉默。En: When Mei's gaze shifted away, he chose to remain silent.Zh: 随着新年的临近，圣托里尼的小岛上充满了节日的气氛。En: As the New Year approached, the small island of Shengtuolini was filled with a festive atmosphere.Zh: 除夕夜，李伟和家人坐在屋顶的露台上，看着远处的烟火。En: On New Year's Eve, Li Wei and his family sat on the rooftop terrace, watching fireworks in the distance.Zh: 他知道，这是他必须面对的时候。En: He knew this was the moment he had to face.Zh: 他深吸一口气，终于开口说：“对不起，这几年我很少陪伴你们。”En: Taking a deep breath, he finally said, “I'm sorry for not spending much time with you all these past few years.”Zh: 话语间，李伟倾诉了长久以来积压在心中的感受：工作的压力、内心的不安、对于家人期望的恐惧。En: With these words, Li Wei poured out the feelings that had been pent up in his heart: the pressure of work, the unease within, and the fear of failing to meet family expectations.Zh: 梅轻声说：“哥哥，我们其实一直都懂你。”En: Mei gently said, “Brother, we've always understood you.”Zh: 泪水在张的眼中闪烁，她点点头：“我们一直都为你骄傲。”En: Tears glistened in Zhang's eyes as she nodded, “We've always been proud of you.”Zh: 听到这些，李伟心中如释重负。En: Hearing this, Li Wei felt a weight lifted from his heart.Zh: 他望着家人，眼角也泛起泪光。En: He looked at his family, tears welling up in his eyes as well.Zh: 新年的钟声敲响时，四个人紧紧相拥在一起。En: When the New Year's bells rang, the four embraced each other tightly.Zh: 那一刻，李伟感受到了从未有过的温暖。En: In that moment, Li Wei felt a warmth he had never felt before.Zh: 他知道，自己找回了真正的归属感。En: He knew he had regained a true sense of belonging.Zh: 心灵的负担和距离消失无踪。En: The burdens and distance in his heart vanished without a trace.Zh: 次日清晨，阳光洒在圣托里尼的街道上，李伟的心中充满了希望。En: The next morning, sunlight spread over the streets of Shengtuolini, and Li Wei's heart was filled with hope.Zh: 他下定决心，未来会常常联系家人。En: He was determined to keep in touch with his family more often in the future.Zh: 通过真实的交流，他学会了面对自己的弱点，也明白了脆弱其实是一种力量。En: Through genuine communication, he learned to face his own weaknesses and understood that vulnerability is indeed a strength.Zh: 李伟微笑着，望向大海。En: Li Wei smiled, looking out at the sea.Zh: 他知道，这个新年过后，生活会是新的开始，而他与家人的关系将更为牢固。En: He knew that after this New Year, life would be a fresh start, and his relationship with his family would be stronger than ever. Vocabulary Words:shimmering: 闪烁gazing: 望着reconnect: 重新连接neglected: 疏于determined: 决心gatherings: 聚会anticipation: 期待nervousness: 紧张regain: 找回embraced: 拥抱vulnerability: 脆弱weaknesses: 弱点festive: 节日的unease: 不安scenery: 风景hesitated: 犹豫festive atmosphere: 节日的气氛fireworks: 烟火pent up: 积压burdens: 负担trace: 踪reminiscent: 提醒subdued: 抑制的shimmering: 闪烁unease: 不安acceptance: 接纳mediate: 沉思apprehension: 忧虑faltered: 犹豫不决gleamed: 闪烁

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: A Spice-Filled Quest: Finding Love and Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-27-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 伊斯坦布尔的冬天，空气中弥漫着香料的芬芳。En: Yisitanbul's winter is filled with the fragrance of spices in the air.Zh: 盛大的集市灯火通明，五颜六色的灯串在空中摇曳，迎接新年的到来。En: The grand market is brightly lit, with colorful strings of lights swaying in the air, welcoming the arrival of the New Year.Zh: 若菲、莲和景正在这座繁华的市场中漫步，寻找属于自己的故事。En: Ruofei, Lian, and Jing are strolling through this bustling market, searching for their own stories.Zh: 在一个香料摊位前，若菲驻足。En: Ruofei stopped in front of a spice stall.Zh: 辛辣的胡椒、香甜的桂皮、浓郁的肉豆蔻，所有香味混杂在一起，令她沉醉。En: The spicy hujiao, sweet guipi, and the rich aroma of roudoukou were all mixed together, mesmerizing her.Zh: 景在一旁微笑，鼓励她问摊主更多。En: Jing smiled beside her, encouraging her to ask the stall owner more.Zh: 负责摊位的青年叫莲，他的眼中尽是热情与温暖。En: The young man in charge of the stall was named Lian, and his eyes were full of passion and warmth.Zh: 莲微微点头，向若菲介绍摊上的各种香料。En: Lian nodded slightly and introduced the various spices on the stall to Ruofei.Zh: 他喜欢这种交流，但他常常觉得自己被困在这个摊位、这个市场、这个城市。En: He loved this kind of interaction, but he often felt trapped at this stall, in this market, in this city.Zh: 若菲好奇地倾听，脑海中飞速构思着新书的内容。En: Curiously, Ruofei listened, her mind racing with new book ideas.Zh: 莲讲述着家族的香料故事，听得若菲入神。En: Lian talked about his family's spice stories, capturing Ruofei's attention.Zh: 尽管二人不同文化背景，二人却在香料的世界中找到了共鸣。En: Although they came from different cultural backgrounds, they found resonance in the world of spices.Zh: 交流中，莲也渐渐被若菲的冒险精神感染，心中开始思索是否该走出这片传统的天地。En: In their exchange, Lian, too, was gradually influenced by Ruofei's adventurous spirit, and he began to ponder whether he should step out of this traditional realm.Zh: 随着假期渐近，若菲意识到自己的旅行时间快结束了。En: As the holidays approached, Ruofei realized her travel time was coming to an end.Zh: 她心中有些不舍，她向莲透露打算延期，并邀请他同行。En: She felt somewhat reluctant and revealed her plan to extend her stay to Lian, inviting him to join her.Zh: 景在一旁附和，鼓励莲走出舒适圈。En: Jing chimed in, encouraging Lian to step out of his comfort zone.Zh: 新年夜，当全城的人集聚在博斯普鲁斯海峡沿岸，烟花璀璨的时刻，若菲和莲一起观赏。En: On New Year's Eve, when the whole city gathered along the Bosipulusi Haixia, at the moment when the fireworks lit up the sky, Ruofei and Lian watched together.Zh: 若菲对未来依旧有些不确定，但她知道心中多了一份期待。En: Though Ruofei was still somewhat uncertain about the future, she knew she had a newfound sense of anticipation.Zh: 莲鼓起勇气表达了对生活的渴望，他想和若菲一路前行，共同探寻这个精彩的世界。En: Lian summoned the courage to express his yearning for life, wanting to journey with Ruofei to explore this wonderful world together.Zh: 最后，若菲与莲决定跟随内心，勇敢迎接不确定的未来。En: In the end, Ruofei and Lian decided to follow their hearts, bravely embracing an uncertain future.Zh: 若菲感受到了一种归属感，找到了灵感的源泉。En: Ruofei felt a sense of belonging and found a source of inspiration.Zh: 而莲则第一次感觉到自己真正找到了人生的新方向。En: Meanwhile, Lian felt, for the first time, that he had truly discovered a new direction in life.Zh: 在这辉煌的烟花下，他们牵手微笑，向新的一年和未来出发。En: Under the splendor of the fireworks, they held hands and smiled, embarking on a journey toward the new year and the future. Vocabulary Words:fragrance: 芬芳bustling: 繁华mesmerizing: 沉醉stall: 摊位spicy: 辛辣hujiao: 胡椒guipi: 桂皮roudoukou: 肉豆蔻mesmerizing: 沉醉curiously: 好奇地interaction: 交流adventurous: 冒险ponder: 思索reluctant: 不舍comfort zone: 舒适圈summoned: 鼓起yearning: 渴望embracing: 迎接anticipation: 期待splendor: 辉煌inspiration: 灵感journey: 征程explore: 探寻traditional: 传统strolling: 漫步resonance: 共鸣gathered: 集聚newfound: 新的desire: 渴望passion: 热情

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Harmony in Snowflakes: A Festival of Communication & Talent Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-26-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 漫天的雪花飘落，校园的操场被白雪覆盖，远处红色的灯笼暗示着即将到来的春节。En: Snowflakes are falling all over, covering the school sports field in white, while the red lanterns in the distance hint at the imminent arrival of Spring Festival.Zh: 这里是学校的年末庆典准备现场，En: This is the preparation site for the school's year-end celebration.Zh: 空气中弥漫着寒冷的气息，但同学们的热情却让这里充满活力。En: The air is filled with a chill, but the enthusiasm of the students makes this place vibrant.Zh: 梁站在操场中央，眼神坚定地指挥着。En: Liang stands at the center of the field, directing with a determined gaze.Zh: 作为一个认真负责的学生，他主动承担起节日组织的任务，他希望这个节日能让每位同学都参与其中。En: As a diligent and responsible student, he voluntarily took on the task of organizing the festival, hoping that this event could involve every student.Zh: 梅是梁最好的朋友，她站在梁的身旁，对他的每一个决定都表示支持。En: Mei is Liang's best friend, standing by his side, supporting his every decision.Zh: 心里，她多么希望也能在台上表演，但怕被拒绝，她一直没敢说出口。En: In her heart, she wishes she could perform on stage, but afraid of rejection, she has never dared to express it.Zh: 贾是舞台上的主角，她自信满满，但对梁的某些计划并不认同，总是提出不同的意见。En: Jia is the star on the stage, full of confidence, yet she disagrees with some of Liang's plans, often offering different opinions.Zh: 一天，梁、梅和贾聚集在一起，商讨节目的细节。En: One day, Liang, Mei, and Jia gathered together to discuss the details of the program.Zh: 贾皱着眉，“梁，我们的节目太普通了，应该要更有新意！”En: "Liang, our program is too ordinary; it should be more innovative!"Zh: 梁思考着贾的话，心里有些迟疑。En: Liang considered Jia's words, feeling a bit hesitant.Zh: 他希望每个人都能开心参与，但也担心太过于激烈的变化会导致失控。En: He wants everyone to happily participate but is concerned that too much change might lead to chaos.Zh: 梅温柔地在旁边建议，“或许，我们可以考虑让更多同学表演不同的才艺。”En: Mei gently suggested from the side, "Perhaps we could consider letting more students showcase different talents."Zh: 然而，争论越来越激烈，梁终于忍不住，认真说道，“贾，再这样下去，我们该怎么办？梅，你有自己的想法吗？”En: However, as the arguments intensified, Liang finally couldn't hold back and seriously said, "Jia, if this continues, what should we do? Mei, do you have any ideas?"Zh: 此时，梅首次鼓起勇气说道，“其实，我一直很想上台表演。”En: It was at this point that Mei summoned the courage to say, "Actually, I've always wanted to perform on stage."Zh: 梁看着梅，意识到问题的根源是大家都没能畅所欲言。En: Liang looked at Mei, realizing that the root of the problem was that no one had been able to speak their minds freely.Zh: 他提议，“我们每个人都说出自己想法，然后找到一个大家都满意的方案。”En: He suggested, "Let's each share our ideas, then find a solution everyone is satisfied with."Zh: 经过一番坦诚的交流，梁提议每一个想要登台表演的同学都能展示他们的才华，同时也采纳了贾的一些创新想法。En: After some heartfelt communication, Liang proposed that any student who wished to perform could showcase their talents, while also incorporating some of Jia's creative ideas.Zh: 这样，节目的安排既有新意，又增加了参与感。En: This way, the program's arrangement would be innovative and increase the sense of participation.Zh: 最后，庆典当天，雪继续静静地落下，操场上的灯笼愈加明亮夺目。En: Finally, on the day of the celebration, the snow continued to fall quietly, and the lanterns on the field shone even more brightly.Zh: 同学们在雪地中尽情表演，欢声笑语在整个校园回荡。En: Students performed freely in the snow, and laughter echoed throughout the campus.Zh: 梁微笑着看着梅在舞台上自信地唱歌，贾则担任总主持，她的笑声融入在空气中。En: Liang smiled as he watched Mei sing confidently on stage, while Jia took on the role of the main host, her laughter blending into the air.Zh: 通过这次活动，梁明白了沟通与合作的重要性。En: Through this event, Liang learned the importance of communication and collaboration.Zh: 他学会了倾听，明白只有大家同心协力，才能办好一场盛大、快乐的庆典。En: He learned to listen, understanding that only by working together can a grand and joyful celebration be held.Zh: 这次的经历，成为他记忆中永恒而美好的冬日回忆。En: This experience became an everlasting and beautiful winter memory for him. Vocabulary Words:snowflakes: 雪花covering: 覆盖lanterns: 灯笼imminent: 即将到来的celebration: 庆典chill: 寒冷enthusiasm: 热情vibrant: 充满活力determined: 坚定diligent: 认真responsible: 负责voluntarily: 主动rejection: 拒绝confident: 自信frowned: 皱眉hesitant: 迟疑chaos: 失控gentle: 温柔arguments: 争论intensified: 激烈summoned: 鼓起communication: 沟通collaboration: 合作incorporating: 采纳showcase: 展示innovative: 新意heartfelt: 坦诚participation: 参与confidence: 自信everlasting: 永恒

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Crafting Traditions: Rediscovering Festivity and Heart Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-26-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 商场的灯火通明，红灯笼和金色横幅将整个空间装点得喜气洋洋。En: The shopping mall was brightly lit, with red lanterns and golden banners decorating the entire space joyfully.Zh: 空气中飘荡着悠扬的节日音乐，摊位上挤满了色彩鲜艳的面料和精美的装饰。En: The air was filled with melodious festival music, and stalls were crowded with brightly colored fabrics and exquisite ornaments.Zh: 明走在走廊上，心里盘算着如何在节日中保持一种平衡。En: Ming walked down the corridor, contemplating how to maintain a sense of balance during the festival.Zh: 他想买一些既不昂贵又能体现年味的装饰品和节日衣服。En: He wanted to buy some decorations and festival clothes that were neither expensive nor lacking in festive spirit.Zh: 明从小就对传统有些疏远，但他希望今年能找回这种联系。En: Ming had always been somewhat distanced from tradition since he was young, but he hoped to reconnect this year.Zh: 莲是明的好朋友，她对中国新年充满了热情。En: Lian, who is Ming's good friend, is full of enthusiasm for Chinese New Year.Zh: 旺盛的节日气氛让她兴奋不已。En: The vibrant festive atmosphere excited her immensely.Zh: “明，今年我们得让新年更特别，”莲一边兴奋地选购，一边说。En: "Ming, this year we must make New Year extra special," Lian said excitedly while shopping.Zh: “当然，不过这些都好贵啊。”明看着那些高价的饰品，无奈地叹了口气。En: "Of course, but all of these are so expensive." Ming looked at the high-priced decorations and sighed helplessly.Zh: 他们的朋友伟，是最近刚来中国的。En: Their friend Wei had just recently come to China.Zh: 他对新年的习俗十分好奇，虽然有些不太适应。En: He was very curious about New Year's traditions, though a bit unaccustomed.Zh: “这里的传统很特别，我很想学会如何庆祝，”伟说道。En: "The traditions here are quite special, and I really want to learn how to celebrate," Wei said.Zh: 明感受到价格和传统的压力，又不想让莲和伟失望。En: Ming felt the pressure between prices and tradition and didn't want to disappoint Lian and Wei.Zh: 他灵机一动，决定动手制作一些东西，既省钱又有意义。En: In a moment of inspiration, he decided to make something by hand, which would be both cost-effective and meaningful.Zh: 几个人继续在商场里走着，忽然间，明的目光被一间老旧的小店吸引住了。En: The group continued walking through the mall when Ming's attention was suddenly drawn to an old little shop.Zh: 那家店里，有着传统的手工艺品和一些简便的手工制作材料，价格适中。En: The shop had traditional handicrafts and some simple handcraft materials that were reasonably priced.Zh: “我们可以用这些来做些装饰，”明兴奋地说。En: "We can use these to make some decorations," Ming said excitedly.Zh: 莲和伟也对这个想法感到兴奋，En: Lian and Wei were also excited about the idea.Zh: “这样我们不仅能装饰家，还能度过一个有趣的晚上。”En: "This way we can not only decorate our homes but also have a fun evening," they said.Zh: 最后，明买下了材料，他们回到家后，开始一起制作个性化的装饰品。En: Eventually, Ming bought the materials, and after returning home, they began creating personalized decorations together.Zh: 莲耐心地讲解每一个饰品背后的故事，伟则仔细聆听，沉浸在新年的喜庆氛围中。En: Lian patiently explained the story behind each ornament, while Wei listened carefully, immersed in the festive atmosphere of the New Year.Zh: 在热闹的节日准备过程中，明感受到原来传统并不一定要一成不变。En: During the lively festival preparations, Ming realized that tradition didn't have to be rigid.Zh: 通过亲手制作，他重新欣赏到了传统的价值，还与朋友共享了这份乐趣。En: By crafting things himself, he rediscovered the value of tradition and shared the joy with his friends.Zh: 这个夜晚，他们不仅装饰了房子，也用心意和创意装点了每个人的心。En: That evening, they not only decorated the house but also adorned each person's heart with sincerity and creativity.Zh: 明意识到，传统可以个性化，这份改变让他倍感欣慰。En: Ming realized that tradition could be personalized, and this change brought him great comfort.Zh: 故事的结局温暖而圆满，明感受到了一种全新的节日氛围。En: The story concluded warmly and perfectly, and Ming felt a brand new festive atmosphere. Vocabulary Words:melodious: 悠扬exquisite: 精美contemplating: 盘算balance: 平衡distant: 疏远enthusiasm: 热情vibrant: 旺盛high-priced: 高价pressure: 压力inspiration: 灵机一动cost-effective: 省钱handicrafts: 手工艺品materials: 材料personalized: 个性化immersed: 沉浸rigid: 一成不变value: 价值sincerity: 心意creativity: 创意festive: 喜气洋洋stall: 摊位corridor: 走廊plentiful: 挤满ornament: 装饰品tradition: 传统astonished: 惊讶adorned: 装点comfort: 欣慰interaction: 互动atmosphere: 气氛

2025 was a year of "disappearances" and "silent treatments." In this raw, unedited recap, the three Uncles finally clear the air. From Ben's corporate burnout to Can's secret novel-writing dream, and Cha's frustration of being left behind—watch as we reveal why we almost ended the podcast, and what eventually brought us back together for 2026.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Warmth on the Great Wall: A Dongzhi Festival Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-25-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 长城在冬日的薄雪下静静地伫立，古老的石砖被装饰得五光十色，因为冬至节快到了。En: The Great Wall stood silently under a light dusting of snow in winter, its ancient stones decorated with a myriad of colors as the Dongzhi Festival approached.Zh: 五彩的灯笼在夜空中轻轻摇曳，节日的欢笑声在古老的墙上回荡，宛如一幅神奇而喜庆的画卷。En: Multicolored lanterns gently swayed in the night sky, and the sound of festive laughter echoed across the ancient walls, resembling a magical and joyous painting.Zh: 梅站在长城上，呼吸着清新的冷空气。En: Mei stood atop the Great Wall, breathing in the crisp, cold air.Zh: 她已经很久没有感受到这种节日的氛围。En: It had been a long time since she felt this festive atmosphere.Zh: 身为一个事业心极强的职业女性，她总是忙于工作，忽视了自己个人的生活和感情。En: As a highly career-driven professional woman, she was always busy with work, neglecting her personal life and feelings.Zh: 然而，这个冬至节，她决定给自己一个假期——参加在长城举行的文化庆典。En: However, for this Dongzhi Festival, she decided to give herself a break—by attending a cultural celebration held on the Great Wall.Zh: 梅一边喝着热乎乎的姜茶，一边四处张望。En: While sipping on hot ginger tea, Mei looked around.Zh: 不远处，她看到一个神情专注的男子正在欣赏灯笼上的图案。En: Not far away, she saw a man with a focused expression appreciating the patterns on the lanterns.Zh: 他是金，一个同样被繁忙工作淹没的年轻人，对真挚的交流有着强烈的渴望。En: He was Jin, a young man also overwhelmed by busy work, who had a strong desire for sincere communication.Zh: 梅有些犹豫。En: Mei hesitated a bit.Zh: 过去的伤害让她变得不容易敞开心扉，而她总是忙碌的工作计划也不给她太多时间去探索个人生活。En: Past hurts had made her less open, and her perpetually busy schedule left her little time to explore her personal life.Zh: 然而，这一刻的美好气氛和节日的氛围最终让她鼓足勇气上前。En: However, the beautiful atmosphere of the moment and the festive spirit finally gave her the courage to step forward.Zh: “你好，这些灯笼真漂亮，不是吗？En: "Hello, these lanterns are really beautiful, aren't they?"Zh: ”梅轻声说道。En: Mei said softly.Zh: 金抬头微笑，“是啊，特别是在这样的夜晚更显得有生气。En: Jin looked up and smiled, "Yes, especially on a night like this, they seem even more vibrant."Zh: ”两人慢慢交谈起来，共同体验着节日带来的愉悦。En: The two began to talk slowly, sharing the joy brought by the festival.Zh: 而当雪默默飘落在灯笼和古砖之间，梅和金不约而同地感受到一种久违的温暖。En: And as snow silently settled between the lanterns and the ancient stones, both Mei and Jin felt a long-lost warmth.Zh: 两人决定共度这个特别的夜晚，走遍每一个灯笼点缀的角落。En: They decided to spend this special evening together, exploring every corner adorned with lanterns.Zh: 尽管寒风凛冽，他们在彼此的陪伴中找到了温暖和快乐。En: Despite the biting wind, they found warmth and joy in each other's company.Zh: 这个冬至节，梅意识到，生活中不仅仅需要工作和目标，也需要时间去与他人建立真正的联系。En: This Dongzhi Festival, Mei realized that life is not just about work and goals; it's also about taking time to build genuine connections with others.Zh: 她感受到一种新的平衡，一种充满希望的新开始。En: She felt a new balance, a hopeful new beginning.Zh: 也许，这段旅程是友谊的开始，或者是更深层次的关系。En: Perhaps this journey would be the start of a friendship, or even a deeper relationship.Zh: 梅和金在古老的长城上，微笑着，仿佛看到了更广阔的未来。En: Mei and Jin smiled at each other on the ancient Great Wall, as if seeing a broader future ahead. Vocabulary Words:stood: 伫立dusting: 薄myriad: 五光十色approached: 快到gently: 轻轻swayed: 摇曳echoed: 回荡resembled: 宛如breathing: 呼吸crisp: 清新neglecting: 忽视sipping: 喝着patterns: 图案hesitated: 犹豫courage: 勇气vibrant: 生气sharing: 体验settled: 飘落adorned: 点缀biting: 凛冽genuine: 真挚connections: 联系balance: 平衡journey: 旅程broader: 广阔ancient: 古老stones: 石砖festive: 节日atmosphere: 氛围overwhelmed: 淹没

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Tea Traditions & New Beginnings: A Lijiang Winter Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-25-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在丽江古城，冬天的夜晚总是格外迷人。En: In the Lijiang Ancient Town, the winter nights are always particularly enchanting.Zh: 整条街道都披上了银色的节日灯光，空气中弥漫着烤栗子的香气，仿佛在低语讲述着古老的故事。En: The entire street is adorned with silver holiday lights, and the air is filled with the aroma of roasted chestnuts, as if whispering ancient stories.Zh: 在这如画的环境中，正值圣诞节，我们的故事展开了。En: In this picturesque setting, our story unfolds during Christmas.Zh: 韦是一位年轻的创业者，继承了家族的茶叶生意。En: Wei is a young entrepreneur who inherited the family tea business.Zh: 他坐在一家古老的茶馆里，对面是丽丽，聪慧而干练的商业女性。En: He is sitting in an old teahouse, opposite Lili, a smart and capable businesswoman.Zh: 茶馆的桌子上摆放着精致的普洱茶具，四周是由木头精雕细刻的装饰，仿佛在诉说着这座城市的久远历史。En: On the table are exquisite Pu-erh tea sets, and around them are intricately carved wooden decorations, as if recounting the long history of this city.Zh: 韦低声说道：“我希望扩大我们的茶叶业务。En: Wei softly said, "I hope to expand our tea business.Zh: 丽丽，我们需要你的公司来帮助我们运送这些茶叶，通往全国各地，甚至国外。”En: Lili, we need your company to help us transport these teas across the country and even overseas."Zh: 丽丽微微笑着，眼神中透露出一丝挑战：“韦，我明白你的抱负。En: Lili smiled slightly, with a hint of challenge in her eyes, "Wei, I understand your ambitions.Zh: 但你们的传统茶艺在快速扩张时，能保持一如既往的品质和品牌的真实性吗？”En: But can your traditional tea craft maintain the same quality and brand authenticity when expanding rapidly?"Zh: 韦顿时陷入沉思。En: Wei immediately fell into deep thought.Zh: 他不想放弃家族珍贵的传统，但要说服丽丽，这似乎是一场艰难的谈判。En: He didn't want to give up the precious family tradition, but convincing Lili seemed to be a tough negotiation.Zh: 就在这时，一阵音乐从远处传来，是圣诞节经典的旋律。En: Just then, a piece of music came from afar; it was a classic Christmas melody.Zh: 韦望向窗外，节日的灯光照亮了整座古城。En: Wei looked out the window, and the festive lights illuminated the entire ancient city.Zh: 他灵机一动，决定以真诚打动丽丽。En: He had an idea and decided to move Lili with sincerity.Zh: “丽丽，”韦真切地说，“让我告诉你一个关于我家族的故事。En: "Lili," Wei said earnestly, "let me tell you a story about my family.Zh: 我的祖父，当年在这同一个古城开始制作茶叶。En: My grandfather started making tea right here in this ancient city.Zh: 他总是说：‘茶是一种生活态度，一种连接人与人之间情感的方式。'En: He always said, 'Tea is a way of life, a way to connect emotions between people.'Zh: 这种态度代代相传。”En: This attitude has been passed down through generations."Zh: 听着这些话，丽丽的神情温柔了许多。En: Listening to these words, Lili's expression softened significantly.Zh: 她对韦的坚持和家族传统的尊重，感到深深的触动。En: She was deeply touched by Wei's persistence and respect for family tradition.Zh: “好吧，”丽丽终于露出会心的微笑，“我们可以试试。En: "Alright," Lili finally revealed a knowing smile, "we can give it a try.Zh: 这是一个试点合作。En: This will be a pilot cooperation.Zh: 如果一切顺利，我们可以继续走下去。”En: If all goes well, we can continue down this path."Zh: 韦松了一口气。En: Wei breathed a sigh of relief.Zh: 他不仅获得了这个关键的合作，还在这过程中领悟到一个重要的道理：尊重传统不意味着拒绝变化。En: Not only did he secure this crucial partnership, but he also realized an important lesson: respecting tradition does not mean rejecting change.Zh: 丽丽也从中感受到，合作不仅仅是为了利益，还有一种对文化和传统的深刻理解。En: Lili also felt that collaboration is not just for profit, but also a profound understanding of culture and tradition.Zh: 古老的丽江在这冬夜里，见证了一段新的友谊的开始。En: The ancient Lijiang, on this winter night, witnessed the beginning of a new friendship.Zh: 故事在这如梦如幻的背景中画下完美的句号，En: The story reaches a perfect conclusion in this dreamlike setting.Zh: 韦和丽丽在交汇中收获的不只是商业的成功，还有彼此对文化深度的珍视。En: Wei and Lili harvest not only business success but also a deep appreciation for each other's culture.Zh: 就这样，他们在节日的氛围中漫步在丽江古城的石子路上，思考着更多的可能性。En: Thus, they strolled along the cobblestone streets of Lijiang Ancient Town in the festive atmosphere, contemplating more possibilities. Vocabulary Words:enchanting: 迷人adorned: 披上aroma: 香气roasted chestnuts: 烤栗子picturesque: 如画的entrepreneur: 创业者inherited: 继承exquisite: 精致的intricately: 精雕细刻recounting: 诉说expand: 扩大overseas: 国外authenticity: 真实性negotiation: 谈判earnestly: 真切地persisted: 坚持softened: 温柔pilot: 试点cooperation: 合作breathed a sigh of relief: 松了一口气witnessed: 见证harvest: 收获cobblestone: 石子路contemplating: 思考festive: 节日的melody: 旋律ambitions: 抱负craft: 茶艺sincerity: 真诚emotion: 情感

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Ancient Artifacts and the Winter Solstice Secrets Unveiled Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-24-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 玉明、佳和立伟走在森林中，脚下的雪发出“咯咯”的声音。En: Yuming、Jia and Liwei walked through the forest, the snow underfoot emitting a "crunching" sound.Zh: 冬天的空气透着寒意，古老遗迹静静躺在白雪之中，周围的寂静宛如时间冻结。En: The winter air was filled with a chill, and the ancient ruins lay quietly amid the white snow, with the surrounding silence mirroring the freeze of time.Zh: 这里，是他们这次探险的目的地——森林深处的古遗址，传说中藏有一个能揭示古老文明秘密的神器。En: This was the destination of their expedition — the ancient site deep in the forest, where, according to legend, an artifact capable of revealing the secrets of an ancient civilization was hidden.Zh: 玉明是一位雄心勃勃的考古学家，渴望找到那个失落已久的神器。En: Yuming was an ambitious archaeologist, eager to find that long-lost artifact.Zh: 他坚定地走在前面，脑海中满是极富戏剧性的未来发现。En: He walked determinedly in front, his mind filled with visions of dramatic future discoveries.Zh: 然而，身后的佳却满脸担忧。En: However, behind him, Jia wore a worried expression.Zh: 作为玉明的小心谨慎的同事，她不喜欢他冒险的方式。En: As Yuming's cautious colleague, she disliked his daring ways.Zh: 立伟则是本地的历史学家，他对遗迹充满敬畏，不想看到其遭到破坏。En: Liwei, on the other hand, was a local historian filled with reverence for the ruins and was reluctant to see them damaged.Zh: 在冬至节的寒冷夜晚，三人终于到达了传说中存在着神秘神器的遗址。En: On the cold night of the winter solstice, the three finally arrived at the site rumored to contain the mysterious artifact.Zh: 这里的石块上凝结着霜，仿佛在低语着古老的故事。En: The stones here were frosted, as if whispering ancient tales.Zh: 气氛庄重又神秘。En: The atmosphere was both solemn and mysterious.Zh: 立伟指着一块上面有着古老符号的石桌，“这就是我们要找的地方。En: Liwei pointed at a stone table with ancient symbols on it, "This is the place we were looking for."Zh: ”据说，这里的古物受到诅咒，取走它会带来大不幸。En: It was said that the ancient artifacts here were cursed and removing them would bring great misfortune.Zh: 面对站在神器前的玉明，佳放低声音恳求道：“我们不知道这些遗迹里埋藏的秘密，不能贸然行事。En: Standing before the artifact, Jia lowered her voice, pleading, "We do not know the secrets buried in these ruins and cannot act rashly."Zh: ”立伟也劝告道：“文化遗产的保护比个人的荣誉更重要。En: Liwei also advised, "The protection of cultural heritage is more important than personal glory."Zh: ”玉明站在神器前，心中争斗不休。En: Yuming stood before the artifact, internally conflicted.Zh: 一边是采集证据的荣耀，一边是好友和文化声誉的失落。En: On one side was the glory of collecting evidence, and on the other, the loss of friendship and cultural reputation.Zh: 他盯着那石桌上的古老物品，仿佛时间停滞。En: He stared at the ancient object on the stone table, as if time had stalled.Zh: 他意识到面前的考验不止于求知，还有对文化的尊重。En: He realized the test before him was not just about seeking knowledge but also about respecting culture.Zh: 最后，玉明做出了一个艰难却正确的决定。En: Finally, Yuming made a difficult yet correct decision.Zh: 他深吸一口气，缓缓后退，表示愿意让神器留在它的所在。En: He took a deep breath, slowly stepping back, signaling his willingness to let the artifact remain where it was.Zh: 佳和立伟看着他，眼中流露出欣赏和尊重。En: Jia and Liwei looked at him with admiration and respect in their eyes.Zh: 在这宁静的冬至之夜，三人之间的情谊更加深厚。En: On this quiet winter solstice night, the bond between the three deepened.Zh: 在返回城里的路上，玉明望着覆盖着白雪的树林，他意识到保护文化遗产的重要性远大于个人的野心。En: On their way back to the city, Yuming gazed at the forest blanketed with snow, and he realized that the importance of preserving cultural heritage far exceeds personal ambition.Zh: 这个考古之旅不仅是寻找遗物，更是他自身的成长。En: This archaeological journey was not just about seeking relics but also his own growth.Zh: 他感到温暖，即便是在这严寒的冬季。En: He felt warmth, even in this severe winter.Zh: 他知道，真正的发现不一定要取走什么，往往只是明白一些。En: He knew that true discovery doesn't necessarily involve taking something; it's often about understanding something.Zh: 最终，回到城市时，他们三个在冬至夜的灯光下，微笑着举起了各自的酒杯，庆祝友情和对古迹的尊重。En: Ultimately, when they returned to the city, under the lights of the winter solstice night, the three of them smiled and raised their glasses, celebrating friendship and respect for ancient sites. Vocabulary Words:relics: 遗物archaeologist: 考古学家ambitious: 雄心勃勃的determinedly: 坚定地artifact: 神器expedition: 探险reverence: 敬畏solstice: 冬至solemn: 庄重的mysterious: 神秘的symbols: 符号frosted: 凝结着霜的whispering: 低语cultural heritage: 文化遗产misfortune: 不幸rashly: 贸然personal glory: 个人荣誉renowned: 著名的chill: 寒意ancient: 古老的quietly: 静静地reflection: 反思reputations: 声誉admiration: 欣赏conflicted: 争斗不休daring: 冒险的respecting: 尊重test: 考验vision: 愿景severe: 严寒的

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unveiling Heritage: Mei's Quest in Winter-Clad Xi'an Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-24-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 雪悄悄落在西安的古老遗迹上，给石头建筑和小路披上一层薄纱。En: The snow quietly fell on the ancient ruins of Xi'an, covering the stone structures and pathways with a thin veil.Zh: 空气清冷，似乎连呼吸都有些透明。En: The air was chilly, almost as if even breathing felt transparent.Zh: 梅、李伟和婷等了很久，终于在这个圣诞节来到了这里。En: Mei, Li Wei, and Ting had waited for a long time and finally arrived here this Christmas.Zh: 梅是个对古代历史充满好奇的旅行者，她想在这些历史遗址中找到与自己血脉相连的痕迹，寻找未来的方向。En: Mei is a traveler filled with curiosity about ancient history, hoping to find traces connected to her bloodline within these historical sites and seek a direction for the future.Zh: 虽然天气寒冷，令人冻得瑟瑟发抖，但梅满怀期待，眼中带着光。En: Despite the cold weather, which caused them to shiver, Mei was filled with anticipation, her eyes shining brightly.Zh: 李伟和婷则显得有些匆忙，毕竟寒冷中长时间停留总不是件惬意的事。En: Li Wei and Ting, on the other hand, seemed a bit hurried; after all, lingering for long in the cold was not exactly pleasant.Zh: 梅在心里默默祈祷，希望自己能发现一些特别的东西，或许能得到内心的启示。En: Mei silently prayed, hoping to discover something special that might offer inner enlightenment.Zh: 遗址里的石碑上刻着古老的铭文，像是时间的低语，吸引着梅。En: The inscriptions on the stone tablets in the ruins whispered the passage of time, which drew Mei in.Zh: 她一步步走得比朋友们慢了些，故意落在后头。En: She walked more slowly than her friends, deliberately falling behind.Zh: 她看到了一条少有人走的小路，感觉心里有个声音在催促她。En: She spotted a less-traveled path and felt a voice inside urging her to follow it.Zh: 梅抬头对着李伟和婷说：“你们先走，我想一个人看看这边。En: She looked up and told Li Wei and Ting, "You go ahead; I want to take a look over here alone."Zh: ”梅沿着那条小路走去，感觉周围的气息仿佛变得更加神秘。En: Walking along that path, Mei felt the surrounding atmosphere become even more mysterious.Zh: 她无意间绊到一块石头，低头一看，发现地上露出一角精致的青铜器物，上面有些模糊的刻字。En: She accidentally stumbled over a stone, and looking down, she found a corner of a finely crafted bronze artifact peeking through, with some blurred engravings on it.Zh: 她轻轻抹去上面的积雪，心中一动，仿佛看见自己久违的影子。En: She gently brushed away the accumulated snow, feeling a stirring in her heart, as if she had glimpsed a long-lost shadow of herself.Zh: 那些文字虽然古老，却像是对她说话，让她内心充满启迪和希望。En: Though the writing was ancient, it seemed to speak to her, filling her with insight and hope.Zh: 梅重新加入李伟和婷时，脸上带着不一样的神情。En: When Mei rejoined Li Wei and Ting, there was a different expression on her face.Zh: 她的目光坚定，即便寒风依旧，她却感到温暖如春。En: Her gaze was firm, and though the cold wind continued to blow, she felt as warm as spring.Zh: 李伟问梅：“你找到什么了吗？En: Li Wei asked Mei, "Did you find something?"Zh: ”梅微笑着点头。En: Mei nodded with a smile.Zh: “我找到了，我想欠缺的答案。En: "I found the answers I was missing."Zh: ”她知道，自己的根来自于这些古老的历史，而她如今明白，自己应该顺着这条隐秘的轨迹继续走下去。En: She realized that her roots came from this ancient history, and now she understood she should continue along this hidden path.Zh: 离开西安时，梅感觉自己完全不同了。En: As she left Xi'an, Mei felt completely transformed.Zh: 她不再疑惑，已准备好迎接属于自己的未来。En: She was no longer uncertain and was ready to embrace the future that belonged to her.Zh: 圣诞节的钟声在耳边响起，她感到世界是如此美好，过去与未来已悄然相连。En: The sound of Christmas bells rang in her ears, and she felt the world was so beautiful, with the past and the future quietly connected. Vocabulary Words:veil: 薄纱chilly: 清冷traces: 痕迹lingering: 长时间停留enlightenment: 启示inscriptions: 铭文whispered: 低语deliberately: 故意finely crafted: 精致artifact: 器物blurred: 模糊accumulated: 积stirring: 一动gaze: 目光firm: 坚定embrace: 迎接transformed: 完全不同transparent: 透明curiosity: 好奇pathways: 小路shiver: 瑟瑟发抖hurried: 匆忙urging: 催促gently: 轻轻brushed: 抹去shadow: 影子firm: 坚定uncertain: 疑惑不定mystical: 神秘answers: 答案

In today's episode we begin to look at the man they called “Mandarin.” Several books, television programs and many podcasts have been focused of an ex Dallas police officer that many researchers think was the trigger man who really killed JFK. That man was Roscoe White. Roscoe Anthony White sits at the intersection of rumor, coincidence, and unresolved historical tension. His story is a tangle of alleged intelligence ties, photographic evidence controversies, and family claims that surfaced decades after the assassination.

What began as a teenage crush became a lifelong journey into Chinese for Matthew McGuire, an Australian creator and accent coach. In this episode, Jared sits down with Matthew to discuss how he learned Mandarin without textbooks, grammar drills, or writing practice. Instead, he immersed himself in love dramas, shadowed dialogue, and built a Chinese-speaking social circle. Matthew shares how his curiosity and enjoyment guided him from impressing a girl from Sichuan to achieving real proficiency and forming meaningful friendships. He also explains how Chinese opened doors for him both personally and professionally, and why he believes language learning should be fun, intentional, and grounded in real-life use. For anyone feeling stuck in their studies or unsure of how to move forward, Matthew's story offers valuable perspective and inspiration.Links from the episode:Matthew McGuire on Instagram | @realozziemcguireChinese graded readers make an excellent gift! Head over to: https://www.mandarincompanion.comAllSet Learning has some amazing deals on lessons right now: https://www.allsetlearning.com

Almost every serious discussion about options to constrain the development of advanced AI results in someone raising the question: “But what about China?” The worry behind this question is that slowing down AI research and development in the US and Europe will allow China to race ahead.It's true: the relationship between China and the rest of the world has many complications. That's why we're delighted that our guest in this episode is Kayla Blomquist, the Co-founder and Director of the Oxford China Policy Lab, or OCPL for short. OCPL describes itself as a global community of China and emerging technology researchers at Oxford, who produce policy-relevant research to navigate risks in the US-China relationship and beyond.In parallel with her role at OCPL, Kayla is pursuing a DPhil at the Oxford Internet Institute. She is a recent fellow at the Centre for Governance of AI, and the lead researcher and contributing author to the Oxford China Briefing Book. She holds an MSc from the Oxford Internet Institute and a BA with Honours in International Relations, Public Policy, and Mandarin Chinese from the University of Denver. She also studied at Peking University and is professionally fluent in Mandarin.Kayla previously worked as a diplomat in the U.S. Mission to China, where she specialized in the governance of emerging technologies, human rights, and improving the use of new technology within government services.Selected follow-ups:Kayla Blomquist - Personal siteOxford China Policy LabThe Oxford Internet Institute (OII)Google AI defeats human Go champion (Ke Jie)AI Safety Summit 2023 (Bletchley Park, UK)United Kingdom: Balancing Safety, Security, and Growth - OCPLChina wants to lead the world on AI regulation - report from APEC 2025China's WAICO proposal and the reordering of global AI governanceImpact of AI on cyber threat from now to 2027Options for the future of the global governance of AI - London Futurists WebinarA Tentative Draft of a Treaty - Online appendix to the book If Anyone Builds It, Everyone DiesAn International Agreement to Prevent the Premature Creation of Artificial SuperintelligenceMusic: Spike Protein, by Koi Discovery, available under CC0 1.0 Public Domain DeclarationC-Suite PerspectivesElevate how you lead with insight from today's most influential executives.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Dance of Lanterns: A Winter's Tale of Friendship and Festivity Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-23-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在雪花轻轻飘落间，园中静谧而美丽，一片白色的宁静笼罩着和谐园。En: As snowflakes gently drifted down, the garden was tranquil and beautiful, a blanket of white serenity enveloping Hexie Yuan.Zh: 辛怡站在小桥旁，脸红扑扑的，双眼望着冰雪覆盖的湖面。En: Xinyi stood by the small bridge, her cheeks flushed, her eyes gazing at the ice-covered lake.Zh: 她的心中有一个目标——筹备一场最难忘的元宵节庆典。En: She had a goal in mind - to organize the most unforgettable Yuanxiao Festival celebration.Zh: 辛怡是一位有决心的活动组织者，她渴望完美。En: Xinyi was a determined event organizer, passionate about perfection.Zh: 但此时，寒冷的天气让准备工作进展缓慢，志愿者人数也不足。En: However, the cold weather was slowing down the preparations, and there weren't enough volunteers.Zh: 每当风吹过，辛怡都会拉紧自己的围巾，内心不免有些担忧。En: Each time the wind blew, Xinyi would tighten her scarf with some worry in her heart.Zh: 与她同行的健宇，是她的好朋友，也是位随和的艺术家。En: Accompanying her was Jianyu, her good friend and an easy-going artist.Zh: 他笑着拍了拍辛怡的肩膀，“别担心，我们一定可以做到的。”En: He smiled and patted Xinyi's shoulder, "Don't worry, we can definitely do this."Zh: 健宇正在帮忙装饰灯笼，他的创意十足，色彩鲜艳的灯笼为白色庭园增添了许多生气。En: Jianyu was helping to decorate the lanterns, his creativity bringing vibrant colors to life, adding energy to the white garden.Zh: 梅琳是辛怡的堂妹，刚从外地回来。En: Meilin was Xinyi's cousin, who had just returned from another place.Zh: 她对未来有些迷茫，不知道如何规划自己的人生。En: She felt uncertain about her future and didn't know how to plan her life.Zh: 辛怡觉得这是个好机会，于是决定让梅琳参与到活动中来。En: Xinyi thought this was a good opportunity, so she decided to involve Meilin in the event.Zh: 辛怡微笑着对梅琳说：“我们缺少一个特别的灯笼，也许你可以设计一个。”En: Xinyi smiled and said to Meilin, "We're missing a special lantern, maybe you can design one."Zh: 梅琳有些犹豫，但在辛怡和健宇的鼓励下，她同意试一试。En: Meilin was hesitant, but with encouragement from Xinyi and Jianyu, she agreed to give it a try.Zh: 她想到了一个概念：一个以家、团圆为主题的灯笼，因为这让她想起了温暖的家庭和节日的情感。En: She came up with a concept: a lantern themed around home and reunion, because it reminded her of the warmth of family and the emotions of the festival.Zh: 活动的准备如火如荼，但就在元宵节当天，突如其来的暴风雪几乎打乱了所有计划。En: The preparation was in full swing, but on the day of the Yuanxiao Festival, an unexpected snowstorm almost disrupted all the plans.Zh: 辛怡忧心忡忡，望着纷飞的雪花，心中满是失落。En: Xinyi was worried, watching the swirling snowflakes, feeling lost.Zh: 这时，梅琳灵机一动，提议将灯笼展示移到室内。En: At that moment, Meilin had an idea and suggested moving the lantern display indoors.Zh: 辛怡立刻觉得这个主意很棒。En: Xinyi immediately thought it was a great idea.Zh: 她和健宇快速组织大家，将灯笼搬进了大殿。En: She and Jianyu quickly organized everyone to move the lanterns into the main hall.Zh: 活动开始时，室内五光十色，热闹非凡。En: When the event began, the interior was vibrant and lively.Zh: 梅琳设计的特别灯笼成了活动的亮点，人们纷纷称赞。En: Meilin's specially designed lantern became the highlight of the event, receiving praises from everyone.Zh: 辛怡看到大家的笑脸，心里充满了成就感和喜悦。En: Seeing the smiles on people's faces, Xinyi felt a sense of achievement and joy.Zh: 通过这次活动，辛怡学会了如何适应变化，她意识到团队合作的重要性。En: Through this event, Xinyi learned how to adapt to changes and realized the importance of teamwork.Zh: 梅琳也在设计灯笼的过程中，找到了自己的方向，决定将来学习艺术设计。En: Meilin also found her direction while designing the lantern, deciding to pursue art design in the future.Zh: 元宵节的故事在无数笑声与欢乐中画上圆满的句号。En: The story of the Yuanxiao Festival concluded with countless laughs and joy.Zh: 灯笼的光亮照耀下，园中的雪景更显得纯净而美丽。En: Under the glow of the lanterns, the snowy scene in the garden appeared even purer and more beautiful.Zh: 辛怡和她的朋友们在这祥和的夜晚收获了友情、信任和成长。En: Xinyi and her friends gained friendship, trust, and growth on this peaceful night. Vocabulary Words:tranquil: 静谧serenity: 宁静enveloping: 笼罩flushed: 脸红扑扑的determined: 有决心的organize: 筹备perfection: 完美volunteers: 志愿者worried: 担忧accompanying: 同行easy-going: 随和creativity: 创意vibrant: 鲜艳hesitant: 犹豫encouragement: 鼓励concept: 概念reunion: 团圆emotions: 情感full swing: 如火如荼snowstorm: 暴风雪disrupted: 打乱swirling: 纷飞praises: 称赞achievement: 成就感adapt: 适应teamwork: 团队合作direction: 方向pursue: 学习glow: 光亮pure: 纯净

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Enchanted Reflections: A Solstice Discovery Reveals Legends Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-23-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在冬至的前夜，海水反射着月光，创造出一个象银色披风般的海滩。En: On the eve of the winter solstice, the sea reflected the moonlight, creating a beach like a silver cloak.Zh: 海浪轻轻地拍打着岸边，海风将冰冷的空气送到周围。En: The waves gently lapped the shore, and the sea breeze carried the chilly air around.Zh: 魏、林和佳，三位好友，在这样一个寒冷的冬夜来到这片幽静的海滩。En: Wei, Lin, and Jia, three friends, came to this tranquil beach on such a cold winter night.Zh: 魏是个好奇且冒险的年轻人。En: Wei was a curious and adventurous young man.Zh: 他总是对大海抱有极大的热情。En: He always had a great passion for the sea.Zh: 林是他的好朋友，性格谨慎，总是陪在魏的身旁，以免他陷入麻烦。En: Lin was his good friend, cautious by nature, and always stayed by Wei's side to keep him out of trouble.Zh: 佳是村里的历史学者，她对这个地区的传说和历史有着深刻的了解。En: Jia was the village's historian with a profound understanding of the legends and history of the area.Zh: 当魏和林在沙滩上漫步时，眼角的余光突然捕捉到一个奇怪的东西。En: As Wei and Lin strolled along the beach, something strange caught the corner of their eyes.Zh: 一个闪闪发光的物体被海浪冲上了岸边。En: A glittering object was washed up by the waves onto the shore.Zh: 魏充满好奇，立刻靠近了那个物体。En: Wei, full of curiosity, immediately approached the object.Zh: 然而，林却有些害怕。En: Lin, however, was somewhat afraid.Zh: 那东西散发出一种奇异的能量，让他心生警惕。En: The object emitted a strange energy that made him feel wary.Zh: 佳赶到了。她提醒他们关于这个地方的古老传说。En: Jia arrived and reminded them of the ancient legends about this place.Zh: 传说中，这片海滩上有一种神秘的物体，能带领勇者进入过去和未来的幻境。En: According to legend, there was a mysterious object on this beach that could lead the brave into visions of the past and future.Zh: 尽管他的朋友们都很担心，魏仍然下定决心要探明物体的真相。En: Despite his friends' worries, Wei was determined to uncover the truth about the object.Zh: 他慢慢走近，伸出手，触碰到了那发光的物体。En: He slowly approached it, reached out his hand, and touched the glowing object.Zh: 瞬间，映入脑海的是无尽的幻象。En: Instantly, endless visions flooded his mind.Zh: 他看到了过去海滩的辉煌，也看到了它未来可能要面对的威胁。En: He saw the beach's glorious past and also the threats it might face in the future.Zh: 魏被这些幻象深深触动。En: Wei was deeply moved by these visions.Zh: 他明白了这片土地蕴含的伟大故事和它的历史。En: He understood the great stories contained in this land and its history.Zh: 他决定和佳一起努力，保存这个海滩的历史。En: He decided to work with Jia to preserve the history of this beach.Zh: 从那天起，魏变得更加深思熟虑。En: From that day on, Wei became more thoughtful.Zh: 他开始重视知识，而不再仅仅追求冒险。En: He began to value knowledge rather than just seeking adventure.Zh: 他明白，自然世界与它的历史之间有着深刻联系。En: He realized the profound connection between the natural world and its history.Zh: 魏意识到这种联系的重要性，誓言要好好保护这片美丽的海滩，也珍惜朋友们的陪伴和智慧。En: Wei recognized the importance of this connection and vowed to protect this beautiful beach and cherish the companionship and wisdom of his friends.Zh: 月光下，魏、林和佳站在一起。En: Under the moonlight, Wei, Lin, and Jia stood together.Zh: 虽然海风依旧寒冷，但他们心中感受到了温暖，内心的世界与海滩交织在一起，馈赠给他们无尽的故事与灵感。En: Although the sea breeze was still cold, they felt warmth in their hearts, as their inner world intertwined with the beach, gifting them endless stories and inspiration. Vocabulary Words:eve: 前夜solstice: 冬至cloak: 披风reflected: 反射tranquil: 幽静cautious: 谨慎historian: 历史学者profound: 深刻strolled: 漫步curiosity: 好奇wary: 警惕reminded: 提醒mysterious: 神秘visions: 幻境thrilling: 惊险uncover: 探明glorious: 辉煌threats: 威胁cherish: 珍惜companionship: 陪伴intertwined: 交织endless: 无尽adventurous: 冒险emitted: 散发determined: 下定决心reached: 伸出gifting: 馈赠reflection: 映入inspiration: 灵感breeze: 海风

What if stronger relationships, better leadership, and more success all start with one skill: being brave enough to connect?In this insightful and energizing episode, success strategist and keynote director Brigham Blackham (https://linktr.ee/brighamblackham )  joins Anne to explore the power of discomfort, curiosity, and communication in building meaningful relationships. From learning Mandarin in Taiwan to coaching high-performance speakers, Brigham shares how stepping into the unfamiliar has shaped his confidence, leadership, and ability to help others communicate with clarity and impact.Brigham reveals how “story asking”(intentionally drawing out other people's experiences) creates deeper human connection than any perfectly polished self-introduction. He and Anne dig into the post-pandemic communication slump, the myth of “soft skills,” and why real success is built on conversations, not credentials.With stories ranging from middle-school theatre to bilingual parenting to a broken car key fiasco, Brigham shows how approaching life with curiosity and flexibility (a.k.a. unclenching!) helps us grow resilience, strengthen relationships, and lead with emotional intelligence.In this episode, you'll learn:How discomfort and curiosity strengthen communication and leadershipThe difference between story telling and story asking (and why the latter wins)Why soft skills aren't soft—they're the foundation of trust and influenceHow confidence is built on competence, preparation, and genuine interest in othersPractical ways to make networking feel natural, not painfulHow learning new languages teaches adaptability, humility, and EQA simple mindset shift for staying flexible when things don't go as plannedWhy this episode matters:If you want to lead better, connect faster, or just feel more confident walking into a room full of strangers, this conversation gives you actionable tools rooted in emotional intelligence and real human connection. Whether you're navigating global business, a family gathering, or a tough conversation at work, Brigham's insights help you step out of your comfort zone and into more meaningful relationships.Want more from Brigham?thefinalpercent.com/brighamblackhamhttps://linktr.ee/brighamblackham Brigham is a value-driven storyteller and success strategist who helps leaders turn their stories into breakthroughs. A former teacher and father of four, he brings humor, heart, and a knack for making connections that stick. With over 100 podcast episodes and five years as an Airbnb Superhost, he understands how small actions drive big results. Brigham helps you craft bold, unforgettable messages that move people and build momentum.

Today, my guest is Adam Dickinson, whose journey took him from planning a career in medicine, to becoming a Mandarin-speaking intelligence analyst with the FBI for 15 years, covering everything from cyber issues to counterintelligence and even terrorism. In this episode, we dig into what led Adam to the FBI, the unexpected turns in his career, and how pivotal moments—both personal and professional—prompted deeper reflection on identity, growth, and purpose. We discuss how he's translated those experiences into his new chapter as a business owner, and talk about the importance of intuition, critical thinking, and balancing logic with your gut in decision-making. Whether you're grappling with change, rethinking your direction in business, or fascinated by journeys from federal service to entrepreneurship, there's something here for you. So, let's jump right in! -- This episode is brought to you by Opsleader Pro. A place for MSP owners and managers to get the systems and tools they need to build a stable and growing MSP. Part group coaching, part peer group, everything you need to run a successful MSP.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Tradition Meets Wanderlust: Mei's New Year Revelation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-22-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 梅站在北方小城热闹的市场街上，周围是阵阵喧闹声。En: Mei stood on the bustling market street of a small northern town, surrounded by bursts of noise.Zh: 街上挂满了红红的灯笼和绚丽的装饰，空气中弥漫着冬季的寒意和新年食物的香气。En: The street was filled with red lanterns and splendid decorations, the air a mix of winter's chill and the aroma of Xinnian food.Zh: 商贩们热情地叫卖着糖葫芦、小吃，还有琳琅满目的年货。En: Vendors enthusiastically hawked tanghulu, snacks, and a dazzling array of New Year goods.Zh: 李和陈是梅的朋友，也忙着为春节做准备。En: Li and Chen, friends of Mei, were also busy preparing for the Chun Jie.Zh: 梅却显得有些心不在焉。En: However, Mei seemed somewhat absent-minded.Zh: 她望着拥挤的人群，想着自己的愿望。En: She gazed at the crowded throngs, pondering her own wishes.Zh: 她渴望有一天能离开这个小镇，去看看外面的世界。En: She longed for the day she could leave this small town and explore the world beyond.Zh: 自小，家人的期望总是压在梅的肩上。En: Since childhood, her family's expectations had always weighed on Mei's shoulders.Zh: 春节期间，梅需要帮忙准备年夜饭、贴春联、购买年货。En: During the Chun Jie period, Mei needed to help prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, put up chunlian, and purchase New Year goods.Zh: 这些都是家庭的传统，她不能反抗。En: These were family traditions she couldn't defy.Zh: 可是，她想要一点点自由，哪怕是暂时的。En: Yet, she yearned for a bit of freedom, even if just temporarily.Zh: 一天晚上，全家人围坐在一起吃饭。En: One evening, the whole family sat together for dinner.Zh: 梅鼓起勇气，说道：“爸，妈，我有话想说。”En: Mei mustered the courage and said, "Dad, Mom, I have something I want to say."Zh: 大家都停下筷子，看着她。En: Everyone stopped their chopsticks and looked at her.Zh: “我想出去旅行，看看外面的世界。”梅的声音坚定。En: "I want to go traveling, to see the world outside," Mei said firmly.Zh: 父亲皱眉说：“可是春节我们要一起过，你怎么能离开？”En: Her father frowned and said, "But we have to spend Chun Jie together, how can you leave?"Zh: “我并不想打破传统，”梅解释，“我只是希望我们能有新的方式庆祝。En: "I don't want to break tradition," Mei explained, "I just hope we can have a new way of celebrating.Zh: 比如说，我们可以邀请朋友来家里，一起分享不同地方的故事。”En: For example, we could invite friends home to share stories from different places."Zh: 母亲思索了一会儿，说：“也许这样不错。En: Her mother thought for a moment and said, "Maybe that's not a bad idea.Zh: 我们可以一起准备丰盛的饭菜，让更多人参与我们的春节。”En: We can prepare a sumptuous meal together and involve more people in our Chun Jie celebrations."Zh: 李和陈也表示赞同：“梅的想法挺好的，我们也可以一起帮忙。”En: Li and Chen also agreed: "Mei's idea is great, we can help too."Zh: 经过一番讨论，梅的家人最终同意了她的提议。En: After a discussion, Mei's family finally agreed to her suggestion.Zh: 春节那天，他们邀请了许多朋友来家里。En: On Chun Jie, they invited many friends over.Zh: 梅不仅参与了家庭的传统，还表达了自己的愿望。En: Mei not only partook in the family's traditions but also expressed her wishes.Zh: 她体会到，她可以在不违背家人期望的情况下实现自己的梦想。En: She realized that she could achieve her dreams without defying her family's expectations.Zh: 冬日的清晨，梅站在窗前，看着院子里的欢声笑语，心中充满了喜悦。En: On a winter's morning, Mei stood by the window, watching the happy laughter and cheerful voices in the yard, and felt a sense of joy.Zh: 她明白了，无论走到哪里，家庭的根永远在这里，而她的梦想可以与传统携手并存。En: She understood that no matter where she goes, her family's roots are always here, and her dreams can coexist with tradition. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 热闹的burst: 阵阵splendid: 绚丽的aroma: 香气hawk: 叫卖dazzling: 琳琅满目absent-minded: 心不在焉throng: 人群ponder: 思索yearn: 渴望defy: 反抗muster: 鼓起chopstick: 筷子frown: 皱眉sumptuous: 丰盛的partake: 参与realize: 体会到achieve: 实现roots: 根coexist: 携手并存decorate: 装饰prepare: 准备tradition: 传统invite: 邀请celebrate: 庆祝gaze: 望courage: 勇气enthusiastic: 热情的meal: 饭菜joy: 喜悦

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Mystic Jade: A Winter Night's Quest at Jiufen Teahouse Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-22-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬至节的夜晚，九份的茶馆灯火通明，空气中弥漫着乌龙茶的香气。En: On the night of the Winter Solstice, the Jiufen teahouse was brightly lit, with the aroma of wulongcha wafting through the air.Zh: 九份坐落在山中，街道狭窄，充满了历史的痕迹。En: Jiufen is nestled in the mountains, its streets narrow and filled with traces of history.Zh: 连是个好奇的历史学家，这次她专程来九份体验冬至节，寻找新的写作灵感。En: Lian is a curious historian who came to Jiufen specifically to experience the Winter Solstice and seek new writing inspiration.Zh: 她听说茶馆里藏有一件稀有的文物，于是心中充满了探寻的渴望。En: She heard that the teahouse held a rare artifact, sparking a desire to explore.Zh: 茶馆的主人明以他的故事和收藏闻名，他对这些家族传下来的宝贝有着极大的保护欲。En: The owner of the teahouse, Ming, was renowned for his stories and collection, holding a deep protective desire for these family heirlooms.Zh: 这天晚上，意外的停电让茶馆陷入一片黑暗，连觉得这是一个揭开谜底的好机会。En: That night, an unexpected power outage plunged the teahouse into darkness, and Lian sensed it was a perfect opportunity to unveil the mystery.Zh: 连犹豫了片刻，决定直截了当地告诉明她的来意。En: Lian hesitated for a moment, then decided to be straightforward with Ming about her intentions.Zh: “明先生，”她诚恳地说，“我对你收藏的那件传说中的文物很感兴趣。或许，我们可以一起找到它？”En: "Mr. Ming," she said sincerely, "I'm very interested in the legendary artifact in your collection. Perhaps we can find it together?"Zh: 明微微皱眉，显得有些犹豫但并未直接拒绝。En: Ming frowned slightly, appearing a bit hesitant but did not directly refuse.Zh: “好吧，”他点燃了一根蜡烛，温暖的光芒在黑暗中跳动，“跟我来，看看到底有什么。”En: "Alright," he said, lighting a candle whose warm glow flickered in the darkness, "come with me, let's see what there is."Zh: 他们在茶馆里缓慢而又小心地移动，连看着架子上的每一个角落，心中充满期待。En: They moved slowly and carefully around the teahouse, with Lian examining every corner of the shelves, filled with anticipation.Zh: 明一边走，一边给连讲述这些藏品的故事，从出口处的青花瓷壶到角落里的古书，每一件都有着独特的背景。En: As they walked, Ming recounted stories behind the items in his collection to Lian—from the qinghuaci vase at the exit to the ancient books in the corner, each item had a unique background.Zh: 突然，连在一个隐秘的木箱旁停下。En: Suddenly, Lian stopped by a hidden wooden box.Zh: “就是它！”她的声音中带着一丝激动。En: “This is it!” she exclaimed with a hint of excitement in her voice.Zh: 她轻轻地打开箱子，发现里面是那件传说中的文物—一个精美的玉饰。En: She gently opened the box and discovered the legendary artifact—a beautiful jade ornament.Zh: 是明祖上传下来的，他的眼神中闪过一抹惊讶和自豪。En: It was passed down from Ming's ancestors, and his eyes flashed with surprise and pride.Zh: “这个玉饰我一直以为只是个传说，”明感慨道，“没想到它真存在。”En: "I always thought this jade ornament was just a legend," Ming remarked with emotion, "I never expected it actually existed."Zh: 借着烛光，连和明分享着关于祖辈和传承的故事。En: By candlelight, Lian and Ming shared stories about ancestry and heritage.Zh: 连从明的故事中领悟到，文物的真正价值不仅仅在于它的历史，更在于它所承载的故事。En: Lian realized from Ming's stories that the true value of an artifact lies not only in its history but also in the stories it carries.Zh: 这一刻，连不仅找到了她所要的文物，也从明的故事中获得了为她新书的灵感。En: In that moment, Lian not only found the artifact she was looking for but also drew inspiration from Ming's stories for her new book.Zh: 明则在此过程中，开始欣然接受分享他的家族珍宝。En: In the process, Ming began to willingly share his family treasures.Zh: “或许，珍宝的意义，在于它能让更多人知道它的故事。”明笑着说。En: “Perhaps the significance of a treasure is that it allows more people to know its story,” Ming said with a smile.Zh: 离开九份时，连感受到一种从未有过的满足，En: As she left Jiufen, Lian felt a sense of fulfillment she had never experienced before.Zh: 她知道，这段旅程给她带来了新的视野，也让她交到了一位令人尊敬的朋友。En: She knew that this journey had opened new perspectives for her and allowed her to gain a respected friend. Vocabulary Words:solstice: 至artifact: 文物wulongcha: 乌龙茶waft: 弥漫nestled: 坐落curious: 好奇heirloom: 传家宝outage: 停电plunge: 陷入straightforward: 直截了当sincerely: 诚恳hesitant: 犹豫recount: 讲述anticipation: 期待vase: 青花瓷壶heritage: 传承exclaim: 激动地说ornament: 玉饰ancestry: 祖辈sigificance: 意义perspective: 视野renowned: 闻名protective: 保护欲unexpected: 意外flicker: 跳动legendary: 传说中的background: 背景hidden: 隐秘historians: 历史学家fulfillment: 满足

Disney'sZootopia 2 has been a huge success in the Chinese mainland, raking in more than 3.8 billion yuan ($539.69 million) at thebox office as of Sunday afternoon, making it the second-highest-grossing Hollywood film of all time in the mainland market—only beaten to the top spot by Avengers: Endgame. The movie's cumulative box office receipts in the Chinese mainland nearly double those for North America and account for nearly half its worldwide total, underscoring China's role as a major player in the global cinema landscape. With a vast and engaged audience base, the potential for growth is immense.迪士尼动画《疯狂动物城2》在中国大陆取得巨大成功，截至上周日下午票房已突破38亿元人民币（约合5.3969亿美元），成为该地区有史以来票房第二高的好莱坞电影——仅次于《复仇者联盟4：终局之战》。该片在大陆地区的累计票房几乎是北美票房的两倍，占全球票房近半数，彰显了中国在全球电影市场中的重要地位。中国凭借庞大且热情的观众群体，其增长潜力巨大。Zootopia 2's appeal to Chinese audiences was enhanced by Disney's engagement initiatives. Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia-themed area, inspired by the first film, celebrated its second anniversary on Saturday. It is the world's only Zootopia-themed destination.《疯狂动物城2》对中国观众中的吸引力因迪士尼的互动推广活动而增强。全球唯一以动物城为主题的游乐园区上海迪士尼乐园的动物城主题园区——其设计灵感源自首部电影——于上周六迎来两周年庆典。Walt Disney Animation Studio also deliberately included Chinese cultural elements, such as characters representing the Chinese zodiac signs, in thesequel. One of the film's pivotal new characters is Gary De'Snake. Jared Bush, Disney Animation's chief creative officer, emphasized the character was introduced specifically to appeal to the Chinese audience: "We knew this was the Year of the Snake and we wanted the movie to come out the same year for sure." The story of protagonist Judy Hopps leaving her small town and finding success in the big city alsoresonates deeply with Chinese audiences at a time of rapid urbanization.华特迪士尼动画工作室还特意在续集中融入了中国文化元素，例如代表中国生肖的动物角色。影片新增的关键角色之一是名叫盖瑞的蛇。迪士尼动画首席创意官杰拉德·布什强调，这个角色正是为吸引中国观众而设计：“我们知道今年是蛇年，所以坚持要让电影在同一年上映。”主角朱迪·霍普斯离开小镇、在大城市取得成功的故事情节，也深深触动了正经历快速城市化进程的中国观众。Moreover, the adaptation of the film's script to accommodate Chinese cultural nuances and humor ensured that the story and its jokes got through to Mandarin-speaking audiences, which highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and understanding.此外，电影剧本为适应中国文化特色和幽默风格所做的改编，确保了故事及其笑点能精准传达给普通话观众，这凸显了文化敏感度与理解力的重要性。The Chinese mainland market's irreplaceable contribution to Zootopia 2's global box office success is indicative of a broader trend where Hollywood films increasingly rely on international markets for their financial success. As noted by observers, China's massive consumer base and its openness to both domestic and imported films create a unique environment for cinematic success. The market's capability to nurture high-grossing films challenges the notion that it is turning away from Hollywood films. Instead, quality andcultural resonance continue to be the key factors determining whether films will be a hit or not with Chinese audiences.中国大陆市场对《疯狂动物城2》全球票房取得佳绩有着不可替代的贡献，揭示了好莱坞影片日益依赖国际市场实现商业成功的普遍趋势。正如观察人士所指出的，中国庞大的消费群体以及对国产与进口影片的开放态度，共同构筑了独特的电影成功环境。该市场培育高票房影片的能力，正挑战着“中国市场正疏远好莱坞影片”的论调。事实上，影片质量与文化共鸣度始终是中国观众决定影片成败的核心要素。As Hollywood looks to the future, the importance of understanding and engaging with the Chinese market cannot be overstated. The success of Zootopia 2 may chart the course ahead for future collaborations between Hollywood and Chinese filmmakers. By incorporating culturally relevant elements and engaging in meaningful localization, studios can create films that resonate with Chinese moviegoers, which will not only enhance their box office performance, but also foster cultural exchanges and understanding between the two countries.好莱坞展望未来之际，理解并开拓中国市场的重要性不言而喻。《疯狂动物城2》的成功或将为好莱坞与华语电影人的未来合作指明方向。通过融入文化共鸣元素并开展深度本土化，制片方能打造出深受中国观众喜爱的影片，这不仅能提升票房表现，更能促进两国间的文化交流与相互理解。Indeed, films such as Zootopia 2 can help bridge the emotional andperceptual gaps between the Chinese and American people, especially amid political and trade tensions. They serve as a medium for mutual understanding and appreciation of their different cultures. By showcasing shared values, such as friendship, perseverance and justice, these films highlight common human experiences that transcend national boundaries. Respect and acknowledgement of cultural diversity can also help foster a sense of inclusion and connection, thus reducing stereotypes and misconceptions that often fuel animosity.诚然，诸如《疯狂动物城2》这类影片有助于弥合中美民众在情感认知上的鸿沟，尤其在政治与贸易紧张局势下，它们成为促进彼此理解、欣赏不同文化的媒介。通过展现友谊、坚韧与正义等共同价值观，这些影片突显了超越国界的普世人性体验。尊重并认可文化多样性，还能促进包容感与联结感，从而减少那些常助长敌意的刻板印象与误解。In a world where political narratives often erect barriers between nations, cultural exchanges such as those facilitated by Zootopia 2 offer a powerful counterbalance, promoting understanding and collaboration.在一个政治叙事常在国家间筑起壁垒的世界里，《疯狂动物城2》所促成的文化交流提供了强有力的平衡力量，促进了理解与合作。China has become a critical market for cinematic success. Apart from Zootopia 2, Ne Zha 2, the domestic animated hit from the Spring Festival holiday, was also a global sensation. Its 15.4 billion yuan box office revenue is the highest gross ever for an animated film worldwide. This indicates China's massive consumer base remains capable of lifting films to heights unmatched anywhere else. And this is not only true of movies.中国已成为电影成功的关键市场，除了《疯狂动物城2》，春节档本土动画大片《哪吒之魔童降世》也引发全球轰动。《哪吒之魔童降世》154亿元的票房收入创下全球动画电影最高纪录，这表明中国庞大的消费群体仍能将电影推向无与伦比的高度。而这种现象不仅限于电影领域。Through thoughtful collaboration and cultural exchange, both China and the US can enrich their cinematic landscapes, creating a more interconnected and culturally aware audience.通过深思熟虑的合作与文化交流，中美两国都能丰富各自的电影景观，从而培养出更具联结意识和文化认知力的观众群体。box office票房sequeln./ˈsiː.kwəl/续集cultural resonancen./ˈrez.ən.əns/文化共鸣resonatev./ˈrez.ən.eɪt/使…产生共鸣perceptual gapsadj./pɚˈsep.tʃu.əl/认知鸿沟

Today's Episode:Have you noticed that many Chinese tour groups are full of older people? In this episode, we talk about why 大爷大妈 love group travel, how time, language and safety play a role, and what this says about travel culture in China. Simple Chinese, real life, real culture.Membership Preview:Very cheap group tours can look attractive, but they often come with hidden problems. In next MaoMi Chinese+ episode, we talk about what can go wrong on low-price tours, how people feel when things aren't as expected. Be careful, and be mindful of those traps in cheap group tours!Support MaoMi & Get exclusive   to premium content!https://www.buzzsprout.com/1426696/subscribe ↗️Transcript and translations are available on https://maomichinese.comInterested in any topics? Leave me a message on: https://maomichinese.com or https://www.instagram.com/maomichinese/?hl=en*Please note that Spotify does not support the membership program.Text me what you think :)Support the show

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Tea Dreams: A Journey of Love and Independence Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-21-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在杭州的一个清晨，茶园被冬日晨光轻轻地照亮。En: In the early morning in Hangzhou, the tea garden was gently illuminated by the winter morning light.Zh: 寒冷的空气中弥漫着清新的茶香。En: The cold air was filled with the fresh fragrance of tea.Zh: 梅在茶园的角落忙碌，为冬至节后的茶叶采摘做准备。En: Mei was busy in the corner of the tea garden, preparing for the tea picking after the Winter Solstice Festival.Zh: 申是茶园的新来者，对这美丽的地方充满了好奇。En: Shen was new to the tea garden, filled with curiosity about this beautiful place.Zh: 他带着梦想，希望能够学到制茶的技巧。En: He came with dreams, hoping to learn the art of tea-making.Zh: 他看到梅在茶园忙碌，走了过去，想帮忙。En: He saw Mei busy in the tea garden and walked over, wanting to help.Zh: "你好，我是申，”他微笑着说，“我刚到这里，请多指教。En: "Hello, I am Shen," he said with a smile, "I just arrived here, please guide me."Zh: ”梅抬起头，脸上带着微笑回应，“你好，申。En: Mei looked up, smiling in response, "Hello, Shen.Zh: 我是梅。En: I am Mei.Zh: 我们一起工作吧。En: Let's work together."Zh: ”梅和申边聊边工作。En: Mei and Shen chatted as they worked.Zh: 梅告诉申，自己的家庭一直经营着这片茶园，她感受到传承的压力。En: Mei told Shen that her family had always run this tea garden and she felt the pressure of heritage.Zh: 申则分享了自己开一家茶店的梦想。En: Shen shared his dream of opening a tea shop.Zh: 日子一天天过去，梅和申的友谊越来越深。En: Day by day, the friendship between Mei and Shen grew deeper.Zh: 梅喜欢和申分享自己的烦恼，而申总是用他的乐观来安慰她。En: Mei liked to share her troubles with Shen, and Shen always comforted her with his optimism.Zh: 丽娟，梅的妹妹，则不时提醒梅要小心，不要因为恋爱耽误了工作。En: Lijuan, Mei's sister, would occasionally remind Mei to be cautious and not let romance interfere with work.Zh: 冬至节那天，梅在茶园里忙碌，心里下定决心：她要向家人证明，她不仅能做好茶园的工作，也能追求自己的幸福。En: On the day of the Winter Solstice Festival, Mei was busy in the tea garden, determined to prove to her family that she could not only manage the tea garden well but also pursue her own happiness.Zh: 晚上，茶园的工人们聚在一起庆祝冬至节。En: In the evening, the workers of the tea garden gathered to celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival.Zh: 在热闹的气氛中，梅站了起来，向家人说出了自己的想法：“我想要更多的独立，我希望你们相信我的能力。En: In the lively atmosphere, Mei stood up and expressed her thoughts to her family: "I want more independence, and I hope you believe in my abilities."Zh: ”屋子里一片寂静，但很快家人们理解地点点头。En: There was silence in the room, but soon her family nodded in understanding.Zh: 接着，申也站了起来，说：“我非常感谢大家的支持。En: Then, Shen also stood up and said, "I am very grateful for everyone's support.Zh: 我想学到更多，努力实现自己的梦想。En: I want to learn more and work hard to achieve my dream."Zh: ”申的坦率和梅的勇敢赢得了大家的掌声和尊重。En: Shen's frankness and Mei's courage earned them applause and respect.Zh: 从那天起，梅的家人决定给她更多的自主权，鼓励她去追求自己的目标。En: From that day on, Mei's family decided to give her more autonomy, encouraging her to pursue her own goals.Zh: 梅和申的关系也在这个特别的夜晚发生了变化。En: The relationship between Mei and Shen also changed on this special night.Zh: 他们开始认真考虑共同的未来。En: They began to seriously consider a future together.Zh: 梅更加自信地在家族事业和个人幸福间找到平衡，申也在梅的支持下，更勇敢地追梦。En: Mei became more confident in finding a balance between her family business and personal happiness, and Shen, with Mei's support, pursued his dreams more bravely.Zh: 茶园在冬日的阳光下静静地生长着，像是象征着他们新生活的开始。En: The tea garden quietly grew under the winter sun, symbolizing the beginning of their new life. Vocabulary Words:illuminated: 照亮fragrance: 香气heritage: 传承comforted: 安慰cautious: 小心romance: 恋爱solstice: 冬至determined: 下定决心independence: 独立autonomy: 自主权confidence: 自信balance: 平衡pursue: 追求optimism: 乐观symbolizing: 象征着gathered: 聚enthusiastic: 热情dreams: 梦想bravely: 勇敢地encouraged: 鼓励whispered: 低声说presence: 存在感chatted: 聊天nodded: 点头shared: 分享growth: 成长support: 支持expression: 表达art: 技巧quietly: 安静地

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Legacy of the Solstice: Rekindling Family Ties in Rural China Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-21-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在中国南方的一个安静的农村稻田，空气中弥漫着轻轻的冬霜。En: In a quiet rural rice field in southern China, the air is filled with a gentle winter frost.Zh: 稻田周围是连绵起伏的山丘，冬至节让这里显得格外祥和。En: The rice fields are surrounded by rolling hills, and the Winter Solstice festival makes the place look especially peaceful.Zh: 稻田旁的农舍发出温暖的灯笼光芒，熟悉的传统佳肴的香气扑鼻而来，迎接着远道而来的家人。En: The farmhouse beside the rice field emanates the warm glow of lanterns, and the familiar aroma of traditional delicacies wafts through the air, welcoming family members who have traveled from afar.Zh: 贾浩是家中长子，En: Jia Hao is the eldest son in the family.Zh: 他常年在农田劳作，承担着家庭的责任。En: He has been working in the fields year-round, bearing the family's responsibilities.Zh: 他担心灿烂的家族传统在下一代中渐渐消逝。En: He worries that their brilliant family traditions are gradually fading in the next generation.Zh: 他的表妹美丽从城市回到乡村，虽然久别重逢，她却显得与这里格格不入。En: His cousin Meili returns from the city to the countryside; although it has been a long-awaited reunion, she seems out of place here.Zh: 这时是一年一度的重要节日——冬至。En: It is a significant annual festival—the Winter Solstice.Zh: 贾浩决心趁此机会向美丽展示农村的魅力和冬至节的意义。En: Jia Hao is determined to take this opportunity to show Meili the charm of rural life and the meaning of the Winter Solstice festival.Zh: 他希望美丽能更了解和珍视他们的家族传统。En: He hopes Meili can better understand and cherish their family traditions.Zh: 起初，美丽并不习惯稻田的生活。En: Initially, Meili is not accustomed to life in the rice fields.Zh: 她觉得这里的一切都既陌生又充满挑战。En: She feels everything here is both unfamiliar and challenging.Zh: 城市的快节奏和乡村的悠然自得形成鲜明对比，她不确定是否能找到属于她的平衡。En: The fast pace of the city starkly contrasts with the leisureliness of the countryside, and she is uncertain whether she can find her balance.Zh: 傍晚时分，贾浩带着美丽在稻田间散步。En: At dusk, Jia Hao takes Meili for a walk among the rice fields.Zh: 他告诉美丽，冬至不仅仅是一个节日，更是象征着亲情和传承。En: He tells her that the Winter Solstice is not just a festival; it also symbolizes family ties and heritage.Zh: 美丽静静地听着，心里慢慢生出些许触动。En: Meili listens quietly, gradually feeling somewhat touched.Zh: 晚餐时刻到了，家人围坐在一起，欢声笑语不断。En: Dinner time arrives, and the family gathers around the table, laughter filling the air.Zh: 餐桌上摆满了饺子和汤圆，象征着团圆和幸福。En: The table is laden with dumplings and tangyuan, symbolizing reunion and happiness.Zh: 就在这时，美丽举起酒杯说道，“我今天感受到了咱们家的温暖和力量。En: It is at this moment that Meili raises her glass and says, "Today, I felt the warmth and strength of our family.Zh: 我愿意更多地参与到这些传统中，感受我们家族的根。”En: I am willing to become more involved in these traditions and feel the roots of our family."Zh: 贾浩听后，感到无比欣慰。En: Hearing this, Jia Hao feels immensely gratified.Zh: 他相信他们的传统会得以传承，也为此感到满怀希望。En: He is confident that their traditions will be passed on, and he is filled with hope because of it.Zh: 冬至节之后，美丽决定每个周末都来农场，帮助准备节日。En: After the Winter Solstice festival, Meili decides to visit the farm every weekend to help prepare for the festivals.Zh: 她与贾浩之间的亲情重新焕发活力，也让家族的传统在这片古老而生机勃勃的土地上得以延续。En: The familial bond between her and Jia Hao is rejuvenated, allowing the family's traditions to continue on this ancient yet vibrant land.Zh: 贾浩心中的担忧消散了许多，他知道，家族传统在未来，仍会在这片土地上传承，直到更远的地方。En: Much of Jia Hao's worries have dissipated; he knows that the family traditions will continue to be passed down on this land and beyond.Zh: 美丽心中也多了一份归属感，她知道，根在这里，她会继续珍惜。En: Meili also feels a greater sense of belonging; she knows her roots are here, and she will continue to cherish them.Zh: 这个冬至节，不仅是团聚，更是心灵的回归。En: This Winter Solstice festival is not just a reunion, but a return of the heart.Zh: 所有的故事，都会在这个满是希望的冬天里展开。En: All stories will unfold in this hopeful winter. Vocabulary Words:rural: 农村frost: 霜emanates: 发出aroma: 香气delicacies: 佳肴bearing: 承担responsibilities: 责任brilliant: 灿烂的fading: 消逝generation: 下一代accustomed: 习惯starkly: 鲜明的leisureliness: 悠然自得uncertain: 不确定balance: 平衡dusk: 傍晚symbolizes: 象征heritage: 传承laden: 摆满dumplings: 饺子tangyuan: 汤圆rejuvenated: 焕发活力dissipated: 消散sense: 感cherish: 珍惜feeling: 触动reunion: 团聚determined: 决心gratified: 欣慰opportunity: 机会

Yu Qing's date asks if she's free. She teasingly guesses he wants to ask her out, and he replies playfully, “That goes without saying!” They agree to meet up. —————————————————————————————————约会对象： 你今天下班后有事吗？雨晴：嗯……没什么事。怎么啦？你想约我出去吗？约会对象：那还用说？哈哈。可以吗？雨晴：可以是可以。不知道今晚天气怎么样  …..约会对象：如果天气不好，我们可以呆在室内。看电影什么的。雨晴：行吧。那我们见面再说吧。约会对象：好！—————————————————————————————————If you're enjoying this story, there's so much more waiting for you inside maayot:✅ Daily bite-sized stories that suit your level ✅ native audio ✅ One tap Pinyin, explain in context for words and sentences✅ Writing and speaking exercises with teacher feedback ✅ Track your learning streak — never lose your momentum! Use promotion code “Podcast” , get a 50% off today !If this episode made you smile, laugh, or learn something new. Please Take just 30 seconds to leave us a rating and short review. It helps other Mandarin learners discover us !

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Inspiration: A Winter Solstice Awakening Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-20-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬至节这天，天坛笼罩在一片宁静与庄严之中。En: On the day of the Winter Solstice, the Tiantan was enveloped in an atmosphere of tranquility and solemnity.Zh: 阳光微弱，如同薄纱，洒在雕刻精美的建筑和广阔的园林上。En: The sunlight was faint, like a thin veil, cascading over the intricately carved buildings and vast gardens.Zh: 冷风轻轻吹过，树叶沙沙作响，为这一场景增添了一份特有的冬日气息。En: A cold breeze gently passed by, rustling the leaves, adding a unique winter atmosphere to the scene.Zh: 梁和梅走在天坛的石板路上。En: Liang and Mei walked on the stone pavement of the Tiantan.Zh: 四周的热闹似乎和梁的心情形成鲜明的对比。En: The lively surroundings seemed to be in stark contrast to Liang's mood.Zh: 他深深困扰于即将到来的艺术展览。En: He was deeply troubled by the upcoming art exhibition.Zh: 他的灵感仿佛被冬季的寒风冻结了，甭说画出好作品，他连纸上的一笔都不敢下。En: It was as if his inspiration had been frozen by the winter chill, and he dared not even make a single stroke on paper, let alone produce good artwork.Zh: 梅注意到了梁的沉默，轻轻握住他的手。En: Mei noticed Liang's silence and gently held his hand.Zh: “不要太着急，”她微笑着说，“有时候过于用力反而迷失方向。”En: "Don't worry too much," she said with a smile, "sometimes pushing too hard can make you lose your way."Zh: 梁点点头，却依旧眉头紧锁。En: Liang nodded, but his brow remained furrowed.Zh: 他抬头看向祈年殿。En: He looked up at the Qiniandian.Zh: 它在冬日的阳光下熠熠生辉，仿佛在静静等待他们的到来。En: It shone in the winter sunlight, as if quietly waiting for them to arrive.Zh: “我们去看看祭祀仪式吧，”梅建议道，希望通过这些传统能激发梁的灵感。En: "Let's go see the sacrificial ceremony," Mei suggested, hoping that these traditions could ignite Liang's inspiration.Zh: 两人绕过园林，跟随人群来到仪式进行的地方。En: The two of them walked through the gardens, following the crowd to where the ceremony was taking place.Zh: 冬至节的仪式庄严而美丽，色彩斑斓的服饰，悠扬的乐声，烛火的摇曳，与天坛的古老建筑融为一体。En: The Winter Solstice ceremony was solemn and beautiful, with colorful costumes, melodious music, and flickering candle flames blending seamlessly with the ancient architecture of the Tiantan.Zh: 梁感受到内心的震撼。En: Liang felt a deep sense of awe.Zh: 这一切仿佛是一幅流动的画，每一个细节都在他的心里留下了深刻的印象。En: It was as if everything around him formed a moving painting, with each detail leaving a profound impression on his heart.Zh: 忽然间，灵感如一束光闪过梁的心灵。En: Suddenly, inspiration flashed through Liang's mind like a beam of light.Zh: 他看到的不再是一个单一的画面，而是一个充满活力的世界。En: What he saw was no longer a single image, but a vibrant world.Zh: 他的心跳加速，焦虑一扫而空。En: His heart raced, and his anxiety vanished completely.Zh: 仪式结束后，梅见梁眼中重新燃起光芒，便知道他的创作欲望再次被点燃。En: After the ceremony, Mei saw the renewed spark in Liang's eyes and knew that his desire to create had been reignited.Zh: “我想，我找到我要的东西了，”梁激动地说。En: "I think I've found what I needed," Liang said excitedly.Zh: 回到工作室，梁几乎是不眠不休地工作。En: Back in the studio, Liang worked almost tirelessly.Zh: 他所创造的，是一幅名为“冬至礼赞”的画。En: What he created was a painting titled "Praise of the Winter Solstice."Zh: 画中，天坛在冬日光影中宁静而又充满生气，仿佛在那里完成了一场跨越时空的对话。En: In the painting, the Tiantan appeared serene yet full of life in the winter's light and shadow, as if a dialogue transcending time and space had taken place there.Zh: 梁捕捉到了节日的核心，捕捉到了自己的心灵。En: Liang captured the essence of the festival and his own spirit.Zh: 展览的那一天，这幅画成了全场的焦点。En: On the day of the exhibition, this painting became the focal point of the entire event.Zh: 来看展的人们纷纷停在画前驻足，他们能感受到那份从内到外的生命力。En: Visitors stopped in front of the painting, able to feel the vitality emanating from within.Zh: 这次经历让梁明白，灵感不必强求，En: This experience taught Liang that inspiration should not be forced.Zh: 有时放松心情，沉浸于美好的体验中，自然会有意想不到的收获。En: Sometimes, by relaxing the mind and immersing oneself in beautiful experiences, unexpected rewards can come naturally.Zh: 创作的压力消减了，他的心灵也因此更加自由。En: The pressure of creation diminished, and his spirit became freer.Zh: 他默默地握着梅的手，感谢她一直以来的支持。En: He silently held Mei's hand, grateful for her unwavering support.Zh: 天坛依旧宁静，而梁心中的那座天坛却充满了光芒。En: The Tiantan remained tranquil, yet the Tiantan in Liang's heart was filled with light. Vocabulary Words:tranquility: 宁静solemnity: 庄严enveloped: 笼罩intricately: 精美cascading: 洒rustling: 沙沙作响pavement: 石板路stark: 鲜明troubled: 困扰exhibition: 展览faded: 凋谢frozen: 冻结furrowed: 紧锁inspiration: 灵感sacrificial ceremony: 祭祀仪式awe: 震撼melodious: 悠扬flickering: 摇曳seamlessly: 融为一体beam: 一束vibrant: 充满活力anxiety: 焦虑ignited: 点燃tirelessly: 不眠不休serene: 宁静dialogue: 对话essence: 核心focal point: 焦点emanating: 散发rewards: 收获

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Luminous Adventures: Wei's Quest for the Perfect Lantern Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-20-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在冬天的北京，一个热闹的新年集市像都市丛林般充满活力。En: In the winter of Beijing, a lively New Year market is vibrant like an urban jungle.Zh: 街道上熙熙攘攘，彩色的小摊位挤满了每一个角落，浓郁的食物香气在空气中飘荡。En: The streets are bustling; colorful stalls fill every corner, and rich aromas of food waft through the air.Zh: 繁忙的人群来回穿梭，天上的圣诞灯闪烁着，为这个节日增添了一抹光彩。En: Busy crowds weave in and out, while Christmas lights twinkle in the sky, adding a touch of brilliance to the festival.Zh: 魏是个年轻、开朗的人，虽然有点笨手笨脚，但总是充满好奇心。En: Wei is a young, cheerful person, though a bit clumsy, always filled with curiosity.Zh: 他想为他的好朋友李买一盏漂亮的灯笼，作为新年的惊喜礼物。En: He wants to buy a beautiful lantern for his good friend Li as a New Year surprise gift.Zh: 为了他的这个计划，魏走进了集市的喧嚣中。En: For this plan, Wei ventures into the hustle and bustle of the market.Zh: 魏从摊位到摊位，寻找完美的灯笼。En: Wei goes from stall to stall searching for the perfect lantern.Zh: 他常常分心，被各种诱人的小玩意儿吸引。En: He often gets distracted, drawn to various tempting trinkets.Zh: 就在他全神贯注地看一盏飘雪的水晶球时，转身不小心走进了一个圣诞灯的展示区。En: Just as he is intently gazing at a snow globe, he accidentally steps into a Christmas light display area.Zh: 一瞬间，彩灯缠绕在他身上，像是穿上了一件花里胡哨的“衣服”。En: In an instant, colored lights wrap around him like a garish "outfit."Zh: 四周的人纷纷停下来看热闹。En: People around stop to watch the fun.Zh: 魏发现自己被灯光点缀得像一棵行走的圣诞树。他没有生气，反而开心地向周围人挥手，假装这一切都是计划好的，引得人们忍俊不禁。En: Wei, adorned like a walking Christmas tree, doesn't get angry but instead waves to the crowd, pretending it was all planned, provoking chuckles from the onlookers.Zh: 碰巧，一个路过的年轻人名叫明，见状前来帮忙。En: By chance, a passing young man named Ming sees the situation and comes to help.Zh: 他小心翼翼地帮魏解开了那些缠绕的灯，魏对他的帮助表示了由衷的感谢。En: He carefully untangles the lights from Wei, who expresses his heartfelt gratitude for the assistance.Zh: 集市快要结束时，魏心里有些失落。En: As the market is about to end, Wei feels a bit disappointed.Zh: 然而正当他准备放弃的时候，他看到在市场边缘的一个不起眼的小摊里，一盏古色古香的灯笼吸引了他的目光。En: However, just when he's about to give up, he spots an inconspicuous small stall at the edge of the market, where an archaic lantern catches his eye.Zh: 那灯笼是红色的，灯罩上绘着精致的金色龙纹。En: The lantern is red, with a shade intricately painted with golden dragon patterns.Zh: “就是它！这是我要找的，”魏兴奋地自语。En: "This is it! This is what I've been looking for," Wei murmurs excitedly to himself.Zh: 他赶紧走过去，用节省下来的钱买下了灯笼。En: He quickly goes over and uses his saved money to buy the lantern.Zh: 终于，魏带着这份精心挑选的礼物去找李。En: Finally, Wei brings the meticulously chosen gift to Li.Zh: 当他把灯笼递给李时，李的脸上露出了惊喜和感动的笑容。En: When he hands over the lantern, Li's face lights up with a surprised and touched smile.Zh: 经过这一刻，魏也变得更加自信。En: After this moment, Wei becomes more confident.Zh: 他明白，有时候生活中的意外往往会带来更多的快乐和收获，他内心充满了对未来的期待。En: He understands that sometimes the surprises in life often bring more joy and gains, and his heart is filled with anticipation for the future.Zh: 集市的灯光逐渐暗淡，而它点亮的友谊之光却长存心中。En: The market lights gradually dim, but the light of friendship it kindled remains in the heart forever. Vocabulary Words:lively: 热闹的vibrant: 充满活力的bustling: 熙熙攘攘的waft: 飘荡intently: 全神贯注地garish: 花里胡哨的adorned: 点缀provoking: 引发onlookers: 旁观者untangles: 解开heartfelt: 由衷的gratitude: 感谢inconspicuous: 不起眼的archaic: 古色古香的intricately: 精致地meticulously: 精心地anticipation: 期待dim: 暗淡urban: 都市的jungle: 丛林curiosity: 好奇心ventures: 冒险tempting: 诱人的trinkets: 小玩意儿clumsy: 笨手笨脚的weave: 穿梭twinkle: 闪烁brilliance: 光彩surprise gift: 惊喜礼物shades: 灯罩

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Bunker Christmas: A Party to Remember Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-19-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个寒冷的冬天，明宇、嘉怡和浩然走进了地下的秘密掩体。En: On a cold winter day, Mingyu, Jiayi, and Haoran walked into an underground secret bunker.Zh: 那里灯光昏暗，四周是冰冷的钢铁墙壁。En: The lighting was dim, and all around were cold steel walls.Zh: 虽然环境严肃冷淡，他们却充满了兴奋，因为今天他们要在这里举办圣诞派对。En: Even though the environment was serious and cold, they were full of excitement because today they were going to hold a Christmas party there.Zh: 明宇充满了计划，他想把这个掩体打造成一片圣诞乐园。En: Mingyu was full of plans; he wanted to turn the bunker into a Christmas wonderland.Zh: 浩然则带来了许多装饰品，他最喜欢装饰，尤其是圣诞节的装饰。En: Haoran brought many decorations; he loved decorating, especially with Christmas decorations.Zh: 嘉怡则比较理性，她担心掩体的安保系统。En: Jiayi was more rational, concerned about the security system of the bunker.Zh: “我们要小心这些报警器，”嘉怡提醒道，“它们非常敏感。”En: “We have to be careful with these alarms,” Jiayi reminded, “they are very sensitive.”Zh: 然而，明宇有自己的想法。En: However, Mingyu had his own ideas.Zh: “我们要用许多绚丽的彩灯和音乐，这才是最棒的派对！”他说，同时开始挂起了闪烁的灯串。En: “We need lots of colorful lights and music, that's the best kind of party!” he said, as he began to hang up twinkling light strands.Zh: 很快，浩然加入进来，他忙着把圣诞树摆好，还挂上了许多闪亮的装饰球。En: Soon, Haoran joined in, busy arranging the Christmas tree and hanging many shiny decorative balls.Zh: 第一次拨放音乐时，报警器响了。En: The first time they played music, the alarm went off.Zh: 他们连忙停下，彼此无奈地笑了。En: They quickly stopped and smiled helplessly at each other.Zh: “再试一次，这次声音轻一点。”嘉怡说着调整了音量。En: “Try again, but with the volume lower this time.” Jiayi said as she adjusted the volume.Zh: 可是，明宇仍然坚持要更多的装饰。En: Still, Mingyu insisted on more decorations.Zh: 他挂起了巨大的圣诞花环，然而再次触发了报警器。En: He hung up a giant Christmas wreath, but this again triggered the alarm.Zh: 这时，嘉怡提议：“我们简单一点吧，太多东西会引发报警。”En: At this point, Jiayi suggested, “Let's keep it simple; too many things will trigger the alarm.”Zh: 经过一番讨论，他们终于决定简化装饰，但依然非常小心。En: After some discussion, they finally decided to simplify the decorations but still be very careful.Zh: 逐渐地，掩体变得温馨起来。En: Gradually, the bunker became cozy.Zh: 虽然没有夸张的装饰，但却是舒适的。En: Although there were no extravagant decorations, it was comfortable.Zh: 就在他们以为一切稳定时，明宇不小心碰到了最大的报警装置。En: Just when they thought everything was stable, Mingyu accidentally triggered the largest alarm device.Zh: 突然，刺耳的警铃声响彻整个掩体。En: Suddenly, a piercing alarm bell echoed throughout the bunker.Zh: 三人慌忙地跑来跑去试图关闭警报。En: The three of them hurriedly ran around trying to shut off the alarm.Zh: 最终，嘉怡冷静下来，成功地关闭了警报。En: Eventually, Jiayi calmed down and successfully turned off the alarm.Zh: 他们总算松了一口气。En: They finally breathed a sigh of relief.Zh: 虽然音乐不能再开得很大声，但派对继续了下去。En: Although the music could no longer be very loud, the party continued.Zh: 他们吃着简单的小食，喝着热饮，欢笑声充满了整个掩体。En: They ate simple snacks, drank hot drinks, and laughter filled the entire bunker.Zh: 明宇意识到派对的核心不在于奢华，而在于和朋友在一起的欢乐。En: Mingyu realized that the essence of the party wasn't in extravagance, but in the joy of being with friends.Zh: 最后，他们相互拥抱，在秘密掩体中度过了一个难忘的圣诞节。En: In the end, they hugged each other and spent an unforgettable Christmas in the secret bunker.Zh: 明宇学到了倾听建议的重要性，而这一切正是在朋友们的帮助下实现的。En: Mingyu learned the importance of listening to advice, and all of this was achieved with the help of friends. Vocabulary Words:bunker: 掩体dim: 昏暗rational: 理性sensitive: 敏感strands: 串arranging: 摆好triggered: 触发wreath: 花环simplify: 简化extravagant: 夸张的piercing: 刺耳的echoed: 响彻relief: 松了一口气snacks: 小食essence: 核心joy: 欢乐advice: 建议accomplished: 实现plans: 计划decorations: 装饰品cozy: 温馨steel: 钢铁wonderland: 乐园security: 安保alarms: 报警器volume: 音量adjusted: 调整discussion: 讨论calmed: 冷静drinks: 热饮

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: From Darkness to Light: A Christmas Presentation Surprise Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-19-08-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在学校的深处，有一个不常用的地下室，大家称它为“秘密地堡”。En: Deep within the school, there is an infrequently used basement that everyone calls the "mìmì dìbǎo" (Secret Bunker).Zh: 墙上挂满了过去的海报，地上是积尘已久的旧家具。En: The walls are covered with old posters, and the floor is littered with dusty old furniture.Zh: 雪悄然无声地下着，为冬天增添了一丝浪漫。En: Snow was silently falling, adding a touch of romance to the winter day.Zh: 在这个特别的地方，小文和连准备着他们的圣诞演讲。En: In this special place, Xiǎowén and Lián were preparing their Christmas presentation.Zh: 小文是个非常细致的学生。En: Xiǎowén was a very meticulous student.Zh: 她喜欢一切都按计划进行，笔记本上整整齐齐地写着每一个步骤。En: She liked everything to go according to plan, and her notebook was neatly filled with every step.Zh: 相反，连是个随和的人，他更喜欢即兴发挥。En: In contrast, Lián was an easygoing person who preferred to improvise.Zh: 他们都是好朋友，但在如何准备演讲上却有不同的想法。En: They were good friends but had different ideas on how to prepare for the presentation.Zh: “小文，我们要不试试从不同的角度来呈现这个项目？”连提议道，他的眼睛闪烁着兴奋。En: "Xiǎowén, how about we try presenting this project from a different angle?" Lián suggested, his eyes sparkling with excitement.Zh: “不行，我们得确保每个部分都完美无缺。”小文坚持，她认真地看着自己的笔记。En: "No, we need to make sure every part is flawless," Xiǎowén insisted, seriously looking at her notes.Zh: 他们坐在冰冷的地上，空气中弥漫着一股旧书的气味。En: They sat on the cold floor, the air thick with the smell of old books.Zh: 连叹了口气，心想他是不是该坚持自己的想法。En: Lián sighed, wondering if he should stick to his idea.Zh: 小文则在心里想着是否应该独自完成任务，这样更有效率。En: Xiǎowén, on the other hand, pondered whether she should complete the task alone for efficiency.Zh: 然而，就在他们争论不休的时候，地堡的灯忽然熄灭了。En: However, just as they were arguing endlessly, the lights in the bunker suddenly went out.Zh: 电源切断，四周漆黑一片。En: The power was cut, and everything around was pitch black.Zh: “糟糕，”小文惊呼，“我们不能看笔记了。”En: "Oh no," Xiǎowén exclaimed, "we can't see the notes."Zh: “没关系，就让我们来一次即兴表演吧！”连笑了，他觉得这种情况正是他所期待的。En: "No worries, let's do an improvised performance!" Lián laughed, feeling that this situation was just what he had been hoping for.Zh: 在黑暗中，他们开始模拟演讲，一边摸索着讲解，一边试着用声音来吸引注意力。En: In the darkness, they began to simulate the presentation, groping their way through the explanations and trying to captivate attention with their voices.Zh: 小文渐渐放下了笔记的束缚，开始和连一起创造性地编织他们的故事。En: Xiǎowén gradually let go of the constraints of her notes, and together with Lián, started to weave their story creatively.Zh: 此时此刻，他们在没有计划的情况下，找到了新的平衡。En: In that moment, they found a new balance without a plan.Zh: 到了演讲那天，场景看似凌乱但却另有一种特别的美感。En: On the day of the presentation, the scene seemed chaotic but possessed a special beauty.Zh: 小文和连在台上，融入了计划中的每个细节和即兴的灵感表演。En: Xiǎowén and Lián were on stage, incorporating every planned detail with inspiration from the impromptu show.Zh: 两人的合作赢得了老师和同学们的掌声。En: Their collaboration won applause from teachers and classmates.Zh: 散会之后，小文看着连，感慨地说：“我学会了信任你的直觉，计划有时不如体验过程有趣。”En: After the meeting, Xiǎowén looked at Lián and said emotionally, "I've learned to trust your intuition; sometimes the process is more fun than the plan."Zh: 连微笑着回答：“我也明白了，有个计划基础很重要。谢谢你，小文。”En: Lián smiled and replied, "I've also realized that having a plan is important. Thank you, Xiǎowén."Zh: 就这样，他们不仅解决了冲突，还从这次经历中学到了彼此的可贵之处。En: In this way, they not only resolved their conflict but also learned the value of each other's qualities from this experience.Zh: 随着窗外的雪继续飞扬，小文和连走出了秘密地堡，心中满是友情的温暖。En: As the snow continued to fly outside, Xiǎowén and Lián walked out of the mìmì dìbǎo, their hearts warm with friendship. Vocabulary Words:infrequently: 不常用meticulous: 细致improvise: 即兴发挥flawless: 完美无缺exclaimed: 惊呼improvised: 即兴的simulate: 模拟captivate: 吸引constraints: 束缚weave: 编织impromptu: 即兴的incorporating: 融入chaotic: 凌乱intuition: 直觉resolved: 解决qualities: 可贵之处process: 过程presentation: 演讲groping: 摸索pondered: 想着pitch black: 漆黑一片endlessly: 不休balcony: 没有exploratory: 没有negotiation: 没有resourceful: 没有lighthearted: 没有panorama: 没有

The first 40 minutes of this episode are free!Join us on Patreon to listen to the full pod!In this episode we discuss Gen Z's rejection of gatekeeping, Millennial optimism, bone shaker bikes, proto steam punk, Cruising (1980), Mac Demarco live at Massey Hall, $20 beers, Panago Pizza, Josh going to Nicks house for the first time in six years, the art of making rice, NGHT MRKT, the Conditions holiday party, learning to enjoy readings, the East Room holiday party, anxiety attacks, bad trips, The Mandarin and much more!Josh McIntyreNick Marian----COLD PODJoin us on Patreon to access all episodes and weekly one on one pods!

节目简介｜Episode Description｜エピソード紹介中文这一期《五分钟中文》，我使用 Spotify 的播客年度总结数据，回顾了 2025 年《五分钟中文》的整体情况。节目中包含大量真实的数字、百分比和时间单位，内容围绕这些数据展开，希望对大家练习数字方面的听力有所帮助。EnglishIn this episode of 5 Minute Chinese, I use my Spotify Podcast Wrapped data to look back on the overall performance of 5 Minute Chinese in 2025.The episode includes a large number of real-life numbers, percentages, and time expressions, with the hope that it can help you practice listening to numbers in Mandarin.日本語今回のエピソードでは、Spotify のポッドキャスト年間データをもとに、2025 年の『五分钟中文』の全体的な状況を振り返ります。 エピソード内では、実際の数字やパーセンテージ、時間表現が多く登場し、数字に関するリスニング練習の助けになればと思います。#SpotifyWrapped #PodcastWrapped #NumbersInMandarin #Spotify年度总结#播客回顾 #中文数字 #Spotifyまとめ #中国語の数字发短信给我！ Send me a text!Support the show如果您喜欢我的播客，欢迎通过下方方式表达您的支持。您的支持对我来说是巨大的鼓励。但无论如何，我都很感激有您作为听众。能够每周与您分享几分钟的时光，对我来说是莫大的荣幸。❤️ If you enjoy my podcast, you're welcome to show your support through the options below. Your support means a great deal to me and is a huge source of encouragement. But no matter what, I'm truly grateful to have you as a listener. It's an honor to share a few minutes with you each week!❤️ ☕

The child of Chinese immigrants, Liu grew up in Queens where she spoke Mandarin at home and didn't learn English until she was 5. She returns to the language in her new film, ‘Rosemead.' It's about a terminally ill mother grappling with her teenage son's escalating mental health crisis and the impossible choices she faces to help him. Liu spoke with Tonya Mosley about rejection, representation, and the first time she heard her name in OutKast's hit “Hey Ya.” Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

John is joined by Christopher D. Kercher, partner in Quinn Emanuel's New York office. They discuss a complex cross-border dispute involving a Chinese public company listed on the Shanghai Exchange. The company, which owned oil assets in Texas and was one of the largest private oil producers in the U.S., faced a governance crisis after an investor took over the company and elected a new board in China. When the new board attempted to gain control over the company's U.S. subsidiaries, it discovered that the company's former management had implemented mechanisms at the subsidiaries' holding companies that blocked the election of new directors. This control deadlock posed an existential threat, as Chinese regulators warned the company it could be delisted if control was not reestablished by the end of the year. The urgency of the situation demanded a rapid litigation strategy across three U.S. jurisdictions: Texas, Nevada, and Delaware. The client's initial effort, led by another firm, to resolve the matter in Texas failed because of the “internal affairs doctrine,” which required adjudication in Delaware, where the entities were incorporated. Fortunately, the other side initiated a Delaware proceeding allowing the Chinese parent to counterclaim and consolidate all issues under a highly expedited schedule. A key early win was securing a “status quo” order in Delaware, which froze major corporate actions and gave the new board veto power over decisions exceeding $100,000, effectively halting adverse moves by the former management. The case involved extensive discovery, much of it in Mandarin, and included WhatsApp, WeChat, and other messaging platforms. Advanced AI tools played a crucial role in accelerating document review, translating materials, and aiding strategy development. Cultural sensitivity and coordination with Chinese counsel were also essential to preparing the case. As trial approached, the opposing side sought settlement, likely due to being overwhelmed by the pace and depth of the litigation.  Podcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unearthing Secrets: The Untold Legacy of Yun Shui Xuan Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-18-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 杭州的冬天，寒风萧瑟，但西湖与茶馆的结合却是无比温暖。En: In the winter of Hangzhou, the cold wind was bitter, but the combination of West Lake and the teahouse was immensely warm.Zh: 茶馆名叫“云水轩”，是明先生开的。En: The teahouse was called Yun Shui Xuan, and it was run by Mr. Ming.Zh: 他热爱历史，尤其是那些久远的传统。En: He loved history, especially those age-old traditions.Zh: 每年冬至，人们总是来这里喝杯热茶，享受节日的欢愉。En: Every winter solstice, people would come here to sip on a hot cup of tea and enjoy the festive cheer.Zh: 这天早晨，茶馆内飘散淡淡的茶香。En: That morning, a subtle aroma of tea wafted through the teahouse.Zh: 小雨在柜台后忙碌。En: Xiaoyu was busy behind the counter.Zh: 他是这里的小学徒，总是对一切充满好奇。En: He was a young apprentice here, always full of curiosity about everything.Zh: 客人们渐渐多了起来，李伟先生也像往常一样来到茶馆。En: Gradually, more guests began to arrive, and Mr. Li Wei, as usual, came to the teahouse.Zh: 他是一个学者，经常沉迷于古印章的研究。En: He was a scholar who often immersed himself in the study of ancient seals.Zh: 墙上一幅画后隐藏的书架上，有一本古书。En: On a bookshelf hidden behind a painting on the wall, there was an ancient book.Zh: 书的封面上有一个旧印章，模糊却奥秘。En: On the cover of the book was an old seal, blurry yet mysterious.Zh: 突然，明先生收到了一个包裹，里面有一封信和一个旧印章。En: Suddenly, Mr. Ming received a package, which contained a letter and an old seal.Zh: 令所有人惊讶的是，这个印章与书上的一模一样。En: To everyone's surprise, this seal was identical to the one on the book.Zh: 明先生心中激动，也有几分不安。En: Mr. Ming was excited yet somewhat uneasy.Zh: 这个印章，会不会与茶馆的历史有关？En: Could this seal be related to the history of the teahouse?Zh: 他决定要弄清楚印章的来历，不惜采取非常措施。En: He decided to uncover the origin of the seal, even if it meant taking extraordinary measures.Zh: 他与李伟先生商量，打算去调查古代的档案，尽管这有些冒险。En: He discussed with Mr. Li Wei and planned to investigate ancient archives, despite the risks involved.Zh: 茶馆渐渐安静下来，雪花在窗外轻轻起舞。En: The teahouse gradually quieted down, and snowflakes danced gently outside the windows.Zh: 经过几天的艰苦寻找，明先生、小雨和李伟先生终于找到了线索。En: After a few days of arduous searching, Mr. Ming, Xiaoyu, and Mr. Li Wei finally found a clue.Zh: 茶馆地下似乎有一个隐藏的密室，与古代一个失落的王朝有关。En: There seemed to be a hidden chamber beneath the teahouse, which was connected to a lost dynasty of ancient times.Zh: 他们心跳如雷，打开了密室的门。En: Their hearts were pounding as they opened the door to the secret chamber.Zh: 里面摆满了古代的文物和记载着茶馆起源的历史文献。En: Inside, it was filled with ancient artifacts and historical documents that recorded the origins of the teahouse.Zh: 原来，“云水轩”的来历可以追溯到一个古老的传说，这个传说讲述了一位茶艺大师如何用茶来传递和平与智慧。En: It turned out that the origins of Yun Shui Xuan could be traced back to an old legend that told of a tea master who used tea to convey peace and wisdom.Zh: 经过这次旅程，明先生对传统文化有了更深的理解。En: After this journey, Mr. Ming developed a deeper understanding of traditional culture.Zh: 而小雨，也在这个过程中对历史的保存产生了浓厚的兴趣，未来，他希望能继续这些遗产的保护工作。En: Meanwhile, Xiaoyu grew a keen interest in the preservation of history during this process.Zh: 未来，他希望能继续这些遗产的保护工作。En: In the future, he hoped to continue working on the protection of these legacies.Zh: 在冬至那天，茶馆里的人比平时多了许多。En: On the winter solstice day, there were more people in the teahouse than usual.Zh: 大家围坐在一起，听明先生讲述那个古老而神秘的传说，心中对“云水轩”更增添几分敬仰。En: Everyone sat together, listening to Mr. Ming recount the ancient and mysterious legend, and their admiration for Yun Shui Xuan grew even more.Zh: 茶香依然，传奇继续……En: The aroma of tea lingered on, and the legend continued... Vocabulary Words:bitter: 寒风萧瑟immensely: 无比subtle: 淡淡wafted: 飘散apprentice: 小学徒curiosity: 好奇scholar: 学者immersed: 沉迷ancient: 古seal: 印章mysterious: 奥秘uneasy: 不安origin: 来历extraordinary: 非常archives: 档案arduous: 艰苦clue: 线索chamber: 密室pounding: 心跳如雷artifacts: 文物documents: 文献trace: 追溯legend: 传说convey: 传递wisdom: 智慧preservation: 保存admiration: 敬仰culture: 文化legacy: 遗产lingered: 依然

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Warm Hearts and Snowflakes: A Dongzhi Festival Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-18-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 大雪纷飞的冬至节，孤儿院里虽然寒冷，却充满了节日的温暖。En: On a snowy Dongzhi Festival, the orphanage, though cold, was filled with holiday warmth.Zh: 魏，是这里的一名志愿者，和孩子们一起给孤儿院挂上了彩色的灯笼和剪纸。En: Wei, a volunteer there, hung up colorful lanterns and paper cuttings with the children.Zh: 他有一个悲伤的过去，但他用心温暖了这里的每一个孩子。En: He had a sorrowful past, but he warmed the heart of every child there.Zh: 亮，是孤儿院最小的孩子之一，勇敢却又不易亲近。En: Liang was one of the youngest children in the orphanage, brave yet not easy to get close to.Zh: 他总是装作无所谓，但魏知道，亮渴望有人关心。En: He always pretended not to care, but Wei knew that Liang longed for someone to care.Zh: 那天，孩子们在院子里堆雪人，突发意外，亮从滑梯上摔了下来。En: That day, the children were building snowmen in the yard when an accident happened, and Liang fell from the slide.Zh: 他攥着自己的膝盖，脸色苍白，咬着嘴唇不让自己哭出声。En: He clutched his knee, his face pale, biting his lip to keep from crying out.Zh: 魏见状，立刻跑了过去，稳定亮的情绪。En: Seeing this, Wei immediately ran over to calm Liang's emotions.Zh: 他检查了一下发现伤势不轻。En: He checked and found the injury was not light.Zh: 孤儿院这时人手紧缺，医生还要晚些才能赶来。En: At that time, the orphanage was short-handed, and the doctor would take a while to arrive.Zh: 魏心里很着急，他知道必须尽快做出决定，是叫外部救援，还是让员工尽力而为。En: Wei was very anxious; he knew he had to make a decision quickly, whether to call for external help or let the staff do their best.Zh: 魏看到亮痛苦的神情，意识到不能再迟疑了。En: Wei saw the pain on Liang's face and realized he could not hesitate any longer.Zh: 他决定打电话给附近的诊所，请求医生马上过来。En: He decided to call a nearby clinic, asking a doctor to come immediately.Zh: 时间过得很慢，终于，医生赶到了，给亮做了检查并包扎好伤口。En: Time passed slowly, and finally, the doctor arrived, examined Liang, and bandaged his wound.Zh: 亮的痛苦明显缓解了很多，终于露出了一丝微笑。En: Liang's pain clearly eased, and he finally showed a slight smile.Zh: 他依偎在魏怀里，低声说：“谢谢你，魏叔叔。En: He nestled in Wei's arms and softly said, "Thank you, Uncle Wei."Zh: ”这件事后，魏意识到孤儿院的医疗条件需要改善。En: After this event, Wei realized that the orphanage's medical conditions needed improvement.Zh: 他向镇上的人们讲述这里孩子们的困境，大家纷纷伸出援手，不仅为孤儿院捐助医疗设备和药品，还有更多志愿者愿意加入其中。En: He spoke to the townsfolk about the children's plight, and everyone offered their help, not only donating medical equipment and medicines to the orphanage but also more volunteers willing to join.Zh: 在冬至节的那晚，孤儿院的孩子们聚在一起，吃着热腾腾的饺子，看着窗外的雪花。En: On the evening of the Dongzhi Festival, the children at the orphanage gathered together, eating steaming dumplings and watching the snowflakes outside the window.Zh: 他们的脸上洋溢着笑容，魏的心中充满了成就感与温暖。En: Their faces were filled with smiles, and Wei felt a sense of accomplishment and warmth in his heart.Zh: 从此，魏变得更加坚强主动，积极为孩子们创造更好的生活环境。En: From then on, Wei became more resilient and proactive, actively creating a better environment for the children.Zh: 而亮也不再躲避，他敞开了心扉，知道自己并不孤单，他的身边有爱护他的人。En: And Liang no longer hid; he opened his heart, knowing that he was not alone and had people who cared for him.Zh: 那个冬至夜，在老旧的孤儿院里，灯笼的光照亮了每一个角落，也温暖了每个人的心。En: That night of the Dongzhi Festival, in the old orphanage, the light of the lanterns illuminated every corner and warmed everyone's heart. Vocabulary Words:orphanage: 孤儿院volunteer: 志愿者lantern: 灯笼sorrowful: 悲伤injury: 伤势short-handed: 人手紧缺clinic: 诊所examine: 检查bandage: 包扎wound: 伤口plight: 困境nestle: 依偎accomplishment: 成就感resilient: 坚强proactive: 主动environment: 环境steaming: 热腾腾illuminate: 照亮decoration: 装饰calm emotions: 稳定情绪decision: 决定treatment: 治疗anxious: 着急aid: 援手diligent: 勤奋holidays: 节日anticipate: 期待ease: 缓解unite: 团结profound: 深刻

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Winter Rendezvous: Love Blossoms at the Temple of Heaven Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-17-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬季的北京，空气清新而寒冷。En: In winter, Beijing is fresh and cold.Zh: 整座城市准备迎接春节的到来。En: The entire city is preparing for the upcoming Spring Festival.Zh: 而在天坛，李伟心跳如鼓。En: Meanwhile, at the Temple of Heaven, Li Wei's heart was pounding like a drum.Zh: 他和静的第一次约会就在这里。En: His first date with Jing was taking place here.Zh: 李伟是一个年轻的艺术家，他热爱传统的中国文化。En: Li Wei is a young artist passionate about traditional Chinese culture.Zh: 今天，他希望能给静留下一个好的印象。En: Today, he hopes to leave a good impression on Jing.Zh: 天坛的冬景美丽而庄严，李伟几乎能感受到历史的呼吸。En: The winter scenery of the Temple of Heaven is beautiful and solemn, and Li Wei can almost feel the breath of history.Zh: 静是一个热爱历史的人，她的好奇心让她对每一个细节都充满兴趣。En: Jing is a history enthusiast, and her curiosity fills her with interest in every detail.Zh: 杨明，李伟和静的共同朋友，是这次约会的牵线人。En: Yang Ming, a mutual friend of Li Wei and Jing, was the matchmaker for this date.Zh: 他知道李伟对静的仰慕已久。En: He knew that Li Wei had admired Jing for a long time.Zh: 三人走在天坛的石板路上，寒风轻轻吹过。En: The three of them walked on the stone-paved path of the Temple of Heaven, with a light cold wind blowing by.Zh: 静愉快地聊起了天坛的历史，“你们知道吗？祈年殿是皇帝向天神祈求丰收的地方。”En: Jing happily started talking about the history of the Temple of Heaven, “Did you know? The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is where the emperor prayed to the heavenly gods for a good harvest.”Zh: 她的讲话充满了热情，李伟感觉到一丝紧张，但他也被静的活力所吸引。En: Her speech was full of enthusiasm, and Li Wei felt a bit nervous, yet he was also attracted to her energy.Zh: 李伟知道，他需要克服自己的紧张，找到两人之间的共同兴趣。En: Li Wei knew he needed to overcome his nervousness and find common interests between them.Zh: 他想为了这次约会展示他的艺术作品。En: He wanted to showcase his artwork for this date.Zh: 终于，在一个宁静的角落，李伟鼓起勇气，拿出随身携带的素描本。En: Finally, in a tranquil corner, Li Wei mustered the courage to take out his sketchbook.Zh: “这是我画的祈年殿。”他小心翼翼地递给静。En: “This is my drawing of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests,” he cautiously handed it to Jing.Zh: 静接过素描本，眼中露出惊讶与欣赏的神情。En: She took the sketchbook, her eyes showing surprise and appreciation.Zh: “这是你画的？太美了！”她的称赞让李伟感到一种从未有过的自信。En: “Did you draw this? It's so beautiful!” Her compliment gave Li Wei a newfound sense of confidence.Zh: 两人继续在天坛中探索，分享着彼此对艺术和历史的看法。En: They continued exploring the Temple of Heaven, sharing their views on art and history.Zh: 随着谈话的深入，李伟发现静对他的艺术和传统文化有着极大的兴趣。En: As the conversation deepened, Li Wei discovered that Jing had a great interest in his art and traditional culture.Zh: 他不再觉得紧张，反而更想展示他的更多作品。En: He no longer felt nervous and was instead eager to showcase more of his work.Zh: 傍晚时分，太阳渐渐落下，晚霞染红了天坛的天空。En: By dusk, the sun gradually set, painting the sky over the Temple of Heaven with a red glow.Zh: 静微笑着对李伟说：“谢谢你，今天非常愉快。我很期待下次我们的见面。”En: Jing smiled at Li Wei and said, “Thank you, today was very pleasant. I look forward to our next meeting.”Zh: 李伟的内心温暖如春，他知道他在今天不仅赢得了静的赞赏，也在内心深处找到了一种新的自信。En: Li Wei's heart was warm as spring, knowing that today he not only gained Jing's admiration but also found a new type of confidence within himself.Zh: 两人离开天坛，一同走向前方的夜晚，而他们的友情在这次约会中开始了新的篇章。En: They left the Temple of Heaven together, walking toward the night ahead, with their friendship starting a new chapter from this date. Vocabulary Words:fresh: 清新upcoming: 即将到来pounding: 心跳如鼓matchmaker: 牵线人triumph: 胜利tranquil: 宁静courage: 勇气sketchbook: 素描本admire: 仰慕overcome: 克服mutual: 共同solemn: 庄严impression: 印象curiosity: 好奇心enthusiasm: 热情confidence: 自信dusk: 傍晚时分admiration: 赞赏explore: 探索red glow: 晚霞friendship: 友情breath: 呼吸passionate: 热爱eager: 渴望corner: 角落nervous: 紧张views: 看法traditional: 传统exploring: 探索

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Connection in Shanghai's Winter Wonderland Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-17-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 上海的冬天像一幅油画，尤其是在新天地这个繁华的娱乐区。En: The winter in Shanghai is like an oil painting, especially in Xintiandi, this bustling entertainment district.Zh: 圣诞节的灯光灿烂夺目，到处洋溢着节日的气息。En: The Christmas lights are dazzling and bright, filled with a festive atmosphere everywhere.Zh: 空气中弥漫着热红酒和烤栗子的香味，虽然天气寒冷，但这儿的人们都洋溢着热情的笑容。En: The air is filled with the scent of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts.Zh: 在这样的一个冬日里，莲被她的朋友梅拉到了这处圣诞市场。梅知道莲是一个内向的人，假期时常常感到孤独。En: Although the weather is cold, people here are all brimming with warm smiles.Zh: 她认为莲应该多参与社交活动。莲偶尔也觉得寂寞，希望有人能分享她生活中的点点滴滴。En: On such a winter day, Lian was brought to this Christmas market by her friend Mei.Zh: “走吧，试试看，也许会有惊喜的发现。”梅鼓励道。En: Mei knew Lian was an introverted person who often felt lonely during the holidays.Zh: 莲信步游走于市场，两眼流连于各种手工艺品。En: She thought Lian should participate in more social activities.Zh: 她手持素描本，想把这些市集的热闹繁华记录下来，却心里挣扎于融入人群中。En: Lian occasionally also felt lonely, wishing someone could share the bits and pieces of her life.Zh: 不远处，有个年轻男子站在一个摊位旁边，他的眼神被莲的素描吸引住了。En: “Come on, give it a try, maybe you'll discover something surprising,” Mei encouraged.Zh: 这个人是勇，一个刚搬来上海，为工作繁忙奔走的程序员。En: Lian wandered through the market, her eyes lingering on various handicrafts.Zh: 勇也在寻找归属感，希望能在这座繁忙的城市找到连接。En: She held a sketchbook, wanting to capture the liveliness and prosperity of the market, yet struggled in her heart to blend into the crowd.Zh: 莲注意到勇正在注视她的画，心中一动，决定尝试迈出自己舒适圈的第一步。她挪到勇身边，略显紧张地说：“你好，你也喜欢画画？”En: Not far away, a young man stood next to a stall, his gaze attracted to Lian's sketching.Zh: 勇微微一笑，点了点头：“你好，这些画真好看，你是画家吗？”En: This person was Yong, a programmer who had just moved to Shanghai, busy running around for work.Zh: 莲不好意思地摇了摇头：“只是一名老师。我喜欢捕捉城市的活力。”En: Yong was also searching for a sense of belonging, hoping to find connections in this bustling city.Zh: 夜幕渐渐降临，市集里的灯光更加明亮温暖。En: Lian noticed that Yong was looking at her drawing, and she felt a stir in her heart, deciding to take the first step out of her comfort zone.Zh: 两人在灯光之下，开诚布公地分享起各自的兴趣和梦想。En: She moved to Yong's side and, slightly nervous, said, “Hello, do you like drawing too?”Zh: 莲发现，她和勇有太多相同的话题和想法。市集的喧闹声渐渐淡去，取而代之的是两人之间轻轻的低语。En: Yong smiled slightly and nodded: “Hello, these drawings are lovely, are you an artist?”Zh: 在这个看似偶然的境遇中，莲和勇发现了一种难得的默契。En: Lian bashfully shook her head: “Just a teacher. I love capturing the vitality of the city.”Zh: 当夜色愈发深沉，两人不舍地交换了联系方式。En: As night gradually fell, the lights in the market became brighter and warmer.Zh: “我们可以再见面，你觉得呢？”勇提议。En: Under the lights, the two openly shared their interests and dreams.Zh: 莲轻轻点头，心里升起一股从未有过的暖意：“好的，期待下一次。”En: Lian discovered that she and Yong had so many common topics and thoughts.Zh: 此时的莲，仿佛突然明白，在人生这幅画中，偶尔给自己留下一片净白去交与他人填充，也许就是最好的创作。En: The noise of the market gradually faded away, replaced by the soft whispers between the two.Zh: En: In this seemingly coincidental encounter, Lian and Yong discovered a rare rapport.Zh: En: As the night grew deeper, they reluctantly exchanged contact information.Zh: En: “We can meet again, don't you think?” Yong suggested.Zh: En: Lian nodded gently, a warmth she had never felt before rising in her heart: “Alright, looking forward to next time.”Zh: En: At this moment, Lian seemed to suddenly understand that in the painting of life, occasionally leaving a blank space for others to fill might be the best creation. Vocabulary Words:winter: 冬天bustling: 繁华entertainment: 娱乐dazzling: 灿烂夺目scent: 香味mulled wine: 热红酒roasted chestnuts: 烤栗子brimming: 洋溢introverted: 内向lonely: 孤独festive: 节日social activities: 社交活动wandered: 信步游走handicrafts: 手工艺品livelihood: 活力prosperity: 繁华blend: 融入sketchbook: 素描本gaze: 眼神programmer: 程序员sense of belonging: 归属感connections: 连接stir: 心中一动comfort zone: 舒适圈bashfully: 不好意思地vitality: 活力night gradually fell: 夜幕渐渐降临rapport: 默契encounter: 境遇reluctantly: 不舍地

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: How a Tech Mishap Turned into a Triumph of Heart and Innovation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-16-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在这个寒冷的冬季早晨，创业孵化器里充满了期待和紧张。En: On this cold winter morning, the startup incubator was filled with anticipation and tension.Zh: 一群满怀梦想的创业者们正在这里准备展示他们的创意。En: A group of dream-filled entrepreneurs were preparing to showcase their innovations here.Zh: 这个地方装修现代，宽敞明亮，墙上挂满了成功企业的海报，似乎在告诉每个来到这里的人，希望就在眼前。En: The place was modernly decorated, spacious and bright, with walls adorned with posters of successful companies, as if telling everyone who came here that hope was right in front of them.Zh: 李伟走进来，他的心跳得很快。En: Li Wei walked in, his heart beating rapidly.Zh: 他是一名充满激情的科技创业者，对创新有着无限的热爱。En: He was a passionate tech entrepreneur with an endless love for innovation.Zh: 今天，他们要在这里参加一场创业比赛，这是一个获得创业基金的机会。En: Today, they were here to participate in a startup competition, an opportunity to secure startup funding.Zh: 李伟的身边是他的朋友兼商业伙伴小宁。En: By Li Wei's side was his friend and business partner, Xiao Ning.Zh: 小宁是个务实的支持者，总能在关键时刻给出有用的建议和支持。En: Xiao Ning was a pragmatic supporter, always able to provide useful advice and support at critical moments.Zh: 然而，李伟心中有些忐忑。En: However, Li Wei was a bit uneasy.Zh: 他知道今天的竞争很激烈，其他团队的项目也都很出色。En: He knew the competition was fierce today, and the other teams' projects were also outstanding.Zh: 他担心自己的演讲不够特别，无法吸引评委们的注意力。En: He worried that his presentation might not be special enough to capture the judges' attention.Zh: 比赛开始，李伟和小宁站在他们的展台前。En: The competition began, and Li Wei and Xiao Ning stood in front of their booth.Zh: 李伟深吸一口气，他的计划是通过一次精彩的现场展示打动评委。En: Li Wei took a deep breath, planning to impress the judges with a brilliant live demonstration.Zh: 可是，就在准备开始时，他们的幻灯片突然出现了技术故障，无法播放。En: But just as they were about to start, their slideshow suddenly encountered a technical glitch and couldn't play.Zh: 李伟感到一阵慌乱，汗水从额头流下。En: Li Wei felt a wave of panic, as sweat trickled down his forehead.Zh: 这时，小宁轻轻拍拍李伟的肩膀，小声说道：“别慌，告诉他们我们的故事。”En: At this moment, Xiao Ning gently patted Li Wei on the shoulder and whispered, "Don't panic, tell them our story."Zh: 李伟点点头，深吸一口气，把手放下，抬起头来面对评委席。En: Li Wei nodded, took a deep breath, lowered his hand, and looked up to face the judges.Zh: “尊敬的评委们，大家好！”李伟开始即兴发挥。En: "Honorable judges, hello everyone!" Li Wei began to improvise.Zh: 他放弃了复杂的技术术语，转而讲述这个项目能为人们生活带来的美好改变。En: He abandoned complex technical jargon and instead talked about the positive changes their project could bring to people's lives.Zh: 他描述了一些真实的故事，讲述他们的产品如何帮助了一些无家可归者找到住处，以及如何通过技术使那些渴望学习的孩子获得教育资源。En: He described some real stories, explaining how their product helped some homeless people find shelter and how technology enabled eager-to-learn children to access educational resources.Zh: 他的故事非常感人，整个大厅里只有他的声音，评委们安静地聆听。En: His story was very moving, and the entire hall was filled only with his voice as the judges listened intently.Zh: 李伟的演讲结束时，一片掌声响起，这掌声让他感受到无与伦比的力量。En: When Li Wei's speech concluded, applause erupted, giving him an unparalleled sense of strength.Zh: 比赛结果揭晓，虽然李伟和小宁没有获得第一名，但他们的项目赢得了一项特别创新表彰，并被邀请参加一个重要的导师项目。En: The results of the competition were announced, and although Li Wei and Xiao Ning didn't win first place, their project received a special innovation award and an invitation to participate in a significant mentorship program.Zh: 这一切超出了他们的预期。En: This exceeded their expectations.Zh: 在离开孵化器时，李伟对小宁说道：“我今天学到了，适应能力比我以为的重要得多。”En: As they left the incubator, Li Wei said to Xiao Ning, "I learned today that adaptability is more important than I thought."Zh: 小宁微笑着点头：“是啊，有时候，人们更关注你的故事，而不是技术本身。”En: Xiao Ning nodded with a smile, "Yes, sometimes people care more about your story than the technology itself."Zh: 在这个冬天的早晨，李伟发现了自己新的可能性。En: On this winter morning, Li Wei discovered new possibilities within himself.Zh: 带着无比的信心和对未来的憧憬，他和小宁一起走向新的一天。En: With immense confidence and an eagerness for the future, he and Xiao Ning walked into a new day together. Vocabulary Words:incubator: 孵化器anticipation: 期待entrepreneurs: 创业者showcase: 展示adorned: 挂满fierce: 激烈outstanding: 出色presentation: 演讲demonstration: 展示glitch: 故障wave: 一阵patted: 拍拍abandoned: 放弃jargon: 术语enable: 使intently: 专注地applause: 掌声unparalleled: 无与伦比mentorship: 导师apped: 准competition: 比赛innovation: 创新pragmatic: 务实adaptability: 适应能力immense: 无比confidence: 信心eagerness: 渴望spacious: 宽敞modern: 现代critical: 关键

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Startup Sparks: A Christmas Eve Pitch That Changed Everything Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-16-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个寒冷的冬日，城市的天空灰蒙蒙的，气温降得很低。En: On a cold winter day, the city's sky was gray and the temperature dropped significantly.Zh: 然而，在这座现代的创业孵化器内，却充满了热情和希望。En: However, inside this modern incubator, there was an atmosphere of enthusiasm and hope.Zh: 圣诞节的装饰让整个房间显得更为温馨，绿意点缀着科技的冷色调。En: The Christmas decorations made the entire room feel cozier, with greenery softening the cool tones of technology.Zh: 梅和陈坐在他们的办公桌旁，眉头紧锁。En: Mei and Chen sat by their desks, their brows furrowed.Zh: 梅是一位聪明而乐观的技术开发者，她对创新充满了热情，但内心深处害怕失败。En: Mei was a smart and optimistic tech developer, passionate about innovation but deeply afraid of failure.Zh: 陈是一个注重策略的思考者，实际而沉稳，但他对他们的创业计划能否成功心存疑虑。En: Chen was a strategic thinker, practical and steady, yet he doubted whether their startup plan would succeed.Zh: 他们的目标很明确：在新年到来之前，获得足够的资金支持，以维持他们的健康科技初创公司的运营。En: Their goal was clear: to secure enough funding before the New Year to maintain the operation of their health tech startup.Zh: 然而，形势不容乐观。En: However, the situation was not optimistic.Zh: 市场竞争激烈，投资者对他们的产品能否大规模推广持怀疑态度。En: The market competition was fierce, and investors were skeptical about the mass adoption of their product.Zh: 此时，节日的临近使得会议和决策的速度放缓，这给他们的计划增加了不小的难度。En: With the holiday season approaching, the speed of meetings and decisions slowed down, adding significant difficulty to their plans.Zh: 梅大胆地提出，要在平安夜亲自向一位潜在的重要投资者展示他们的原型机，用实力说话。En: Mei boldly proposed showcasing their prototype to a potential major investor on Christmas Eve, letting their work speak for itself.Zh: 陈非常支持她的决定，但同时他感到了巨大的压力，担心如果他们失败了，后果将会很严重。En: Chen fully supported her decision but simultaneously felt immense pressure, fearing the serious consequences if they failed.Zh: 到了平安夜，他们站在一排白板前，上面画满了各种图表。En: On Christmas Eve, they stood in front of a row of whiteboards filled with various charts.Zh: 在喧闹的创业孵化器中，梅和陈准备展示他们的心血。En: In the bustling incubator, Mei and Chen were ready to present their hard work.Zh: 初次展示时，他们的原型机忽然出现了问题，这让投资者的兴趣明显减弱。En: During the initial presentation, their prototype suddenly encountered problems, noticeably reducing the investor's interest.Zh: 梅用她出色的解决问题能力，迅速开始现场排查故障。En: Mei, with her excellent problem-solving skills, quickly began troubleshooting the issue on the spot.Zh: 与此同时，陈用充满激情的话语解释他们的愿景和产品的潜在影响力。En: Meanwhile, Chen passionately explained their vision and the potential impact of their product.Zh: 他那真诚和坚定的声音再次激起了投资者的兴趣。En: His sincere and firm voice reawakened the investor's interest.Zh: 经过一番努力，问题终于被解决，原型机顺利运行。En: After much effort, the issue was finally resolved, and the prototype ran smoothly.Zh: 投资者不仅被他们的聪明才智打动，也被他们的毅力与理想所感动。En: The investor was not only impressed by their ingenuity but also moved by their perseverance and ideals.Zh: 最终，投资者决定支持这对充满激情和潜力的创业者。En: In the end, the investor decided to support this passionate and promising pair of entrepreneurs.Zh: 他承诺提供资金，帮助他们实现革命性的健康科技梦想。En: He promised to provide funding to help them realize their revolutionary health tech dreams.Zh: 圣诞节的灯火亮起，喜悦的火花在梅和陈的心中闪烁。En: As the Christmas lights lit up, sparks of joy flickered in Mei and Chen's hearts.Zh: 梅对自己的能力有了更多的信心，而陈也学会了相信他们的共同目标，并相信他们能够克服任何障碍。En: Mei gained more confidence in her abilities, and Chen learned to trust their shared goal and believed they could overcome any obstacle.Zh: 冰雪虽寒，但梦想温暖，他们在这条艰难而美好的路上，坚定地走了下去。En: Though the ice and snow were cold, dreams were warm, and they resolutely continued on this challenging yet beautiful path. Vocabulary Words:incubator: 孵化器enthusiasm: 热情cozy: 温馨furrowed: 紧锁optimistic: 乐观innovation: 创新strategic: 策略的succeed: 成功fierce: 激烈skeptical: 怀疑的adoption: 推广troubleshooting: 排查故障impact: 影响力sincere: 真诚ingenuity: 聪明才智perseverance: 毅力entrepreneurs: 创业者realize: 实现revolutionary: 革命性的overcome: 克服obstacle: 障碍prototype: 原型机firm: 坚定resolve: 解决investor: 投资者charts: 图表operation: 运营doubt: 心存疑虑significantly: 显著pressure: 压力

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Lanterns of Love: A Sibling Bond Amidst Zhangjiajie Mystique Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-15-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在冬至这天，梁和梅开车驶入了张家界国家森林公园。En: On the day of the winter solstice, Liang and Mei drove into Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.Zh: 车窗外，巨大的砂岩柱在冬日薄雾中显得神秘而美丽。En: Outside the car window, the giant sandstone pillars appeared mysterious and beautiful in the winter's light mist.Zh: 这里的景色像极了仙境，令人生出温柔的敬畏。En: The scenery here was akin to a fairyland, inspiring a gentle awe.Zh: “哥，我们到哪儿了？”梅望着窗外，轻声问道。En: "Brother, where have we arrived?" Mei asked softly, looking outside the window.Zh: 她的声音中夹杂着一丝颤抖。En: Her voice carried a slight tremble.Zh: “快到了。”梁回答，眼神专注地看着前方的道路。En: "We're almost there," Liang replied, his eyes focused on the road ahead.Zh: 他今晚原本打算载梅去一个特别的地方，一起庆祝冬至。En: Tonight, he originally planned to take Mei to a special place to celebrate the winter solstice together.Zh: 路上的沉默像是一道无形的障碍。En: The silence on the road felt like an invisible barrier.Zh: 自从他们的父亲去世后，这种障碍一直横亘在兄妹之间。En: Since their father's passing, this barrier had always existed between the siblings.Zh: 他们终于抵达了目的地，一个能远眺整个峡谷的平台。En: They finally reached their destination, a platform offering a panoramic view of the entire canyon.Zh: 雪轻轻地铺满大地，洁白无瑕。En: Snow gently covered the ground, pristine and spotless.Zh: 梅环视四周，深吸一口气，试图消解胸中的压抑。En: Mei looked around, taking a deep breath in an attempt to dissolve the oppression in her chest.Zh: 梁走到她身边，声音温和地说：“梅，我们可以点个灯笼，为爸祈愿。”En: Liang walked up to her and said gently, "Mei, we can light a lantern to send our wishes to Dad."Zh: 梅犹豫了一会儿。En: Mei hesitated for a moment.Zh: 她对父亲的去世感到无所适从，不知道如何面对。En: She felt lost over their father's death, unsure of how to face it.Zh: 但最终，还是点了头。En: But in the end, she nodded.Zh: “好，我想这样做。”她用低柔的语调答应了。En: "Okay, I want to do that," she agreed in a soft tone.Zh: 梁从车里拿出准备好的纸灯笼和火柴。En: Liang took out the prepared paper lantern and matches from the car.Zh: 他们点燃灯笼，小心翼翼地将火苗送入天际。En: They lit the lantern, carefully sending the flame into the sky.Zh: “爸会希望我们好好的。”梁忽然开口，他声音有些沙哑。En: "Dad would want us to be well," Liang suddenly said, his voice a bit hoarse.Zh: 梅点头，眼眶红了。En: Mei nodded, her eyes reddening.Zh: 她也想起了父亲温暖的笑容，以及他对他们兄妹的爱。En: She, too, remembered their father's warm smile and his love for them.Zh: “我希望我们以后能聊聊，好吗？”梁转头看着妹妹，流露出坦诚。En: "I hope we can talk more in the future, okay?" Liang turned to look at his sister, showing sincerity.Zh: 梅擦了擦眼泪，勉强笑了笑：“好，哥。”En: Mei wiped her tears and forced a smile: "Okay, brother."Zh: 这时，灯笼已经越飞越高，慢慢消失在夜空中。En: By now, the lantern had flown higher and higher, slowly disappearing into the night sky.Zh: 兄妹俩手握着手，心中多了份轻松。En: The siblings held hands, feeling a sense of relief.Zh: 他们知道这份记忆和牵挂永远不会消失。En: They knew this memory and the bond would never fade.Zh: 在张家界这片宁静壮丽的冬日之景中，梁和梅彼此依靠着，感受到了一种从未有过的温暖。En: In the tranquil and magnificent winter scenery of Zhangjiajie, Liang and Mei leaned on each other, feeling a warmth never felt before.Zh: 家人之间，即便不在身边，爱意仍在飘荡，像点燃的灯笼，永远引导着他们向前。En: Among family, even when not by their side, love continues to linger, like the lit lantern, forever guiding them forward. Vocabulary Words:solstice: 冬至sandstone: 砂岩mysterious: 神秘akin: 像极了awe: 敬畏barrier: 障碍pristine: 洁白无瑕hesitated: 犹豫oppression: 压抑lantern: 灯笼matches: 火柴hoarse: 沙哑sincerity: 坦诚faded: 消失relief: 轻松tranquil: 宁静magnitude: 壮丽linger: 飘荡guiding: 引导tremble: 颤抖focused: 专注silence: 沉默platform: 平台canyon: 峡谷panoramic: 远眺spotless: 无瑕flame: 火苗reddening: 红了smile: 笑容oppression: 压抑

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Illuminate Your Journey: Love and Dreams at Yuyuan Lanterns Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-15-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 夜色笼罩着上海，豫园的灯笼节如梦如幻。En: The night enveloped Shanghai, and the lantern festival at Yuyuan Garden felt like a scene out of a dream.Zh: 五颜六色的灯笼在古老的建筑间轻轻摇曳，映出一片温暖的光芒。En: Colorful lanterns swayed gently among the ancient buildings, casting a warm glow.Zh: 每年这个时候，豫园总是被满满的欢笑声和喧闹声填满。En: At this time every year, Yuyuan Garden was always filled with laughter and the sound of joy.Zh: 美琳站在桥边，双眼流连于眼前的光影。En: Meilin stood by the bridge, her eyes lingering on the play of light before her.Zh: 她是一位年轻的画家，总在寻找灵感。En: She was a young painter, always in search of inspiration.Zh: 忽然，她发现头顶上方飘过一个红色的灯笼，慢慢地升向空中。En: Suddenly, she noticed a red lantern floating overhead, slowly rising into the sky.Zh: 这一刻，她心中有了一幅美妙的画。En: At that moment, a beautiful image formed in her mind.Zh: 就在此时，金海出现了。En: Just then, Jinhai appeared.Zh: 他是个忙碌的商人，生活中总是有条有理，但却很少有时间品味生活的简单乐趣。En: He was a busy businessman, always living life in a well-organized manner but rarely pausing to enjoy life's simple pleasures.Zh: 他也被这美丽的场景吸引住了。En: He, too, was captivated by the beautiful scene.Zh: “这里真美，不是吗？”他笑着对美琳说。En: "It's really beautiful here, isn't it?" he said, smiling to Meilin.Zh: 美琳回过头，看到金海那真诚的笑容，点点头，“是啊，这里的灯笼就像画中一样。”En: Meilin turned around and saw Jinhai's sincere smile and nodded, "Yes, the lanterns here are like those in a painting."Zh: 他们随意聊了起来，美琳感到一种久违的自在。En: They began to chat casually, and Meilin felt a long-lost sense of ease.Zh: 然而，随着话题的深入，她隐隐感到金海的生活与自己的世界截然不同。En: However, as their conversation deepened, she sensed that Jinhai's life was vastly different from her own world.Zh: 他的生活节奏那么快，令美琳感到有些不安。En: His fast-paced life made her feel slightly uneasy.Zh: 金海看到她的犹疑，微微叹了口气。En: Jinhai noticed her hesitation and sighed softly.Zh: 他知道自己的生活有些严肃，缺少乐趣。En: He was aware that his life was somewhat serious, lacking in fun.Zh: 这次偶遇让他意识到或许生活中也应该多些即兴和艺术。En: This chance encounter made him realize that perhaps life should include more spontaneity and art.Zh: “你想和我一起逛逛吗？”美琳鼓足勇气问道。En: "Would you like to take a walk with me?" Meilin mustered the courage to ask.Zh: 金海思索片刻，然后微笑道：“好啊。我很想看看艺术家的视角。”En: Jinhai thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Sure. I'd love to see from an artist's perspective."Zh: 两人慢慢走在灯笼下，银色月光映在他们身上。En: The two walked slowly under the lanterns as the silver moonlight illuminated them.Zh: 美琳指着一只挂得很高的灯笼，说那是她今晚最想画的东西。En: Meilin pointed to a lantern hanging high above, saying it was the object she most wanted to paint that night.Zh: 金海则说起他小时候的故事，如何幻想有一天能像灯笼一样飞向天空。En: Jinhai, in turn, shared stories from his childhood about how he dreamed of one day flying into the sky like a lantern.Zh: 两人走过古桥，穿过园中曲折的小径，仿佛置身于一个神话世界。En: They crossed ancient bridges and wandered through winding paths in the garden, as if they were in a mythical world.Zh: 在这闪烁的灯光下，他们开始谈论各自心中的梦想和追求。En: Under the twinkling lights, they began to discuss their dreams and aspirations.Zh: “有时候，我们的生活可以平衡起来，”美琳说。En: "Sometimes, our lives can find a balance," Meilin said.Zh: “如果可以兼顾就好了，”金海答道。En: "It would be great if we could manage that," Jinhai replied.Zh: 在灯笼下，他们分享了一瞬间的感悟。En: Under the lanterns, they shared a moment of insight.Zh: 艺术与生活可以共融，责任与梦想可以共存。En: Art and life can blend, responsibilities and dreams can coexist.Zh: “我们可以再见面吗？”金海问。En: "Can we meet again?" Jinhai asked.Zh: 美琳笑着点头，“当然，我很乐意。”En: Meilin nodded with a smile, "Of course, I'd love to."Zh: 他们互换了联系方式，心中都有一丝丝的激动。En: They exchanged contact information, each feeling a hint of excitement.Zh: 美琳发现，自己能更自信地和别人交流了。En: Meilin found herself more confident in communicating with others.Zh: 金海也意识到，原来生活中即兴的快乐是多么宝贵。En: Jinhai realized the value of impromptu joys in life.Zh: 豫园的灯光渐渐暗淡，但他们心中的光芒却一直闪耀着，En: The lights of Yuyuan Garden gradually dimmed, but the light in their hearts continued to shine brightly.Zh: 两人携手向园外走去，心中抱着对未来的遐想。En: Together, they walked out of the garden hand in hand, harboring dreams for the future.Zh: 故事虽短，却描绘了一幅美丽的图景，一段新起的旅程就此开始。En: Though the story was short, it painted a beautiful picture, marking the beginning of a new journey. Vocabulary Words:enveloped: 笼罩lantern: 灯笼swayed: 摇曳lingering: 流连painting: 画家inspiration: 灵感overhead: 头顶上方scene: 场景sincere: 真诚casually: 随意hesitation: 犹疑mustered: 鼓足perspective: 视角illuminated: 映winding: 曲折aspirations: 追求balance: 平衡coexist: 共存impromptu: 即兴exchanged: 互换captivated: 吸引spontaneity: 即兴dimmed: 暗淡harboring: 抱mythical: 神话potential: 潜力nodded: 点头splendor: 辉煌garden: 园fascinate: 吸引

Today's Episode:Eating alone is becoming more popular in China. In this episode, we talk about 一人食 — what it means, why young people choose it, and why eating alone doesn't always mean being lonely. Simple Chinese, real life, real culture.Membership Preview:How do you say “I want to be alone” in natural Chinese? In next MaoMi Chinese+ episode, you'll learn many gentle, polite ways to say it — with simple sentences, slow explanations, and lots of examples you can actually use.Support MaoMi & Get exclusive   to premium content!https://www.buzzsprout.com/1426696/subscribe ↗️Transcript and translations are available on https://maomichinese.comInterested in any topics? Leave me a message on: https://maomichinese.com or https://www.instagram.com/maomichinese/?hl=en*Please note that Spotify does not support the membership program.Text me what you think :)Support the show

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Winter Bonds: A Sibling Journey on the Great Wall Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-14-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 长城在冬天有一种特别的魅力。En: The Changcheng has a special charm in the winter.Zh: 白雪轻轻躺在墙头，仿佛给这历史悠久的建筑披上了一层洁白的披风。En: The white snow gently lies on the walls, as if draping a white cloak over this ancient structure.Zh: 在这个冬至节，连和她的哥哥伟决定来到这里旅行。En: On this Dongzhi Festival, Lian and her brother Wei decided to travel here.Zh: 对连来说，这不仅是一次简单的旅行，更是一个修复与哥哥感情的机会。En: For Lian, it was not just a simple trip; it was an opportunity to mend her relationship with her brother.Zh: 连满怀期待地看着伟，但他一直盯着手机，手指在屏幕上飞快地滑动。En: Lian looked at Wei with anticipation, but he kept staring at his phone, his fingers swiftly sliding across the screen.Zh: 他正忙着处理工作邮件，对连的盛情视而不见。En: He was busy dealing with work emails, ignoring Lian's enthusiasm.Zh: 连知道伟是个工作狂，但她希望在这个特别的节日里，能够让他停下脚步，享受与家人共度的时光。En: Lian knew Wei was a workaholic, but she hoped that during this special holiday, he could pause and enjoy time with family.Zh: 为了引起伟的注意，连决定带他来到一个长城上著名的景点。En: To catch Wei's attention, Lian decided to take him to a famous spot on the Great Wall.Zh: 这里景色壮丽，既能让人忘记城市的喧嚣，也是重温历史的好地方。En: The scenery here is magnificent, capable of making one forget the noise of the city and a good place to revisit history.Zh: 伟勉强答应了，心不在焉地收起了手机。En: Wei reluctantly agreed, absentmindedly putting away his phone.Zh: 他们沿着蜿蜒的长城缓缓前行。En: They slowly walked along the winding Great Wall.Zh: 寒风呼啸，但连心里却是温暖的。En: The cold wind howled, but Lian felt warm inside.Zh: 忽然，天空中降下了雪花，开始时零零落落，不久后便化作一场雪暴。En: Suddenly, snowflakes began to fall from the sky, sparse at first, but soon turned into a snowstorm.Zh: 大雪遮蔽了视线，脚下的路变得滑溜不堪。En: The heavy snow obscured their vision, and the path beneath their feet became treacherously slippery.Zh: 连和伟必须携手合作，找到安全的回程路。En: Lian and Wei had to work together to find a safe way back.Zh: 在这一刻，伟放下了他的手机，专注地帮助连。En: At that moment, Wei put down his phone and focused on helping Lian.Zh: 他用手护着连的肩，指引着她小心前行。En: He sheltered her shoulder with his hand, guiding her carefully forward.Zh: 一路上，他们并肩而行，彼此靠近，渐渐找回了昔日的亲密。En: Along the way, they walked side by side, drawing closer to each other, gradually rekindling their old closeness.Zh: 最终，他们安全地回到了避风处。En: Eventually, they safely returned to a sheltered place.Zh: 夜幕降临，连和伟围坐在餐桌前，共享节日的团圆汤圆。En: As night fell, Lian and Wei sat around the table, sharing the holiday reunion tangyuan.Zh: 甜甜的汤圆象征着团圆，连微笑着对伟说：“试着多和家人在一起，也许会发现其中的快乐。”En: The sweet tangyuan symbolized reunion, and Lian smiled at Wei and said, “Try to spend more time with family, and maybe you'll find joy in it.”Zh: 伟点了点头，若有所思地回答：“也许工作不是一切。”En: Wei nodded thoughtfully and replied, “Maybe work isn't everything.”Zh: 这个冬至夜，连和伟在讲述过去的故事中，重新找到了彼此。En: On this Winter Solstice night, Lian and Wei found each other again through stories of the past.Zh: 他们明白，家人才是人生中最重要的陪伴，哪怕在寒冷的冬天，也能带来温暖。En: They understood that family is the most important companionship in life, bringing warmth even in the coldest winter.Zh: 通过这次长城之旅，连收获了表达自己的勇气，而伟领悟到了家庭的重要。En: Through this trip to the Great Wall, Lian gained the courage to express herself, and Wei realized the importance of family.Zh: 就这样，在灯火明亮的屋内，她和哥哥一起迎来了一个温暖的冬至节。En: Thus, in the brightly lit house, she and her brother welcomed a warm Winter Solstice together. Vocabulary Words:charm: 魅力draping: 披上ancient: 历史悠久的anticipation: 期待swiftly: 飞快地workaholic: 工作狂magnificent: 壮丽absentmindedly: 心不在焉地winding: 蜿蜒的howled: 呼啸obscured: 遮蔽treacherously: 滑溜不堪sheltered: 避风处gradually: 渐渐rekindling: 找回tangyuan: 汤圆symbolized: 象征着joy: 快乐thoughtfully: 若有所思地companionship: 陪伴courage: 勇气express: 表达lit: 明亮snowscape: 雪景trek: 旅行relationship: 感情swift: 迅速的leisure: 休闲sentiment: 情感perspective: 视角

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: A Frosty Festival of Friendship: Li Na's Winter Quest Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-14-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 山村上冬的气氛已经很浓厚，空气中弥漫着松木的清香和远处壁炉的烟雾味。En: In the mountain village, the atmosphere of winter was already very strong, with the air filled with the fresh scent of pine wood and the smoky aroma from distant fireplaces.Zh: 村里的人们忙着为冬至节做准备。En: The villagers were busy preparing for the Dongzhi Festival.Zh: 李娜，是一位充满活力的年轻女子，总是对这个节日充满期待。En: Li Na, a vibrant young woman, always looked forward to this festival.Zh: 她想借此机会好好庆祝，但是内心却希望能够给多年前没见过的老朋友严留下美好的印象。En: She wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate properly, but in her heart, she hoped to leave a good impression on her old friend Yan, whom she hadn't seen for years.Zh: 这天早晨，李娜戴上暖和的围巾，走出家门。En: That morning, Li Na put on a warm scarf and stepped out of her house.Zh: 她要去村里的小店寻找节日装饰。En: She was heading to the village's little shop to look for festival decorations.Zh: 村里的冬天特别冷，厚厚的雪覆盖着地面。En: The winter in the village was particularly cold, with thick snow covering the ground.Zh: 她走进小店，发现里面的装饰品已经所剩无几了。En: She entered the shop and found that the decorations were already scarce.Zh: 由于大雪阻碍了货物的运输，选择很有限。En: Due to the heavy snow hindering the transportation of goods, the choices were very limited.Zh: 其他村民们也在挑选，不久就将余下的几样买走了。En: Other villagers were also picking out items, and soon the remaining decorations were quickly bought.Zh: 李娜心想：“这样下去，怎么能办好节日聚会呢？En: Li Na thought to herself, "At this rate, how can I hold a good festival gathering?"Zh: ”她下定决心，尽管天气寒冷，她还是要去附近的小镇看看。En: She resolved that despite the cold weather, she would go to the nearby town to have a look.Zh: 她希望能买到更独特的装饰品。En: She hoped to find more unique decorations.Zh: 她冒着风雪，一步步走向小镇。En: Braving the wind and snow, she took steps toward the small town.Zh: 在小镇上，李娜果然找到了许多漂亮的装饰品。En: In the town, as expected, Li Na found many beautiful decorations.Zh: 有彩色的灯笼，还有挂着吉祥图案的窗花。En: There were colorful lanterns and window ornaments with auspicious patterns.Zh: 她心满意足地挑选了一袋装饰品，准备返回村庄。En: Satisfied, she selected a bag of decorations and prepared to return to the village.Zh: 可就在这时，天空忽然飘起了大雪。En: Just then, heavy snow began to fall from the sky.Zh: 李娜艰难地踏上归途，风雪越来越大，她把围巾裹得更紧。En: Li Na struggled on her way back, as the wind and snow intensified.Zh: 她必须要在节日前赶回去，因为大家都在等待庆祝冬至节，她不想让家人和村民失望，也希望看到严对她努力的肯定。En: She wrapped her scarf tighter.Zh: 终于，李娜冒着风雪回到了村庄。En: She had to return before the festival because everyone was waiting to celebrate the Dongzhi Festival, and she didn't want to disappoint her family and fellow villagers.Zh: 她捧着一袋装饰品，村民们看到她的到来都非常开心。En: She also hoped to see Yan acknowledge her efforts.Zh: 大家一起帮她布置，村子立刻变得灯火辉煌。En: Finally, Li Na made her way back to the village through the wind and snow.Zh: 冬至节的气氛愈发热烈。En: As she held a bag of decorations, the villagers were very happy to see her arrive.Zh: 当晚，大家围坐在装饰着灯火的院子里，欢声笑语。En: Everyone helped her set up, and the village quickly lit up with a brilliant glow.Zh: 严特意走到李娜面前，对她说：“你的付出让这个节日更加特别。En: The atmosphere of the Dongzhi Festival grew even more lively.Zh: ”李娜的脸上露出了欣慰的微笑。En: That evening, everyone sat around in a courtyard decorated with lights, filled with laughter and joy.Zh: 通过这次经历，李娜明白了，不仅仅是装饰品能带来节日的快乐，更多的是努力和坚持的暖意。En: Yan specially approached Li Na and said, “Your efforts have made this festival more special.” A relieved smile appeared on Li Na's face.Zh: 村民们的笑脸就是对她最大的肯定。En: Through this experience, Li Na understood that it wasn't just the decorations that brought joy to the festival, but more so the warmth of effort and perseverance.Zh: 而严对她的赞美，更加坚定了她的信心。En: The smiling faces of the villagers were the greatest affirmation for her, and Yan's praise further strengthened her confidence.Zh: 冬至的夜晚，月亮高挂，雪地反射着微微光芒，整个村庄显得格外宁静而美丽。En: On the night of the Dongzhi, the moon hung high, the snow reflecting its faint light, making the entire village appear particularly tranquil and beautiful. Vocabulary Words:atmosphere: 气氛scent: 清香aroma: 烟雾味vibrant: 充满活力impression: 印象scarce: 所剩无几hinder: 阻碍resolve: 下定决心unique: 独特struggled: 艰难intensified: 越来越大acknowledge: 肯定perseverance: 坚持affirmation: 肯定tranquil: 宁静distant: 远处fireplaces: 壁炉prepare: 做准备celebrate: 庆祝decorate: 布置brave: 冒着auspicious: 吉祥courtyard: 院子laughter: 欢笑efforts: 付出praise: 赞美gathering: 聚会perseverance: 坚持reflection: 反射decorations: 装饰品

Born in Taiwan, raised in Austria, and educated in Europe and America, Pianist Jenny Lin has built a vibrant international career, notable for innovative collaborations with a range of artists and creators. In recent seasons, Jenny has performances – both digital, and in person – for Washington Performing Arts; at Hudson Hall performing the American premiere of William Bolcom's Suite of Preludes; at Boston Conservatory's piano series; at Little Island in NYC; and at Winnipeg New Music Festival. She now serves as director of music for The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC.Recently, she performed a recital of Philip Glass's music for the Morris Museum – a continuation of a close collaboration with Glass, with whom she has appeared regularly since 2014.  This experience has inspired the creation of her own commissioning initiative, The Etudes Project, in which she works with a range of living composers to create new technical piano etudes, pairing each new piece with an existing etude from the classical canon.  Her catalogue includes more than 50 albums.A passionate advocate for education, Jenny created “Melody's Mostly Musical Day“, a musical album and picture book for children, following the adventures of an imaginative little girl from breakfast to bedtime, told in a collection of 26 classical piano works from Mozart to Gershwin.  We'll hear some of these in this episode.Fluent in English, German, Mandarin, and French, Jenny Lin studied Noel Flores at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, with Julian Martin at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, and with Dominique Weber in Geneva. She has also worked with Leon Fleisher, Richard Goode, and Blanca Uribe, and at Italy's Fondazione Internazionale per il pianoforte with Dimitri Bashkirov and Andreas Staier. In addition to her musical studies, Lin holds a bachelor's degree in German Literature from The Johns Hopkins University. Jenny Lin currently resides with her family in New York City and serves on the faculty of Mannes College The New School for Music.

How Strategic Thinking Transforms Leadership: Insights from Charlie CursonIn this episode, host Josh Elledge speaks with Charlie Curson, strategist, leadership coach, author, and Founder & Director of Mandarin Associates. Their conversation explores the deeper meaning of strategic thinking—beyond planning—and reveals how leaders can elevate their impact through self-awareness, open-mindedness, creativity, and influence. This blog distills Charlie's most valuable insights, showing professionals how to approach leadership with greater clarity, adaptability, and long-term strategic focus.Building a Stronger Strategic Mindset for Modern LeadershipCharlie Curson explains that strategy is fundamentally different from planning—planning is about predictability and control, while strategy is about making courageous, future-focused choices. He emphasizes that real strategy begins with self-awareness, helping leaders understand their own biases, beliefs, and behaviors so they can make decisions from a place of clarity rather than fear or habit. Without this foundation, even the smartest plans fail to address the real levers that drive performance and growth within organizations.Charlie also shares how open-mindedness and critical thinking shape effective strategy. Leaders must actively challenge assumptions, invite diverse perspectives, and create environments where constructive disagreement can surface the best ideas. Creativity plays an equally vital role—too often, “strategy” becomes a recycled version of last year's plan, but true strategic thinking requires imagining new possibilities, exploring different futures, and generating innovative pathways to achieve meaningful outcomes.Finally, Charlie highlights the importance of communication and influence in scaling the impact of strategy. Even the strongest strategic insights collapse without team alignment and buy-in. By co-creating strategy with their teams, communicating with clarity, and fostering open dialogue, leaders can translate ideas into action. He encourages leaders to embrace uncertainty, experiment early, and treat every new initiative as a learning opportunity—allowing strategy to evolve dynamically as the business landscape shifts.About Charlie CursonCharlie Curson is a strategist, leadership coach, speaker, and author of Be More Strategic: 12 Essential Practices to Build the Life and Career You Want. He is the Founder and Director of Mandarin Associates, where he helps organizations develop strategic thinking capabilities, improve leadership effectiveness, and foster high-performing cultures. Connect with Charlie on LinkedIn.About Mandarin AssociatesMandarin Associates provides strategic consulting, coaching, leadership development, and facilitation services for global organizations. Their work centers on helping teams think more strategically, improve communication, and create purposeful, aligned results across all levels of leadership.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeCharlie Curson on LinkedIn ProfileMandarin Associates WebsiteKey Episode HighlightsStrategy is about choices, not control or comfortSelf-awareness is the foundation of strategic leadershipOpen-mindedness and diverse perspectives improve decision-makingCreativity enables leaders to imagine new futures and opportunitiesCommunication and influence determine...

“Is your grocery cart blocking the aisle, or are you the one laying on the horn the second the light turns green?”