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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

Yu Qing can't stop talking about her new favorite sport! Zhang Li is surprised at first, but then realizes: “Oh! That's super popular in China lately!” —————————————————————————————————安娜：你在想什么？高月：我在想今晚我们吃什么好？安娜：不用想了，我们去吃自助火锅吧。你觉得呢？高月：自助火锅？安娜：嗯，对。两人行，一人免单。高月：喔？我怎么不知道。好啊！安娜：我朋友告诉我的。高月：我也想吃火锅了！—————————————————————————————————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!Not using these features yet? Open our app or visit maayot.com and explore everything your Mandarin journey needs.Want to join maayot.com for more real-life conversations? 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 !

We're going full Cena on today's show! · Cena x Rogan: 3-hour deep dive—philosophy, controversy, and surprises · SNME Showdown: Cena vs. Gunther—five moves of doom or tap out? Plus: · Pete Alonso leaves the Mets · Stern vs. Kim K · Andy Dick drama · Cena speaks Mandarin (and sparks backlash) · White guy rap gimmicks · Did Trainwreck change Cena's Hollywood game? · WWE done touring? · Who is iShowSpeed? · Vince McMahon on Rogan? · Did LA Knight get buried? · Groo loves old AC/DC · Moody recommends Marines on Netflix Next up: Tulsa King Season 3 Wrap-Up Rip 'Em!

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Solstice Ties: A Family's Journey to Harmony and Understanding Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-13-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 窗外飘着雪，屋内暖意融融。En: Snow was falling outside, while indoors it was warm and cozy.Zh: 梅围着围裙，忙着准备冬至家宴。En: Mei, wearing an apron, was busy preparing the winter solstice family feast.Zh: 她是姐姐，觉得自己有责任让家人保持在一起。En: As the elder sister, she felt it was her responsibility to keep the family together.Zh: 妹妹莲在房间里，离厨房远远的。En: Her younger sister, Lian, was in her room, far from the kitchen.Zh: 她不喜欢按照传统过节，而哥哥建远在国外工作，这次梅特意邀请他参加冬至团圆饭。En: She didn't like celebrating holidays according to tradition, and their brother, Jianyuan, was working abroad.Zh: En: This time, Mei specifically invited him to join the winter solstice reunion dinner.Zh: 梅打了一个电话给建：“哥，今年冬至回来吧？大家都很想你。”En: Mei made a phone call to Jian, “Bro, come back for the winter solstice this year? Everyone misses you.”Zh: 建犹豫了一下，点了头说：“好吧，我请假试试。”En: Jian hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, I'll try to take leave."Zh: 莲则不愿意参与，她觉得这些都是老一辈的期待。En: Lian was unwilling to participate; she felt these were just the expectations of the older generation.Zh: 梅走到她面前，轻声说：“你可以不用穿传统服装，这次更随意些。”En: Mei approached her and softly said, “You don't have to wear traditional clothing this time, be more casual.”Zh: 莲看着姐姐，勉强地点了头，但她心里还是有些不快。En: Lian looked at her sister and reluctantly nodded, but still felt a bit displeased inside.Zh: 终于到了冬至夜，梅的小家在皑皑白雪中显得格外温馨。En: Finally, it was winter solstice night, and Mei's small home appeared particularly warm amidst the snowy landscape.Zh: 桌上摆满了饺子、汤圆和各种传统菜肴。En: The table was filled with jiaozi, tangyuan, and various traditional dishes.Zh: 这是梅精心准备的，希望能让建和莲感到家的味道。En: These were carefully prepared by Mei, hoping to give Jian and Lian a taste of home.Zh: 饭桌上，大家一开始还挺和谐。En: At the dining table, everyone initially got along well.Zh: 梅努力调节气氛，不断地为大家夹菜。En: Mei tried hard to set the mood, continuously serving food to everyone.Zh: 突然，莲打破了沉默：“我们不应该老是这样回忆过去，做些无谓的期待吧？”En: Suddenly, Lian broke the silence, "Shouldn't we stop always reminiscing about the past and having pointless expectations?"Zh: 建也停下筷子，皱起眉头：“这就是我不喜欢回来的原因，每次都这样吵。”En: Jian also put down his chopsticks, frowning, "That's why I don't like coming back; it's always like this, arguing."Zh: 梅深吸一口气，她知道必须说些什么。En: Mei took a deep breath, knowing she had to say something.Zh: “我们是家人，过去的误会应该弄清楚。En: “We are family; past misunderstandings should be clarified.Zh: 我们都是在乎彼此的。”En: We all care about each other.”Zh: 在她的引导下，三人最终在灯下慢慢敞开了心扉，说出了心里的不满和期望。En: Guided by her, the three eventually opened up under the light, expressing their grievances and expectations.Zh: 是夜，虽有争吵，更多的是让彼此更加理解的沟通。En: Though there were arguments that night, there was also communication that led to better understanding.Zh: 家宴结束后，建说：“以后，我会尽量多回来。”En: After the family feast, Jian said, “In the future, I'll try to come back more often.”Zh: 莲也放下了心中的不满：“我会常联系，不是为了传统，而是因为我也想知道大家的生活。”En: Lian also let go of her discontent, “I'll keep in touch more, not because of tradition, but because I want to know about everyone's lives.”Zh: 梅松了一口气，她明白自己不能控制一切，但可以通过理解和耐心让家人走得更近。En: Mei breathed a sigh of relief, realizing she couldn't control everything, but through understanding and patience, she could bring the family closer together.Zh: 雪还在下，屋内却充满了温暖的笑声和尘封消融的情感。En: The snow continued to fall, but indoors, it was filled with warm laughter and feelings once sealed away melting away.Zh: 这个冬至夜，他们又多了一份理解，少了一份隔阂。En: This winter solstice night, they gained more understanding and lessened their estrangement. Vocabulary Words:solstice: 冬至apron: 围裙reunion: 团圆reluctantly: 勉强地displeased: 不快landscape: 风景jiaozi: 饺子tangyuan: 汤圆prepared: 准备的reminiscing: 回忆expectations: 期待chopsticks: 筷子frowning: 皱眉头grievances: 不满misundertandings: 误会estrangement: 隔阂harmony: 和谐patience: 耐心laughter: 笑声snowy: 皑皑白雪seal: 尘封mood: 气氛trepidation: 犹豫bonding: 结合illuminate: 敞开comprehension: 理解marrow: 深入tenacity: 顽强introspection: 反省nourishment: 滋养

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Rekindling Family Ties Under the Winter Solstice Moon Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-13-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬至的黄昏，飘着细细的雪花，明怀着复杂的心情走进了乡下的家。En: On the winter solstice evening, fine snowflakes were falling as Ming entered his rural home with a complicated heart.Zh: 房子虽小但温馨，内壁上的春联已经有些褪色，但仍显得喜庆。En: The house was small but cozy, and the spring couplets on the inner walls had faded a bit but still looked festive.Zh: 桌子上满是饺子和年糕，空气中弥漫着扑鼻的香气。En: The table was filled with jiaozi and niangao, and the air was filled with an enticing aroma.Zh: 今天是冬至，象征着团圆的日子。En: Today was the winter solstice, a day symbolizing family reunion.Zh: 明是家里最大的孩子，En: Ming was the eldest child in the family.Zh: 他住在大城市里，工作繁忙，很少回家。En: He lived in a big city, where his work kept him busy, so he seldom returned home.Zh: 他对家里的责任感到沉重，同时又对自己长期的疏离感到内疚。En: He felt a heavy sense of responsibility towards his family and also felt guilty for his long absence.Zh: 他已经很久没有和家人一起过冬至了。En: He hadn't spent the winter solstice with his family for a long time.Zh: 这次回来，他希望能和莉和花好好聚聚。En: This time, he hoped to have a good gathering with Li and Hua.Zh: 莉是家里的二女儿，她留在家乡照顾父母。En: Li, the second daughter in the family, stayed in her hometown to take care of their parents.Zh: 对明的长期缺席，她心里有些不满。En: She was somewhat resentful of Ming's long absence.Zh: 她一直觉得，明把所有的负担都扔给了她。En: She always felt that Ming had left all the burdens on her shoulders.Zh: 尽管她心里也很想和哥哥和好，但心里的芥蒂总是阻止她迈出第一步。En: Although she also desired to reconcile with her brother, her grievances held her back from taking the first step.Zh: 小妹花不断劝说，希望能促成哥哥姐姐的和解，她不愿看到家人不和，特别是在这样的节日里。En: Their younger sister Hua continuously mediated, hoping to bring about peace between her brother and sister, for she disliked seeing family discord, especially on such a festive day.Zh: 晚餐开始后，家人围坐在桌旁，气氛显得有些尴尬。En: As dinner began, the family sat around the table with a somewhat awkward atmosphere.Zh: 花端上了一盘热腾腾的饺子，兴奋地说道：“哥哥，这次我们一起包的饺子特别好吃呢！”En: Hua brought a plate of steaming jiaozi and excitedly said, “Gege, these dumplings we made together are especially tasty!”Zh: 明微笑着点头，心里却在想着该如何开始他和莉之间的对话。En: Ming smiled and nodded, while pondering how to initiate a conversation with Li.Zh: 过了不久，话题逐渐转向了过往的家庭生活。En: After a while, the topic gradually shifted to their past family life.Zh: 莉有些情绪化地说：“明，你很久都没回来看我们，每次都是我一个人在家撑着。”En: Li, a bit emotional, said, “Ming, you haven't come home for so long. Every time, I'm the one holding up things at home.”Zh: 她说完，用筷子拨弄着碗里的饺子，不再看明。En: After speaking, she poked at the jiaozi in her bowl with her chopsticks, no longer looking at Ming.Zh: 明放下了筷子，深吸一口气，正视着莉。他知道这个时刻迟早要来。En: Ming put down his chopsticks, took a deep breath, and looked Li in the eye. He knew this moment was inevitable.Zh: 他诚恳地说：“莉，对不起，这些年我没有尽到哥哥的责任。我知道你付出了很多，承担了很多。我也很想回家，但是每次想到家里的负担，我觉得无从下手。”En: Sincerely, he said, “Li, I'm sorry I haven't fulfilled my duties as a brother these years. I know you've given and taken on a lot. I also want to come home, but every time I think of the burden at home, I feel lost.”Zh: 花见气氛有些紧张，赶紧插话道：“我们都希望能多一些时间在一起，毕竟今天是冬至，团圆很重要。”En: Hua, sensing the tension, quickly interjected, “We all hope to spend more time together, especially since today is the winter solstice, and reunion is important.”Zh: 明继续说道：“我这次回来就是想告诉你，我会试着改变，更多参与家里的事。我知道不是一句话就能解决的，但我会努力。”En: Ming continued, “I came back this time to tell you that I'll try to change and be more involved with family affairs. I know it can't be resolved in just a few words, but I'll try my best.”Zh: 莉沉默了片刻，然后低声说道：“我也是。我也不该一直埋怨，今后我会尽量放下过去。”En: Li remained silent for a moment, then whispered, “Me too. I shouldn't keep holding grudges; I'll try to let go of the past.”Zh: 在花的调和下，兄妹俩终于冰释前嫌。En: With Hua's mediation, the siblings finally reconciled.Zh: 随着时间的推移，他们的话语渐渐轻松起来，欢声笑语又回到了家中。En: As time passed, their conversation grew lighter, and laughter returned to the house.Zh: 那个夜晚，他们围坐在炉火旁，聊起了小时候的趣事。En: That night, they sat around the stove, reminiscing about childhood fun.Zh: 冬至的夜空，皎洁的月光洒在院子里，覆盖了一层银白色的薄霜。En: Under the winter solstice night sky, the bright moonlight shone in the courtyard, covering it with a layer of silvery frost.Zh: 通过这次坦诚的沟通，明明白了亲情的重要，而莉则学会了宽恕和包容。En: Through this candid communication, Ming understood the importance of family affection, and Li learned about forgiveness and tolerance.Zh: 家人间的那份温暖，在这冬至的夜晚，愈发浓厚。En: The warmth among the family grew even stronger on this winter solstice night. Vocabulary Words:solstice: 冬至rural: 乡下complicated: 复杂cozy: 温馨aroma: 香气reunion: 团圆seldom: 很少responsibility: 责任guilty: 内疚absence: 疏离resentful: 不满burden: 负担reconcile: 和好grievances: 芥蒂discord: 不和awkward: 尴尬initiate: 开始emotional: 情绪化poke: 拨弄chopsticks: 筷子fulfill: 尽到inevitable: 迟早要来sincerely: 诚恳mediate: 劝说tension: 紧张reconciliation: 冰释前嫌reminisce: 聊起moonlight: 月光silvery frost: 银白色的薄霜tolerance: 包容

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.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Midnight Meets: Kindred Spirits in Taipei's Night Market Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-12-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 台北的冬夜，夜市的灯笼在空中轻轻摇曳。En: On a winter night in Taipei, the lanterns at the night market swayed gently in the air.Zh: 街道两旁，燃起的小吃摊飘出各种诱人的香味。En: On both sides of the street, the small food stalls emitted a variety of enticing aromas.Zh: 美丽的红色和黄色装饰让这个地方充满了节日的气氛。En: The beautiful red and yellow decorations filled the place with a festive atmosphere.Zh: 梅，一个来自外地的年轻艺术家，漫步在这繁忙的夜市中。En: Mei, a young artist from out of town, wandered through this bustling night market.Zh: 她寻找灵感，也寻找一种归属感。En: She was looking for inspiration and a sense of belonging.Zh: 梅有点迷茫，这座城市让她感到陌生。En: Mei felt a bit lost; the city seemed unfamiliar to her.Zh: 在人群中，许多人穿着厚重的衣物，面带微笑。En: Among the crowd, many people were dressed in thick clothing, wearing smiles on their faces.Zh: 梅注意到人们手里端着一碗碗热乎的食物。En: Mei noticed people holding bowls of hot food.Zh: 她心想：“也许美食能温暖我的心。”En: She thought, "Perhaps food can warm my heart."Zh: 就在此时，梅的目光停留在一个繁忙的食物摊前。En: At that moment, Mei's gaze stopped on a busy food stall.Zh: 摊主正在卖臭豆腐，小吃摊前满是排队的人。En: The vendor was selling stinky tofu, and there was a long line of people waiting.Zh: 梅好奇地走近，视线刚好与一位年轻男子相遇。En: Mei curiously approached, her eyes meeting those of a young man.Zh: 那就是君，一个热爱美食的在地年轻人。En: He was Jun, a local young man who loved food.Zh: 君注意到了梅，她显得有些孤单又有些好奇。En: Jun noticed Mei; she seemed a bit lonely and somewhat curious.Zh: 君决定帮助她。En: Jun decided to help her.Zh: 他走上前，微笑着说：“你好，我叫君，要不要一起尝尝这些小吃？”En: He stepped forward with a smile and said, "Hello, I'm Jun. Would you like to try these snacks together?"Zh: 梅虽然有些犹豫，但她觉得也许应该多与人交流，于是点头答应了。En: Although a bit hesitant, Mei felt maybe she should interact more with people, so she nodded in agreement.Zh: 两人一起在摊位前坐下，品尝各种美食。En: The two of them sat down at the stall, tasting various foods.Zh: 君告诉梅，台北夜市有很多故事，小摊主们都有各自的特色和秘方。En: Jun told Mei that the Taipei night market had many stories, and each vendor had their own specialties and secret recipes.Zh: 他指着一碗热腾腾的牛肉面说：“试试看这个，非常地道！”En: Pointing to a bowl of steaming beef noodles, he said, "Try this; it's very authentic!"Zh: 梅微笑着，品尝了一口，温暖的味道让她感受到一种久违的安心。En: Mei smiled and tasted a bite, the warm flavor giving her a long-lost sense of comfort.Zh: 她和君分享自己的故事，谈到自己来到这座大城市的原因，谈到她对艺术的热爱和对人际关系的渴望。En: She shared her story with Jun, talking about her reasons for coming to this big city, her love for art, and her longing for human connections.Zh: 君也慢慢打开了心扉，分享了自己对美食的热爱，以及与家人朋友一起探索夜市的乐趣。En: Jun also slowly opened up, sharing his love for food and the joy of exploring night markets with family and friends.Zh: 就在他们聊得正欢时，突然间雨点滴答落下。En: As they were happily chatting, raindrops suddenly began to fall.Zh: 两人跑到一个狭窄的店铺前，挤在一起躲雨。En: They ran to a narrow shop front, squeezing together to avoid the rain.Zh: 在这个温暖的小空间里，他们继续聊天，分享彼此的生活和理想。En: In this warm, small space, they continued to chat, sharing their lives and dreams.Zh: 梅看着君，感到不再孤单。En: Mei looked at Jun and felt no longer alone.Zh: 而君发现，与梅分享自己的世界也是一种享受。En: Meanwhile, Jun found that sharing his world with Mei was also a pleasure.Zh: 雨停了，天空露出几颗星星。En: When the rain stopped, a few stars appeared in the sky.Zh: 梅望向夜空，心中充满灵感和希望。En: Mei looked up at the night sky, filled with inspiration and hope.Zh: 而君则感到一种信任和期待。En: Jun felt a sense of trust and anticipation.Zh: 他们互相道别，并约定很快再见。En: They bid each other farewell, promising to meet again soon.Zh: 梅带着新的信心和灵感走进这座城市的生活，君也更加愿意与他人分享他的美食和快乐。En: Mei entered the city's life with newfound confidence and inspiration, while Jun was more willing to share his food and happiness with others.Zh: 他们的故事，在这繁忙而美丽的台北夜市中，刚刚开始。En: Their story, in the busy and beautiful Taipei night market, had just begun. Vocabulary Words:lanterns: 灯笼swayed: 摇曳stalls: 摊emitted: 飘出enticing: 诱人的festive: 节日的atmosphere: 气氛wandering: 漫步inspiration: 灵感belonging: 归属感unfamiliar: 陌生thick: 厚重vendor: 摊主curiously: 好奇地hesitant: 犹豫authentic: 地道comfort: 安心connections: 人际关系explore: 探索raindrops: 雨点squeezing: 挤trust: 信任anticipation: 期待farewell: 道别confidence: 信心hope: 希望lonely: 孤单secret recipes: 秘方steaming: 热腾腾joy: 乐趣

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Winter Solstice Reunion: Healing at the Temple of Heaven Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-12-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬至节的清晨，阳光透过薄雾洒在天地之间，笼罩着整个北京。En: On the morning of the Dongzhi Festival, sunlight seeped through the light fog, enveloping the entire city of Beijing.Zh: 天坛，古老而神圣，静静地伫立在冬日的寒风中。En: The Temple of Heaven, ancient and sacred, stood quietly in the winter's chill winds.Zh: 空气中弥漫着一种静谧，访客们轻声私语，尊敬地向天地神灵致意。En: The air was filled with a sense of tranquility as visitors whispered softly, respectfully paying homage to the deities of heaven and earth.Zh: 明和佳在天坛前停下脚步，冷风裹挟着回忆扑面而来。En: Ming and Jia paused in front of the Temple of Heaven, the cold wind carrying memories rushing over them.Zh: 许多年未见，他们此刻站在一起，是为了逝去的父亲。En: After many years apart, they stood together now, for their deceased father.Zh: 明是一个沉思的人，他常常后悔未能和父亲和解。En: Ming was a reflective person, often regretting not reconciling with his father.Zh: 冬至这天，他和佳站在青瓦红墙间，心情沉重。En: On this winter solstice, he and Jia stood amidst the green tiles and red walls, feeling heavy-hearted.Zh: “我们应该为父亲做些什么，”佳说。En: "We should do something for father," Jia said.Zh: 她的声音坚定，眼里却有一丝不安。En: Her voice was firm, but there was a hint of unease in her eyes.Zh: 家族仪式是她的责任，更是一种希望。En: The family ritual was her responsibility, and also a form of hope.Zh: 明点点头，尽管他的内心充满挣扎。En: Ming nodded, though he was filled with internal struggle.Zh: 过去的误解让他犹豫不决。En: Past misunderstandings made him hesitant.Zh: 害怕自己无法尽到责任，他在心底与自己的负罪感挣扎。En: Afraid of failing his responsibilities, he wrestled with his feelings of guilt.Zh: “你知道父亲生前一直希望我们团结在一起。”佳轻声说，“冬至是个好机会。”En: "You know father always wished for us to unite," Jia softly said, "The winter solstice is a good opportunity."Zh: 他们在广场上走着，冬日的阳光洒在他们身上。En: They walked across the square, the winter sun shining on them.Zh: 佳停下脚步，转向明：“我也有很多心结，我希望你能理解我。”En: Jia stopped and turned to Ming: "I also have many concerns; I hope you can understand me."Zh: 明吃惊地看着她，随后叹了口气。En: Ming looked at her in surprise and then sighed.Zh: “我很抱歉，很多事情都是我的错。”En: "I'm sorry; a lot of it is my fault."Zh: 佳摇了摇头，“我们都需要原谅自己，原谅彼此。”En: Jia shook her head, "We both need to forgive ourselves and each other."Zh: 他们停在祭坛前，点上香，向天地神灵祈祷。En: They stopped before the altar, lit incense, and prayed to the heavenly deities.Zh: 随着一缕缕烟雾升起，他们的心也渐渐平静。En: As wisps of smoke rose, their hearts gradually calmed.Zh: 明想起小时候，全家一同来这儿，父亲微笑着告诉他们关于冬至的故事。En: Ming recalled coming here as a child with the family, hearing his father smile and tell them stories about the winter solstice.Zh: 那一刻，过去与未来似乎交织在一起。En: In that moment, the past and future seemed intertwined.Zh: 明觉察到一种不曾有过的安宁。En: Ming felt a peace he had never known before.Zh: 他和佳交换了一个默契的微笑，所有的误解和遗憾仿佛都在这一刻消散。En: He and Jia exchanged a knowing smile, and all misunderstandings and regrets seemed to dissolve in that instant.Zh: 仪式结束后，明对佳说：“我们要保持联系。”En: After the ceremony, Ming said to Jia: "We need to stay in touch."Zh: 佳微笑着点头，“家庭是最重要的。”En: Jia smiled and nodded, "Family is the most important."Zh: 在这片古老的土地上，两个曾经疏远的兄妹重拾亲情。En: On this ancient land, the once estranged brother and sister rediscovered their familial bond.Zh: 他们承诺，今后不再让误解和距离阻碍他们。En: They promised not to let misunderstandings and distance come between them again.Zh: 尽管寒风依旧，心中却涌动着温暖。En: Despite the continued cold wind, warmth flowed through their hearts.Zh: 明放下了心中的负担，他明白了，家庭的团结原来如此强大。En: Ming set down his burden, realizing the incredible strength of family unity.Zh: 佳也意识到，脆弱与宽恕才是真正的力量。En: Jia also understood that vulnerability and forgiveness were true strengths.Zh: 于是，他们肩并肩，走向天坛外，迎接新的明天。En: Thus, side by side, they walked out of the Temple of Heaven, ready to embrace a new tomorrow. Vocabulary Words:seeped: 透过enveloping: 笼罩sacred: 神圣tranquility: 静谧whispered: 私语homage: 致意reconciled: 和解solstice: 冬至tiles: 青瓦altitude: 高度internal: 内心misunderstandings: 误解hesitant: 犹豫不决responsibilities: 责任wrestled: 挣扎unease: 不安tangible: 可触摸的vulnerability: 脆弱forgiveness: 宽恕responsibility: 责任intertwined: 交织estranged: 疏远的ceremony: 仪式dissolve: 消散promise: 承诺embrace: 迎接regretting: 后悔deities: 神灵incense: 香past: 过去

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...

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Warm Reunion in Shanghai's Cozy Coffee Roastery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-11-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在上海的一个寒冷冬日，梅走进了位于市中心的一家咖啡烘焙房。En: On a cold winter day in Shanghai, Mei walked into a coffee roastery located in the city center.Zh: 这里的空气中弥漫着浓郁的咖啡香味，为外面冰冷的街道提供了一片温暖的避风港。En: The rich aroma of coffee filled the air, providing a warm haven from the icy streets outside.Zh: 新年将至，梅心中怀揣着一个特别的计划：举办一次大学好友的重聚会。En: With the New Year approaching, Mei had a special plan in mind: to host a reunion for her college friends.Zh: 梅总是充满热情和怀旧情怀，她决定在这家咖啡烘焙房里庆祝，回忆他们共同度过的快乐时光。En: Mei, always full of enthusiasm and nostalgia, decided to celebrate at this coffee roastery, reminiscing about the joyful times they had spent together.Zh: 她联系了莉娜和浩，希望他们能一同参加。En: She reached out to Lina and Hao, hoping they could join the gathering.Zh: 然而，梅的计划并不容易。En: However, Mei's plan wasn't easy.Zh: 莉娜总是忙于工作，时常忘记享受生活；而浩，在世界各地旅行多年，早已对重聚感到有些紧张。En: Lina was always busy with work, often forgetting to enjoy life; while Hao, after years of traveling around the world, felt somewhat anxious about reunions.Zh: 为了吸引莉娜和浩，梅决定在聚会中加入个人化的元素。En: To attract Lina and Hao, Mei decided to add personal touches to the gathering.Zh: 她精心准备了一些旧照片和大学时期的小纪念品，希望能唤起大家的回忆。En: She carefully prepared some old photos and small keepsakes from their university days, hoping to evoke memories.Zh: 她给莉娜发信息：“亲爱的莉娜，我知道你很忙，但有些特别值得的事，记得一定要来哦！”En: She texted Lina: "Dear Lina, I know you're busy, but some things are worth it. You must come!"Zh: 对于浩，她则写道：“老朋友，世界再大，亦不如友情深厚。希望在这特别的夜晚一起喝杯咖啡。”En: To Hao, she wrote: "Old friend, no matter how big the world is, it cannot compare to the depth of friendship. Let's share a cup of coffee on this special night."Zh: 新年前夜的时钟渐渐逼近午夜，梅的心中既期待又有些忐忑。En: As the New Year's Eve clock approached midnight, Mei felt both anticipation and a bit of apprehension.Zh: 她希望这次聚会能成功。En: She hoped the reunion would be a success.Zh: 渐渐地，门被缓缓推开，莉娜和浩相继走了进来。En: Gradually, the door was gently pushed open, and Lina and Hao walked in one after the other.Zh: 莉娜依旧忙碌，但看见梅的精心准备，她被朋友的心意所打动，决定放下工作，享受这份温暖。En: Lina, still busy, was touched by Mei's thoughtful preparations and decided to put work aside and enjoy the warmth.Zh: 浩虽然刚开始有些犹豫，但当看到老朋友那熟悉的笑脸时，他的不安瞬间消失了。En: Hao, although initially hesitant, felt his anxiety vanish when he saw the familiar smiling faces of old friends.Zh: 在温暖的咖啡烘焙房中，梅、莉娜和浩欢笑着，回忆过去的点滴。En: In the cozy coffee roastery, Mei, Lina, and Hao laughed and reminisced about the past.Zh: 午夜钟声响起，他们共同举杯，庆祝新年的到来，在笑声中重拾了珍贵的友谊，并承诺在未来的日子里互相保持联系。En: As the midnight chimes rang, they raised their glasses together, celebrating the arrival of the New Year, rekindling their precious friendship with laughter, and promising to stay in touch in the days to come.Zh: 故事的尾声，梅心中充满了喜悦和满足，感受到友情的美好。En: As the story came to a close, Mei's heart was filled with joy and contentment, appreciating the beauty of friendship.Zh: 莉娜意识到工作和生活的平衡有多重要，而浩，因为这次聚会，重拾了归属感和联系感。En: Lina realized the importance of balancing work with life, and Hao rediscovered a sense of belonging and connection through this reunion.Zh: 这个新年，他们在温馨的咖啡烘焙房中许下心愿，带着美好的回忆迎接全新的开始。En: This New Year, they made wishes in the welcoming coffee roastery, embracing the new beginning with wonderful memories. Vocabulary Words:roastery: 烘焙房aroma: 香味haven: 避风港nostalgia: 怀旧情怀reminiscing: 回忆keepsakes: 纪念品evoke: 唤起anticipation: 期待apprehension: 忐忑gradually: 渐渐地hesitant: 犹豫anxiety: 不安rekindling: 重拾contentment: 满足belonging: 归属感connection: 联系感balancing: 平衡reunion: 重聚会chimes: 钟声touch: 感动memories: 回忆precious: 珍贵midnight: 午夜cherish: 珍惜vibrant: 充满活力的embracing: 迎接commemorate: 纪念sentiments: 情感jubilant: 欢腾的harmonious: 和谐的

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Tea, Friendship, and the Perfect Balance: A Winter Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-11-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 丽娟坐在茶馆的窗边，透过窗户看着外面厚厚的雪。En: Lijuan sat by the window in the teahouse, looking out at the thick snow.Zh: 北方的冬天很冷，茶馆里却温暖如春。En: The winter in the north is very cold, but inside the teahouse, it was as warm as spring.Zh: 茶馆里飘着热茶的香味，墙上挂着圣诞节的装饰，空气中弥漫着节日的气氛。En: The aroma of hot tea filled the air, Christmas decorations hung on the walls, and the atmosphere was festive.Zh: 她的心情却有些沉重，因为公司的年终报告快到截止日期了。En: However, her mood was somewhat heavy because the company's year-end report was approaching its deadline.Zh: 为了完成报告，她熬夜工作，几乎没有时间休息。En: To finish the report, she stayed up working late, with hardly any time to rest.Zh: 丽娟知道如果表现出色，可能会得到晋升，为父母提供更好的生活。En: Lijuan knew that if she performed well, she might get a promotion, providing a better life for her parents.Zh: 然而，这份巨大的压力也让她感到无比疲惫。En: Yet the huge pressure also made her feel incredibly exhausted.Zh: 她的朋友阿伟看出了她的疲惫，经常安慰她，鼓励她放松一下。En: Her friend Awei noticed her fatigue and often comforted her, encouraging her to relax a bit.Zh: "丽娟，我们一起去喝茶吧，透透气。" 阿伟提议。En: "Lijuan, why don't we go have some tea to get some air," Awei suggested.Zh: 丽娟犹豫了一下，最终决定听从阿伟的建议。En: Lijuan hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to follow Awei's advice.Zh: 茶馆是一个理想的地方。En: The teahouse was an ideal place.Zh: 温暖的灯光，氤氲的茶香，使得每一位匆忙的客人在这里都能找到暂时的宁静。En: The warm lighting and the lingering scent of tea allowed every hurried guest to find a moment of peace here.Zh: 就在这时，一个她常在这里见到的客人——明，从角落里走过来，微笑着坐在了她的对面。En: Just then, a customer she often saw here—Ming—walked over from the corner, smiling as he sat across from her.Zh: 明总是带着从容的笑，有一种令人安心的力量。En: Ming always carried an unhurried smile, exuding a reassuring strength.Zh: "你看起来很累。" 明说道，声音温和如掠过茶面的清风。En: "You look very tired," Ming said, his voice gentle like a breeze skimming over the surface of the tea.Zh: "工作太多了，我必须在圣诞节前交出完美的报告。" 丽娟无奈地回答。En: "Too much work. I have to submit a perfect report before Christmas," Lijuan answered helplessly.Zh: "为什么不放松一下呢？家人也很重要。" 明意味深长地说道。En: "Why not relax a bit? Family is important too," Ming said meaningfully.Zh: 丽娟沉默了。En: Lijuan was silent.Zh: 她知道自己为了工作，缺掉了太多与家人在一起的时间。En: She knew she had missed out on too much time with family because of work.Zh: 阿伟补充：“即使你想为父母提供一切，他们更在乎的是你能多花时间陪伴。”En: Awei added, “Even if you want to provide everything for your parents, what they care about more is spending time with you.”Zh: 听了他们的话，丽娟忽然明白，工作虽然重要，但家人也不可或缺。En: Hearing their words, Lijuan suddenly realized that while work is important, so is family.Zh: 她意识到自己需要重新思考生活的优先级。En: She realized she needed to rethink her life's priorities.Zh: 喝完茶后，丽娟回到公司。En: After finishing their tea, Lijuan returned to the company.Zh: 心态焕然一新，她重新整理思路，专注地完成了报告。En: With a renewed mindset, she reorganized her thoughts and concentrated on completing the report.Zh: 管理层看到了她的创新，给予了很高的评价。En: Management noticed her innovation and gave her high praise.Zh: 最重要的是，丽娟在节日期间选择与家人共度，享受了一段珍贵的时光。En: Most importantly, Lijuan chose to spend the holidays with her family, enjoying precious time together.Zh: 在冬日的茶馆之行后，丽娟学会了在工作和生活之间找到平衡，懂得如何让心灵得到滋养。En: After the winter day at the teahouse, Lijuan learned to find balance between work and life, understanding how to nourish her soul.Zh: 这个圣诞节，不仅仅是工作的胜利，更是她生活中重要的一课。En: This Christmas was not just a victory at work, but also an important lesson in her life. Vocabulary Words:thick: 厚厚的festive: 节日的deadline: 截止日期promotion: 晋升pressure: 压力exhausted: 疲惫fatigue: 疲劳comforted: 安慰hesitated: 犹豫advice: 建议ideal: 理想的lighting: 灯光lingering: 氤氲的unhurried: 从容的reassuring: 令人安心的skimmed: 掠过gentle: 温和breeze: 清风submit: 交出helplessly: 无奈地meaningfully: 意味深长地priorities: 优先级renewed: 焕然一新mindset: 心态reorganize: 重新整理innovation: 创新praise: 评价balance: 平衡nourish: 滋养victory: 胜利

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

On this episode of “613 Books” Podcast, Producer-Host Heather Dean's guest is Mitchell A. Silk, author of “A Seat at the Table: An Inside Account of Trump's Global Economic Revolution.” Mr. Silk served as assistant secretary for International Markets at the US Department of the Treasury and was the first Hassidic Jew to ever serve in a presidentially nominated and Senate-confirmed role. This is PART TWO of a two-episode interview, which is a deeper dive into Mitchell Silk's foray into: the upper echelons of the US Department of the Treasury; formality and protocol with the Chinese delegation; and formulating the historic Abraham Accords! Recap from Part One of this interview: From his earliest beginnings as a dishwasher in a Chinese restaurant to his work in international law and finance, Mitchell A. Silk's story illustrates how perseverance and divine providence led him to become the first Hassidic Jew ever confirmed by the Senate for a position in the US Federal government and a consequential leader in Trump's Treasury. Mr. Silk is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, and he actively engages in pro bono work within the Jewish community. = = = Show Notes: Featured author interview: Mitchell Silk, author of “A Seat at the Table: An Inside Account of Trump's Economic Revolution” To Purchase “A Seat at the Table” on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Seat-Table-Account-Economic-Revolution/dp/B0F318DTSH To Purchase “A Seat at the Table” through the publisher, Simon & Schuster: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Seat-at-the-Table/Mitchell-A-Silk/9798895652268 To Purchase “Searching for Heather Dean: My Extraordinary Career as a Celebrity Interviewer and Why I Left It” on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Searching-Heather-Dean-Extraordinary-Interviewer/dp/965927050X Show Announcer for 613 Books Podcast: Michael Doniger Michael's contact info, voice-over samples, and demo: https://michaeldoniger.net/ SUBSCRIBE to “613 Books” Podcast and discover new books every week!

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Peace: A Journey of Healing and Self-Discovery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-10-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在南半球的夏季，宁静疗愈的一个修养地，绿意盎然的小山丘中，坐落着一个心灵静修所。En: In the summer of the southern hemisphere, nestled in a green, verdant hill, there is a serene and healing retreat.Zh: 这里有宁静的花园，潺潺的小溪，还有古朴的木屋，让每一个来访者都感受到心灵的宁和。En: This tranquil place lies a spiritual retreat center.Zh: 美玲正坐在小溪旁的一块石头上，轻轻闭上双眼，听着水流的声音。En: There are peaceful gardens, babbling streams, and quaint wooden cottages, allowing every visitor to feel a sense of inner tranquility.Zh: 她最近经历了一次轻微的意外，虽然身体有所恢复，却依然担心自己的恢复情况。En: Meiling is sitting on a rock beside the stream, gently closing her eyes and listening to the sound of the flowing water.Zh: 美玲是个内省且坚韧的人，但这次意外让她感到有些脆弱。En: She recently experienced a minor accident.Zh: 这时，她的朋友金海走过来，坐在她旁边。En: Although her body is recovering, she still worries about her recovery.Zh: 金海是一位乐观而支持的朋友，总是希望能帮助美玲恢复自信。En: Meiling is an introspective and resilient person, but the accident left her feeling somewhat vulnerable.Zh: 他微笑着说：“美玲，这里很适合心灵修养。我们可以一起练习冥想。”En: At this moment, her friend Jinhai comes over and sits next to her.Zh: 美玲点点头，她知道来这里是一个明智的选择。En: Jinhai is an optimistic and supportive friend, always eager to help Meiling regain her confidence.Zh: 她想借助这个静谧的环境，重新获得身体的健康和内心的平和。En: He smiled and said, "Meiling, this place is perfect for spiritual cultivation. We can practice meditation together."Zh: 尽管心中有些不安，但她也明白，接受金海的建议，去尝试冥想和全方面的疗养，或许对自己有益。En: Meiling nodded, knowing that coming here was a wise decision.Zh: 日子在简单的日程中悄然度过。En: She wants to use this tranquil environment to regain physical health and inner peace.Zh: 每天的冥想课，美玲渐渐学会放下心中的忧虑。En: Despite some anxiety, she also understands that accepting Jinhai's suggestion to try meditation and comprehensive therapy might be beneficial to her.Zh: 在某一个午后的冥想中，阳光透过树叶洒下斑驳的阴影，美玲顿时感受到一种前所未有的安宁。En: Days quietly pass by in a simple routine.Zh: 她仿佛看见了自己克服恐惧，接纳现状的样子，心中释然。En: With every day's meditation class, Meiling gradually learns to let go of her worries.Zh: 当美玲睁开双眼，她对金海露出一个温暖的微笑。En: In one afternoon's meditation, sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows, and Meiling suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of calm.Zh: “谢谢你，金海。我似乎豁然开朗，”她说道，“虽然康复之路还很长，但我不再害怕了。”En: It was as if she could see herself overcoming her fears and accepting her current situation, feeling relieved at heart.Zh: 从那以后，美玲对自己多了几分慈爱和理解。En: When Meiling opened her eyes, she gave Jinhai a warm smile.Zh: 不再急于求成，而是学会欣然接受不完美。En: "Thank you, Jinhai. I seem to have come to a realization," she said, "Although the road to recovery is still long, I'm no longer afraid."Zh: 她明白，康复是一个过程，而寻求帮助并不代表软弱。En: From then on, Meiling had a little more compassion and understanding for herself.Zh: 此时，有金海的陪伴，她愿意坚定地走下去，即便挑战不断，她也自信满满。En: She no longer rushed to succeed but learned to accept imperfection graciously.Zh: 在这个绿树葱茏的静修所，美玲找到了心灵的平和与勇气。En: She understood that recovery is a process, and seeking help does not signify weakness.Zh: 在往后的日子里，她将以一个新的视角面对生活的每一次小波折，带着从容和勇气。En: With Jinhai's company, she was willing to move forward steadfastly, facing challenges with confidence.Zh: 在往后的日子里，她将以一个新的视角面对生活的每一次小波折，带着从容和勇气。En: In this lush and serene retreat, Meiling found peace and courage in her heart.Zh: 在往后的日子里，她将以一个新的视角面对生活的每一次小波折，带着从容和勇气。En: In the days to come, she would face every small hurdle in life with a new perspective, carrying composure and courage. Vocabulary Words:nestled: 坐落着verdant: 绿意盎然serene: 宁静healing: 疗愈retreat: 静修所tranquility: 宁和babbling: 潺潺quaint: 古朴cottage: 木屋introspective: 内省resilient: 坚韧vulnerable: 脆弱optimistic: 乐观cultivation: 修养anxiety: 不安comprehensive: 全方面therapy: 疗养dappled: 斑驳unprecedented: 前所未有calm: 安宁realization: 豁然开朗afraid: 害怕compassion: 慈爱imperfection: 不完美graciously: 欣然steadfastly: 坚定confident: 自信满满lush: 绿树葱茏courage: 勇气hurdle: 波折

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Healing Bonds: A Winter's Tale of Courage and Friendship Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-10-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬天的峨眉山，被白雪覆盖，静谧而庄严。En: In winter, Emei Mountain is covered with white snow, serene and solemn.Zh: 空气清新，隐约传来僧侣们的诵经声。En: The air is fresh, with the faint sound of monks chanting in the distance.Zh: 灯笼点亮了通往寺庙的小路，为热闹的腊八节增添了几分欢乐的气氛。En: Lanterns light the path to the temple, adding a touch of joy to the bustling Laba Festival.Zh: 晓玲是一名医学院的学生，此次来到峨眉山，暂别繁忙的学业，希望能借此放松心情，庆祝腊八节。En: Xiaoling is a medical student who came to Emei Mountain to take a break from her busy studies, hoping to relax and celebrate the Laba Festival.Zh: 她心中藏着对考试失败的恐惧，却未曾显露。En: She harbors a fear of failing her exams, yet never shows it.Zh: 她的老朋友金海是这里的僧侣，向往内心的宁静与精神的指引。En: Her old friend Jinhai is a monk here, seeking inner peace and spiritual guidance.Zh: 一天，晓玲在寺庙的禅房外，遇见了梅芬。En: One day, Xiaoling met Meifen outside the temple's meditation room.Zh: 梅芬表面上是一个普通的游客，但无人知晓她正在与一种疾病抗争。En: On the surface, Meifen is just an ordinary tourist, but no one knows she is battling an illness.Zh: 她看起来非常疲惫，脸色苍白，这让晓玲感到不安。En: She looked very exhausted, her complexion pale, which made Xiaoling uneasy.Zh: 突然，梅芬倒下了，晓玲慌了神，但也意识到她必须采取行动。En: Suddenly, Meifen collapsed, and Xiaoling panicked, but realized she had to take action.Zh: 她压下心中的恐惧，凭借所学的医学知识为梅芬做紧急处理。En: She suppressed her fear and used her medical knowledge to administer emergency treatment to Meifen.Zh: 金海见此情况，赶来协助。En: Jinhai saw the situation and hurried over to help.Zh: 在这个紧张的时刻，高悬的灯笼闪烁着暖光，笼罩着她们。En: In this tense moment, the lanterns above flickered warmly, enveloping them.Zh: 在金海的稳定帮助下，晓玲为梅芬注射了药物，并采取了简单的急救措施。En: With Jinhai's steady help, Xiaoling administered medication and performed simple first aid.Zh: 很快，梅芬苏醒过来，脸色渐渐恢复，露出了感激的笑容。En: Soon, Meifen regained consciousness, her complexion slowly returning to normal, revealing a grateful smile.Zh: 随后，当夜幕降临，三人在寺庙的斋堂中，同桌分享一碗简单的腊八粥。En: Later, as night fell, the three of them shared a simple bowl of Laba porridge at the temple's dining hall.Zh: 这碗粥承载着各自内心的成长——新生的友谊与深深的感激。En: This bowl of porridge carried within it their own inner growth—newfound friendship and deep gratitude.Zh: 通过这次经历，晓玲找回了对自己医学能力的信心。En: Through this experience, Xiaoling regained her confidence in her medical abilities.Zh: 她意识到，所学的一切都有其价值，唯一需要的便是信任与勇气。En: She realized that everything she learned has its value, and all she needed was trust and courage.Zh: 在这个温暖的节日夜晚，晓玲心中不再有任何怀疑，她知道自己能将所学付诸实践，帮助需要的人。En: On this warm festive night, Xiaoling no longer had any doubts; she knew she could put her knowledge into practice and help those in need. Vocabulary Words:serene: 静谧solemn: 庄严chanting: 诵经声lanterns: 灯笼harbors: 藏着fail: 失败seeking: 向往inner peace: 内心的宁静spiritual guidance: 精神的指引meditation: 禅房ordinary: 普通的tourist: 游客battling: 抗争illness: 疾病exhausted: 疲惫complexion: 脸色uneasy: 不安collapsed: 倒下panicked: 慌了神administer: 做紧急处理emergency treatment: 急救措施tense moment: 紧张的时刻flickered: 闪烁enveloping: 笼罩regained consciousness: 苏醒过来grateful: 感激porridge: 粥confidence: 信心trust: 信任courage: 勇气

Walmart ditches Wall Street tradition and makes a surprise leap into tech territory. Walmart shifts its stock listing from the NYSE to the Nasdaq as it deepens its push into AI, automation and e-commerce. We explore how ultra-pure water companies are quietly becoming critical players in the global chip supply chain alongside names like Nvidia. Markets brace for the Federal Reserve’s next rate move as investors weigh inflation, growth and the outlook for 2026. In UP or DOWN, we size up Spotify vs YouTube, Jardine Matheson’s Mandarin Oriental move, YZJ Maritime, Centurion REIT and LMIRT’s rights issue. All this and more, hosted by Michelle Martin with Ryan Huang.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Warmth: A Family's Winter Solstice on the Great Wall Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-09-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 李伟穿上厚厚的羽绒服，踏上了长城的石阶。En: Li Wei put on a thick down jacket and stepped onto the stone steps of the Great Wall.Zh: 这个冬至节，他和家人在长城上野餐。En: This winter solstice, he was having a picnic on the Great Wall with his family.Zh: 冬日的长城，上面覆盖着一层薄薄的雪，像银色的丝带蜿蜒山岭。En: In winter, the Great Wall is covered with a thin layer of snow, resembling a silver ribbon winding through the mountains.Zh: 四周是浓重的雾气，远处的群山影影绰绰。En: All around was dense fog, with distant mountains faintly visible.Zh: 李伟站在墙头，四周的家庭在欢声笑语中忙着布置餐布和食物。En: Li Wei stood on the wall, surrounded by families who were busy spreading tablecloths and setting out food with laughter and joy.Zh: 他的家人们已经准备好了一些传统美食，热气腾腾的饺子、放满红豆的汤圆，还有一壶热茶。En: His family had laid out some traditional delicacies: steaming dumplings, tangyuan filled with red beans, and a pot of hot tea.Zh: 这样的团聚，本应是温暖而愉悦的，但李伟心中却隐隐有些孤寂。En: Such a gathering should be warm and delightful, yet Li Wei felt a vague sense of loneliness inside.Zh: 他从小就不是个多话的人，总觉得与家人隔着一层。En: Since childhood, he had not been a talkative person and always felt a barrier between him and his family.Zh: 他们总是热衷于传统，而他却感到似乎被抛在一旁。En: They were always enthusiastic about traditions, but he felt somewhat left out.Zh: 一年中的这个时刻，他特别渴望找到与家人的联系，感受文化的根源。En: At this time of year, he longed to find a connection with his family and feel the roots of his culture.Zh: 然而，面对眼前的一切，他又有些手足无措。En: However, in the face of everything, he felt somewhat at a loss.Zh: “小伟，来帮忙打灯笼吧。En: "Xiao Wei, come help me with the lanterns," his sister called over to him.Zh: ”妹妹招呼他过来。En: Li Wei hesitated for a moment but nodded.Zh: 李伟犹豫了一下，点了点头。En: The family worked together on the wall to light one red lantern after another, their glow flickering in the cold air, filling the Great Wall with a festive atmosphere.Zh: 家人在长城上齐心协力地点燃了一个个红灯笼，火光在寒冷的空气中摇曳，这时候的长城，充满了节日的气氛。En: "Li Wei, are you okay?"Zh: “李伟，你还好吧？En: his mom asked softly.Zh: ”妈妈轻声问道。En: In the warm glow of the lantern, her eyes were full of concern.Zh: 在灯笼的暖光下，她的眼里充满了关切。En: Li Wei paused, suddenly feeling an urge to speak.Zh: 李伟停下来，心里忽然有了想说的冲动。En: He looked at his family, took a deep breath, and said, "I feel... somewhat distant from you all.Zh: 他看了看家人，深吸一口气，说：“我觉得……好像和你们有些远。En: I want to be more involved but don't know how."Zh: 我想要更多的参与进来，却不知道怎么做。En: His father patted his shoulder.Zh: ”父亲拍拍他的肩膀，“我们都想了解你更多。En: "We all want to understand you more."Zh: ” 他的话语如同冬日的阳光，温暖而安慰。En: His words were like winter sunshine, warm and comforting.Zh: 随着他们的话语，李伟心中的紧张渐渐消散。En: With their conversation, Li Wei's tension gradually dissipated.Zh: 他开始与家人讨论那些传统的背后故事，细细聆听每一个笑话和回忆，仿佛第一次真正融入其中。En: He began to discuss the stories behind the traditions with his family, listening carefully to every joke and memory, as if truly becoming part of them for the first time.Zh: 日影西斜，长城上点亮的灯笼开始发出柔和的光芒。En: As the day wore on, the lanterns on the Great Wall began to emit a soft glow.Zh: 李伟望着这景象，心中充满了一种从未有过的平静。En: Li Wei looked at this scene, feeling a peace he had never felt before.Zh: 他第一次感受到家和传统的温暖，仿佛一颗漂泊的心找到了栖息的地方。En: For the first time, he felt the warmth of family and tradition, as if a wandering heart had found a place to rest.Zh: 夜幕降临，寒冷的冬夜里，他们在长城上分享着热腾腾的食物和那无尽的亲情。En: As night fell, in the cold winter evening, they shared hot food and endless affection on the Great Wall.Zh: 李伟知道，今夜过后，他的心再也不远。En: Li Wei knew that after this night, his heart would no longer feel distant. Vocabulary Words:solstice: 冬至dense: 浓重faintly: 影影绰绰delicacies: 美食steaming: 热气腾腾vague: 隐隐barrier: 隔enthusiastic: 热衷roots: 根源barrier: 隔着hesitated: 犹豫lanterns: 灯笼flickering: 摇曳concern: 关切urge: 冲动distant: 远involved: 参与tension: 紧张dissipated: 消散discuss: 讨论traditions: 传统soft glow: 柔和的光芒peace: 平静wandering: 漂泊rest: 栖息affection: 亲情endless: 无尽distant: 疏远thick: 厚厚gathering: 团聚

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Light: A Dongzhi Night at The Bund Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-09-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬至节的晚上，上海的外滩一片热闹非凡。En: On the night of the Dongzhi Festival, Shanghai's The Bund was bustling with activity.Zh: 五光十色的灯光如同星星般点缀着历史悠久的滨水长廊，虽然天气清冷，但空气中弥漫着年糕和汤圆的香气，也有此起彼伏的欢声笑语。En: The colorful lights decorated the historic waterfront promenade like stars.Zh: 莲，一个思虑深邃的年轻人，站在岸边眺望黄浦江。En: Although the weather was chilly, the air was filled with the aroma of rice cakes and tangyuan, as well as bursts of laughter.Zh: 他的心情却不像这节日的气氛那般晴朗。En: Lian, a deep-thinking young man, stood by the riverbank gazing at the Huangpu River.Zh: 陈和梅是他的好朋友，他们今天特意为冬至节聚在这里。En: His mood wasn't as bright as the festive atmosphere.Zh: 陈总是笑声朗朗。En: Chen and Mei are his good friends, and they had gathered here specifically for the Dongzhi Festival.Zh: 他总能发现生活中的好东西。En: Chen always had a hearty laugh and could always find the good things in life.Zh: 梅则是他们三人中最细心的，她让大家都凝聚在一起。En: Mei was the most attentive among the three, keeping everyone together.Zh: 三人并肩坐在外滩的长椅上，观看江对岸绚丽的灯光秀。En: The three sat side by side on a bench at The Bund, watching the spectacular light show on the opposite bank.Zh: 莲心情复杂。En: Lian's feelings were complex.Zh: 年末临近，他感到不安，对自己的选择起了疑惑。En: As the year-end approached, he felt uneasy and began to doubt his choices.Zh: 他曾经认为自己走在正确的道路上，但不确定感却不断侵扰他的内心。En: He once thought he was on the right path, but uncertainty kept invading his heart.Zh: 陈看出莲有心事，他拍拍莲的肩膀，“怎么了，兄弟？En: Chen noticed Lian was troubled and patted his shoulder, "What's up, brother?Zh: 不必自己一个人扛着，说出来我们一起参详参详。En: You don't have to carry it alone; talk to us, and we'll figure it out together."Zh: ”莲犹豫了一下，终于开口：“我不太确定今年做的决定是不是正确的。En: Lian hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "I'm not sure if the decisions I made this year were right.Zh: 有时候我真的很迷茫，担心未来。En: Sometimes, I feel really lost and worried about the future."Zh: ”梅轻轻握住莲的手，“每个人都有这种时候。En: Mei gently held Lian's hand, "Everyone has those times.Zh: 我也怕过，我相信陈也一样。En: I've been scared too, and I believe Chen has as well."Zh: ”陈点点头，“没错，我也走过很多弯路。En: Chen nodded, "That's right, I've also taken many detours.Zh: 但每个选择都是成长的一部分，没有人一开始就能知道对的道路在哪里。En: But every choice is part of growth; no one knows the right path from the start."Zh: ”他们开始分享各自的故事，有迷茫的时光，有快乐的回忆，也有成功的经验。En: They began sharing their stories—times of confusion, joyful memories, and successful experiences.Zh: 听着他们的讲述，莲感到自己内心的阴霾逐渐散开，取而代之的是一种温暖和信心。En: As Lian listened to their stories, he felt the shadows in his heart gradually dissipate, replaced by warmth and confidence.Zh: 当晚，三人在一个小餐馆里围坐一桌，享用着热气腾腾的饺子和汤圆。En: That evening, the trio sat around a table in a small restaurant, enjoying steaming hot dumplings and tangyuan.Zh: 盘子里，热乎乎的食物如同彼此间的情谊，温暖着他们的心。En: The hot food in the dishes, like their friendship, warmed their hearts.Zh: 灯光依旧璀璨，照亮了他们的笑脸。En: The lights continued to shine brightly, illuminating their smiles.Zh: 莲终于意识到，朋友的支持和理解是多么重要。En: Lian finally realized how important the support and understanding of friends are.Zh: 通过表达自己的脆弱，他发现自己并不孤单。En: By expressing his vulnerability, he found he was not alone.Zh: 朋友的鼓励给了他新的勇气。En: His friends' encouragement gave him new courage.Zh: 夜深了，三人告别，约定下次再聚。En: Late at night, the three said goodbye, agreeing to meet again next time.Zh: 外滩的灯火渐渐熄灭，但莲心中的火焰却愈加明亮。En: The lights of The Bund gradually dimmed, but the flame in Lian's heart burned ever brighter.Zh: 他知道自己的未来或许仍有许多不确定，但有朋友相伴，他不再畏惧。En: He knew his future might still hold uncertainties, but with friends by his side, he was no longer afraid.Zh: 在这冬至节的夜晚，莲学会了一个重要的道理：人生的旅程，无需独自一人。En: On this Dongzhi Festival night, Lian learned an important lesson: the journey of life doesn't have to be traveled alone.Zh: 带着朋友的支持，他确信未来会更加明朗。En: With the support of friends, he's sure the future will be brighter. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 热闹promenade: 长廊chilly: 清冷aroma: 香气tangyuan: 汤圆laughter: 欢声笑语gazing: 眺望festive: 节日attentive: 细心spectacular: 绚丽uneasy: 不安uncertainty: 不确定感invading: 侵扰hesitated: 犹豫vulnerability: 脆弱encouragement: 鼓励bright: 明亮confusion: 迷茫memories: 回忆dissipate: 散开companionship: 相伴detours: 弯路overwhelmed: 承受courage: 勇气flame: 火焰future: 未来understanding: 理解journey: 旅程brighten: 明朗companionship: 相伴

This week's conversation opens a gateway into the deeper roots of Reiki. Kenloch Cheung joins us again to share stories from Hong Kong, Australia, and Mount Kurama, along with his remarkable insights into the origins and meaning of the Usui DKM. This episode offers a rare blend of history, philosophy, and lived experience. In this inspiring conversation, Colleen and Robyn welcome back Reiki teacher and ICRT Licensed Reiki Master Teacher, Kenloch Cheung, joining us from Melbourne after his recent move from Hong Kong. Kenloch bridges Eastern and Western Reiki communities with fluency in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English, and his teaching reflects a blend of technique, spiritual understanding, and practical everyday Reiki. We explore what it has been like for Kenloch to relocate to Australia, where Reiki is widely recognized and integrated into daily wellness culture. He shares heartwarming stories about meeting Reiki-aware strangers on mountains in Switzerland, having conversations with immigration officers about Reiki, and settling into a new rhythm of life shaped by self-care, peace, and personal health. The highlight of this episode is Kenloch's detailed teaching on DKM, including: The historical and cultural origins of the symbol Insights from Mount Kurama's prayer to Sonten How the kanji themselves illuminate the DKM deeper meaning The relationship between the symbol, the sun, the moon, and the earth Connections with universal laws, duality, spiritual understanding, and enlightenment Colleen and Robyn share their own experiences with DKM as Reiki practitioners and teachers, including its role in healing belonging, unity, and the alignment of spiritual and human selves. Together, they weave modern Reiki practice with ancient context, bringing new understanding to DKM symbol and its relevance today. Kenloch also speaks about hosting William Rand in Hong Kong, teaching multilingual classes, and his plans for English-language courses in Australia. His joy for community, sharing Reiki, and living a grounded, healthy life shines throughout this conversation. Listen NowThis episode is available on all major podcast platforms and on our YouTube channel.  Connect with Kenloch Cheung: Website: https://kenlochhealingspace.boutir.com/ Email: hernetheancientforest@outlook.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenlochtheoaktree Enjoy the episode, Colleen & Robyn ✨Connect with Colleen and Robyn 
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Join us for a deep-dive into Marvel's ORIGINAL Iron Man movie, the 2007 animated feature film “Invincible Iron Man”! The year before the MCU began, the year before Robert Downey Jr, Jon Favreau, and Kevin Feige brought Tony Stark to the big screen, Marvel partnered up with Lionsgate to create the first and original Iron Man movie - a feature length animated film on DVD. We'll take you behind-the-scenes on the Marvel / Lionsgate deal, the talent of the writers and animators involved, the different animation styles, and everything it took to make this movie. We'll also go behind-the-page on Iron Man in the 2000's, how a series of terrible creative decisions at Marvel were ruining the character, and what it took to make the character relevant again in time for the birth of the MCU! And then we'll deep-dive the movie itself, to explore what it got right, what it got VERY wrong, all the things it changed about Iron Man, and all the differences with the live-action movie that would come out the following year! Plus there's tons of history and trivia about Tony Stark's childhood, his different armours, the Mandarin, the Jade Dragon, Fin Fang Foom, and so much more! For awesome bonus episodes visit https://www.patreon.com/marvelversusmarvel marvelversusmarvel@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/marvelversusmarvel https://twitter.com/marvelversus https://twitter.com/robhalden https://robhalden.com https://will-preston.co.uk

Join us for a deep-dive into Marvel's ORIGINAL Iron Man movie, the 2007 animated feature film “Invincible Iron Man”! The year before the MCU began, the year before Robert Downey Jr, Jon Favreau, and Kevin Feige brought Tony Stark to the big screen, Marvel partnered up with Lionsgate to create the first and original Iron Man movie - a feature length animated film on DVD. We'll take you behind-the-scenes on the Marvel / Lionsgate deal, the talent of the writers and animators involved, the different animation styles, and everything it took to make this movie. We'll also go behind-the-page on Iron Man in the 2000's, how a series of terrible creative decisions at Marvel were ruining the character, and what it took to make the character relevant again in time for the birth of the MCU! And then we'll deep-dive the movie itself, to explore what it got right, what it got VERY wrong, all the things it changed about Iron Man, and all the differences with the live-action movie that would come out the following year! Plus there's tons of history and trivia about Tony Stark's childhood, his different armours, the Mandarin, the Jade Dragon, Fin Fang Foom, and so much more! For awesome bonus episodes visit https://www.patreon.com/marvelversusmarvel marvelversusmarvel@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/marvelversusmarvel https://twitter.com/marvelversus https://twitter.com/robhalden https://robhalden.com https://will-preston.co.uk

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Climb Towards Harmony: A Transformative Journey at Mount Tai Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-08-08-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 黎华和健被公司派去泰山。En: Li Hua and Jian were assigned by their company to go to Mount Tai.Zh: 他们需要在这次活动中加深了解，并为来年的项目筹划策略。En: They needed to deepen their understanding during this event and plan strategies for next year's project.Zh: 泰山的秋末，薄雾笼罩，落叶铺满小径，幽静而壮丽。En: Late autumn at Mount Tai was shrouded in mist, with fallen leaves covering the paths, tranquil and magnificent.Zh: 黎华专注于工作，总想着如何能让上司满意。En: Li Hua focused on her work, always thinking about how to satisfy her boss.Zh: 这次，她希望能在活动中提出一个让人惊艳的新项目方案。En: This time, she hoped to propose an impressive new project plan during the event.Zh: 然而，工作的压力让她的生活有些黯淡，她对个人幸福心存恐惧。En: However, the pressure of work cast a shadow over her life, and she harbored fears about personal happiness.Zh: 健则一向随和，乐于工作，但家庭的责任常让他感到拉扯。En: Jian, on the other hand, was always easygoing and enjoyed his work, but family responsibilities often made him feel torn.Zh: 冬至节快要到了，他希望能提早回家，和家人一起准备节日的传统活动。En: With the Winter Solstice approaching, he hoped to return home early to prepare for the holiday's traditional activities with his family.Zh: 两人的性格和工作方法不同，合作时摩擦不断。En: The two had different personalities and working methods, leading to constant friction in their cooperation.Zh: 黎华常常不满健的漫不经心，而健又对黎华的紧张感到压抑。En: Li Hua often felt dissatisfied with Jian's carelessness, while Jian felt oppressed by Li Hua's tension.Zh: 泰山顶是他们此行的目标。En: The peak of Mount Tai was their goal for this trip.Zh: 在登山途中，健终于向黎华坦白了自己的家庭责任。En: During the climb, Jian finally confessed to Li Hua about his family responsibilities.Zh: 他希望理解，能在工作和家庭间找到平衡。En: He hoped for understanding and to find a balance between work and family.Zh: 黎华听完，沉思片刻，她反思自己工作的紧张态度，也许是时候放松些了。En: Li Hua listened, pondered for a moment, and reflected on her anxious work attitude, perhaps realizing it was time to relax a bit.Zh: 途中，他们谈论如何结合彼此的优势，提议新的项目方案。En: Along the way, they discussed how to combine their strengths and proposed new project ideas.Zh: 黎华发现，健的方法虽然随意，但常有意想不到的好处。En: Li Hua discovered that although Jian's methods were casual, they often had unexpected benefits.Zh: 她决定尝试放宽心，接纳健的所有意见。En: She decided to try to ease up and accept all of Jian's suggestions.Zh: 他们的旅程在黎明时分达到顶峰。En: Their journey reached its peak at dawn.Zh: 泰山顶上，朝霞染红天地，景色壮丽，En: At the top of Mount Tai, the morning glow painted the sky red and the scenery was magnificent.Zh: 他们静静地看着，看见一片广阔的未来。En: They stood quietly, seeing a vast future before them.Zh: 刹那间的豁然开朗，他们找到了共同的愿景。En: In that moment of sudden clarity, they found a shared vision.Zh: 下山后，他们将最终方案呈上。En: After descending the mountain, they presented the final plan.Zh: 经理对他们的合作感到满意，不仅认同方案中的创意，也看到了两人之间的互补与和谐。En: The manager was pleased with their collaboration, not only approving of the creativity in the plan but also seeing the complementary and harmonious relationship between the two.Zh: 黎华学会了在生活和工作中留些余地，让自己更加均衡。En: Li Hua learned to leave some space in life and work, achieving a more balanced self.Zh: 健也更加自信，敢于说出自己的需要，明白了事业家庭可以和谐共存。En: Jian became more confident, able to voice his needs, understanding that career and family can coexist harmoniously.Zh: 泰山之行，不只是一次公司活动，更是他们心灵的攀登和成长之旅。En: The trip to Mount Tai was not just a company event but a journey of spiritual ascent and growth.Zh: 在感悟中，他们开始理解，事业与生活本就是一体，和谐而共生。En: Through their insights, they began to understand that career and life are inherently one, harmonious and symbiotic. Vocabulary Words:assigned: 派去deepened: 加深shrouded: 笼罩tranquil: 幽静magnificent: 壮丽satisfy: 满意impressive: 惊艳pressure: 压力harbor: 心存easygoing: 随和responsibilities: 责任torn: 拉扯approaching: 快要到了traditional: 传统friction: 摩擦dissatisfied: 不满carelessness: 漫不经心oppressed: 压抑confessed: 坦白pondered: 沉思reflected: 反思casual: 随意unexpected: 意想不到ease up: 放宽心dawn: 黎明clarity: 豁然开朗shared: 共同complementary: 互补harmonious: 和谐balanced: 均衡

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Winter Solstice Serendipity: A Chance Encounter in Beijing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-08-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬至的北京，特别是颐和园，总是有一种宁静的美。En: On the winter solstice in Beijing, especially at the Summer Palace, there is always a tranquil beauty.Zh: 这里的雪覆盖在地上，像给大地盖了一层洁白的被子。En: The snow covers the ground, like a white blanket over the earth.Zh: 昆明湖的湖面结了冰，在清晨的柔光下闪闪发亮。En: Kunming Lake is frozen over, glistening under the soft light of dawn.Zh: 长寿山上的建筑设计精美，如同一幅雄伟的画卷。En: The architecture on Longevity Hill is exquisite, like a magnificent painting.Zh: 梅从上海来，她爱摄影，想在这里捕捉冬至的美。En: Mei came from Shanghai; she loves photography and wanted to capture the beauty of the winter solstice here.Zh: 简是一个导游，对历史极为着迷。En: Jian is a tour guide who is extremely passionate about history.Zh: 他住在北京，经常来学习颐和园的建筑。En: He lives in Beijing and often comes to study the architecture of the Summer Palace.Zh: 那天早上，梅提着相机在长寿山附近走动，寻找完美的拍摄角度。En: That morning, Mei was walking around near Longevity Hill, looking for the perfect angle to shoot.Zh: 就在她仔细观察四周的时候，不小心撞到了一个人。En: Just as she was carefully observing her surroundings, she accidentally bumped into someone.Zh: 是简。En: It was Jian.Zh: 他手里正拿着一本有关颐和园的书，两人都因为突如其来的相遇而愣住了。En: He was holding a book about the Summer Palace, and both were taken aback by the sudden encounter.Zh: “对不起，”梅先开口道，有点尴尬地微笑着。En: "Sorry," Mei said first, smiling a bit awkwardly.Zh: “没事，我也没注意到你。”简回答，露出友好的笑容。En: "It's okay, I didn't notice you either," Jian replied with a friendly smile.Zh: 就这样，他们开始聊起了天。En: And so, they began to chat.Zh: 梅对简说起了她的摄影梦想，而简则分享了他对颐和园历史的热爱。En: Mei spoke to Jian about her dream of photography, while Jian shared his love for the history of the Summer Palace.Zh: 梅的朋友李总是说：“不要错过生活中意外的惊喜。”她的话似乎在梅的耳边轻轻回响着。En: Mei's friend Li always said, "Don't miss the unexpected surprises in life." Her words seemed to gently echo in Mei's ears.Zh: 他们的兴趣似乎截然不同，可梅被简对历史的热情吸引住了，她决定加入他的非正式导览。En: Their interests seemed entirely different, yet Mei was drawn to Jian's enthusiasm for history, and she decided to join his informal tour.Zh: 在参观的过程中，梅开始放下对相机的痴迷，用心听简讲故事。En: During the visit, Mei started to let go of her obsession with the camera and listened attentively to Jian's stories.Zh: 长寿山的建筑秘密、昆明湖的湖心亭，都在简的讲述中如同活了过来。En: The architectural secrets of Longevity Hill and the pavilion in the center of Kunming Lake came to life through Jian's narration.Zh: 突然，一道稀有的阳光穿透云层，照在冻结的昆明湖上，形成了一幅美轮美奂的画面。En: Suddenly, a rare ray of sunshine pierced through the clouds, casting a stunning image on the frozen Kunming Lake.Zh: 梅赶紧拿起相机，但发现自己选错了角度。En: Mei quickly picked up her camera but found she had chosen the wrong angle.Zh: 就在这一刻，简站在她旁边说：“从这里来拍，会更好。”En: At that moment, Jian stood beside her and said, "Shooting from here would be better."Zh: 梅调整了位置，果然捕捉到了她所希望的那一瞬画面。En: Mei adjusted her position and indeed captured the moment she had hoped for.Zh: 两人相视而笑，仿佛瞬间拉近了彼此的距离。En: They exchanged smiles, as if the distance between them had instantly narrowed.Zh: 结束观光后，简惊喜地收到梅的邀请，让他一起参加冬至晚上的传统晚餐。En: After the tour, Jian was pleasantly surprised by Mei's invitation to join her for the traditional winter solstice dinner.Zh: 李也会在场。En: Li would also be there.Zh: 简开心地答应，他觉得这个冬至会特别温暖。En: Jian gladly accepted, feeling that this winter solstice would be especially warm.Zh: 晚餐时，梅、简和李一起高兴地聊着天。En: During dinner, Mei, Jian, and Li happily chatted together.Zh: 梅看看简，心中感慨，偶然的相遇可以带来意想不到的快乐。En: Mei looked at Jian, feeling moved by how an unexpected encounter could bring unforeseen joy.Zh: 简也由衷地觉得，分享自己的兴趣是多么值得的一件事。En: Jian genuinely felt how worthwhile it was to share his interests.Zh: 就这样，一段温暖的友谊在冬至给他们带来了一个不一样的开始。En: Thus, a warm friendship began, bringing them a unique start on the winter solstice.Zh: 梅意识到，生活比镜头里的风景更富有色彩，而简则发现，热情的分享总能换来更深的连接。En: Mei realized that life is richer in color than the landscapes through a lens, while Jian discovered that sharing his passion always leads to deeper connections. Vocabulary Words:solstice: 冬至tranquil: 宁静的glistening: 发亮exquisite: 精美magnificent: 雄伟capture: 捕捉passionate: 着迷architecture: 建筑angle: 角度observe: 观察encounter: 相遇awkwardly: 尴尬地enthusiasm: 热情informal: 非正式obsession: 痴迷attentively: 用心地narration: 讲述ray: 道pierced: 穿透stunning: 美轮美奂adjusted: 调整instant: 瞬间narrowed: 拉近traditional: 传统surprised: 惊喜invitation: 邀请unique: 不一样lens: 镜头sharing: 分享connections: 连接

聊中西文化，也聊很多东西！第八十期，不好意思让大家久等了，其实11月已经录好了，一直没有时间剪辑。一起来读一下评论吧！ 欢迎给我们来信： ttmiChinese@gmail.comHave online class with Candice, please email candicex2018@gmail.comYouTube: Candice X Chinese MandarinInstagram: CandiceXMandarin2022免费学习资料 Free study materials please visit Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/candicexPDF full script for episode 80: coming soonFull subtitles with Pinyin for episode 80: coming soon

Today's Episode:Why do so many Chinese viewers love Zootopia 2 but dislike its Chinese dubbing? In this episode, we explore why celebrity voice acting often feels “not right”, why people say they “get pulled out of the story”, and what audiences really want. Let's dive in!Membership Preview:In next MaoMi Chinese+ episode, we look at some fun and surprising Chinese translations of famous films, and explore the culture, humour, and history behind them. If you've ever wondered why titles change so much in China, this one's for you!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: Snowy Escapes: A Family's Joy Beyond the Workload Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-07-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 漫天飞雪的时候，刘伟驾驶着他的SUV，驶向深山中的一个小木屋。En: When snow was flying in all directions, Liu Wei drove his SUV toward a small cabin deep in the mountains.Zh: 他和妻子张美，还有儿子陈浩，一起度过一个渴望已久的假期。En: He, his wife Zhang Mei, and their son Chen Hao were yearning for a long-awaited vacation together.Zh: 长时间的工作让这个家庭一如既往地分离，但这个圣诞节，他们终于开始了一次难能可贵的平静时光。En: Long working hours had constantly kept the family apart, but this Christmas, they finally started a precious period of tranquility.Zh: 小木屋位于一片白雪覆盖的森林中，周围是高耸的松树，营造了一种宁静而温暖的氛围。En: The cabin was located in a snow-covered forest, surrounded by towering pine trees, creating a serene and warm atmosphere.Zh: 室内，壁炉里木柴轻轻燃烧，释放出香甜的松木香气。En: Inside, in the fireplace, logs gently burned, releasing a sweet pine scent.Zh: 刘伟一边看着跳动的火焰，一边内心挣扎。En: As Liu Wei watched the dancing flames, his mind was in turmoil.Zh: 他知道电话那头有未完成的工作，但张美和陈浩的笑声已然唤起了他内心深处对家人的渴望。En: He was aware of unfinished work waiting on the other end of the phone, but the laughter of Zhang Mei and Chen Hao awakened a deep longing for his family within him.Zh: "爸，我们去外面堆雪人吧！En: "Dad, let's go outside and build a snowman!"Zh: " 陈浩兴奋地拉着刘伟的手，满心期待。En: Chen Hao eagerly pulled Liu Wei's hand, full of anticipation.Zh: 刘伟迟疑了一下，看了看枕边一闪一闪的手机。En: Liu Wei hesitated for a moment, glancing at his blinking phone on the pillow.Zh: 紧接着，他做出了一个重大决定——他关掉手机，微笑着对张美和陈浩说：“好，我们一起去。En: Then, he made a significant decision—he turned off the phone and smiled at Zhang Mei and Chen Hao, saying, "Yes, let's go together."Zh: ”一家人小心翼翼地走出小木屋，扑向银装素裹的雪地。En: The family carefully stepped out of the cabin and plunged into the snow-clad landscape.Zh: 寒风中，他们齐心协力地滚着一个大雪球，又堆起了一个可爱的雪人。En: In the cold wind, they worked together to roll a large snowball and build an adorable snowman.Zh: 刘伟惊讶地发现，简单的家庭时光带来的欢乐轻而易举地超过了工作带来的满足感。En: Liu Wei was surprised to find that the simple joys of family time easily surpassed the satisfaction brought by work.Zh: 雪地里的笑声持续回响，像一曲悠扬的冬日恋歌，洗净了他心头的疲惫。En: The laughter echoed in the snow, like a melodious winter love song, washing away the fatigue in his heart.Zh: 傍晚时分，他们回到小木屋，围坐在壁炉旁。En: By evening, they returned to the cabin and sat around the fireplace.Zh: 火光映红了每个人的脸庞，温暖洋溢。En: The firelight flushed each of their faces with warmth.Zh: 在这个宁静的时刻，刘伟深刻地意识到，陪伴在家人身边，是最珍贵的礼物。En: In this quiet moment, Liu Wei profoundly realized that being with family was the most precious gift.Zh: 他决定，以后要更多地抽出时间，与心爱的人共度这样的美好时光。En: He decided to make more time in the future to spend such wonderful moments with his loved ones.Zh: 就这样，刘伟不再是那个忙于工作的人，而是一个懂得珍惜家庭时光的好父亲。En: Thus, Liu Wei was no longer just someone overly consumed with work but a father who understood the value of cherishing family time.Zh: 窗外，雪花静静飘落，仿佛在为这个温馨夜晚谱写一曲祝福的歌。En: Outside the window, snowflakes fell quietly, seemingly composing a song of blessings for this warm evening. Vocabulary Words:directions: 方向cabin: 小木屋yearning: 渴望tranquility: 平静serene: 宁静turmoil: 挣扎anticipation: 期待hesitated: 迟疑plunged: 扑向landscape: 雪地adorable: 可爱的surpassed: 超过melodious: 悠扬profoundly: 深刻地cherishing: 珍惜snowflakes: 雪花composing: 谱写blessings: 祝福towering: 高耸的surrounded: 围绕firelight: 火光flush: 映红fatigue: 疲惫echoed: 回响gentle: 轻轻logs: 木柴sweet: 香甜uncommon: 难能可贵awaited: 期待已久的consumed: 忙于

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Whispers of Strength: A Winter Night at Anjing Teahouse Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-07-08-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 傍晚，北风呼啸，冬夜的寒意笼罩着整个城镇。En: In the evening, the north wind howled, and the chill of the winter night enveloped the entire town.Zh: 空气中弥漫着安静茶屋的清香。En: The air was filled with the tranquil aroma of the Anjing teahouse.Zh: 木制墙壁在柔和的灯笼光下泛出微光，茶杯的轻轻碰撞声为这个地方增添了一份宁静。En: The wooden walls glowed softly under the gentle lantern light, and the light clinking of teacups added a sense of tranquility to the place.Zh: 礼云是安静茶屋的主人。En: Liyun is the owner of the Anjing teahouse.Zh: 每天，她微笑着迎接客人，但在内心深处，她正努力平复一个秘密：她最近被诊断出心脏病。En: Every day, she greets her guests with a smile, but deep inside, she is struggling to calm a secret: she was recently diagnosed with a heart condition.Zh: 她不想让这份忧虑打破茶屋的平和，也不想让朋友担心。En: She doesn't want this worry to disrupt the peace of the teahouse or to make her friends concerned.Zh: 于是，她选择隐藏。En: So she chooses to hide it.Zh: 珍是礼云多年的好友。En: Zhen has been Liyun's friend for many years.Zh: 多年的友谊让她直觉出礼云有什么事情没有说出口，但她不知道究竟是什么。En: Their years of friendship give her the intuition that Liyun is holding something back, but she doesn't know exactly what it is.Zh: 她总是细心观察，试图找出礼云异常的原因。En: She is always observant, trying to find out the reason for Liyun's unusual behavior.Zh: 另一边，明是茶屋的常客，En: On the other hand, Ming is a regular customer at the teahouse.Zh: 他喜欢这里的宁静氛围，也享受观察礼云和珍之间的互动。En: He enjoys the tranquil atmosphere here and also enjoys observing the interaction between Liyun and Zhen.Zh: 他未曾知道他们之间的暗流，只是静静地品茶，用心感受。En: He is unaware of the undercurrents between them, simply sipping his tea quietly, feeling with his heart.Zh: 一天晚上，珍终于忍不住了。En: One evening, Zhen could no longer hold back.Zh: 她看着礼云，问道：“礼云，你最近好吗？你看起来有些疲惫。”En: She looked at Liyun and asked, "Liyun, how have you been lately? You seem a bit tired."Zh: 礼云专注地为她斟了一杯新泡的茉莉茶，手微微颤抖。En: Liyun attentively poured her a cup of freshly brewed jasmine tea, her hand slightly trembling.Zh: 礼云沉默了一会儿。En: Liyun was silent for a while.Zh: 冬日的风从窗外轻轻吹过，她感觉到内心的挣扎。En: The winter wind blew gently from outside the window, and she felt her inner struggle.Zh: 她懂得珍的关心是真实的，也懂得自己该如何选择。En: She understood that Zhen's concern was genuine, and she knew how she should choose.Zh: “珍，”她开始说道，声音平静但混杂着一丝颤抖，“我有件事情想告诉你。”En: "Zhen," she began to say, her voice calm but tinged with a slight tremor, "I have something I want to tell you."Zh: 她将自己的手覆在珍的手上，缓缓吐露出心中的秘密。En: She placed her hand over Zhen's and slowly revealed the secret in her heart.Zh: 在这片温暖而宁静的氛围中，珍静静地听完，轻轻拥抱了她，温柔地说道：“我们会一起面对。”En: In this warm and serene atmosphere, Zhen listened quietly, gently hugged her, and softly said, "We will face it together."Zh: 礼云的眼泪在眼眶里打转，但心里有了一丝温暖的力量。En: Tears welled up in Liyun's eyes, but she felt a warm strength inside.Zh: 在旁的明，默默地观察着。En: Ming, observing from the side, silently admired the power of friendship.Zh: 他心中暗暗赞叹友谊的力量，无须多言，便能给予那么多的支持与温暖。En: Without many words, it can provide so much support and warmth.Zh: 从那天起，礼云不再独自承受痛苦。En: From that day on, Liyun no longer bore the pain alone.Zh: 她发现，分享并不让她脆弱，反而使她的生活更加充实，友谊更加深厚。En: She discovered that sharing did not make her vulnerable; instead, it made her life richer and her friendships deeper.Zh: 冬夜的茶屋依旧宁静，却充满了新的生机与勇气。En: The teahouse on the winter night remained tranquil, yet it was filled with new vitality and courage. Vocabulary Words:howled: 呼啸chill: 寒意enveloped: 笼罩tranquil: 宁静aroma: 清香teahouse: 茶屋glowed: 泛出clinking: 碰撞owner: 主人diagnosed: 诊断intuition: 直觉observant: 细心undercurrents: 暗流sipping: 品attentively: 专注地trembling: 颤抖serene: 宁静tinged: 混杂revealed: 吐露warmth: 温暖admired: 赞叹vulnerable: 脆弱rich: 充实vitality: 生机courage: 勇气envelope: 笼罩introspection: 内心conversed: 交谈overcame: 克服murmured: 呢喃

During a move, Anna realizes just how much stuff she's accumulated over the years. She admits it's hard to part with things while Gao Yue introduces her to “断舍离”/'the art of letting go of unnecessary items.—————————————————————————————————安娜：哎，我怎么会有这么多东西啊！这次搬家真是让我认识到了。高月：哈哈，这个抽屉里有什么，我看看。哇，这么多纪念品？安娜：是啊。都是大学时候的纪念品。虽然毕业都好多年了。但是我到现在去哪儿都还带着。高月：嗯。我能理解。有纪念意义的东西确实很难“断舍离”。安娜：“断舍离”？高月：对啊。就是“戒掉不需要的东西，扔去多余的，离开对物品的执念”。安娜：啊。原来这就是“断舍离”。那我还不能很好地“断舍离”。我有很多东西都舍不得扔。虽然也不知道自己什么时候能再用到，但是就是每次都觉得“以后可能会用到”。高月：那就是“断舍离”最大的敌人。不过，像纪念品这种东西，确实是有价值的。但是像那些旧衣服啊，旧鞋子啊，超过两个月我没用过的我就会处理掉了。安娜：嗯，家里少一点东西确实轻松不少。这次我是体会到了。—————————————————————————————————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 natives' feedback ✅ Track your learning streak — never lose your momentum!Not using these features yet? Open our app or visit maayot.com and explore everything your Mandarin journey needs.Want to join maayot.com for more real-life conversations? 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: Winning Waves: Trust and Creativity by the Sea Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-06-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在南方的海滨城市，一所高中坐落于海岸边，学校的教室窗户可以看到蔚蓝的海洋。En: In a southern coastal city, a high school is located by the shore, where the classroom windows provide a view of the azure sea.Zh: 冬天的寒风轻轻拂过，校园里却洋溢着学生们对即将到来的寒假的憧憬。En: The winter wind gently breezes through, yet the campus is filled with the students' anticipation of the upcoming winter break.Zh: 今天是文学课的期末小组项目展示日。En: Today is the final group project presentation day for literature class.Zh: 每个小组都在增加最后的润饰，教室里充满了紧张而兴奋的气氛。En: Each group is adding the final touches, making the classroom atmosphere tense yet exciting.Zh: 李梅是这个项目的负责人，她性格认真，希望每次展示都能获得好成绩。En: Li Mei is the leader of this project; she is a serious person who hopes every presentation can earn good grades.Zh: 蒋国是她的组员，比较随性，喜欢创新。En: Jiang Guo is her team member, more laid-back and fond of innovation.Zh: "李梅，别担心，我们的项目很棒！”蒋国笑着说。En: "Li Mei, don't worry, our project is great!" Jiang Guo said with a smile.Zh: 他相信自己的创造力能为项目增色不少。En: He believes that his creativity can greatly enhance the project.Zh: 但是，李梅不放心。En: However, Li Mei wasn't at ease.Zh: 她觉得蒋国的创意太随意，可能会影响成绩。En: She felt that Jiang Guo's ideas were too casual and might affect their grade.Zh: 她说：“蒋国，这次项目很重要，我们必须小心，不然会扣分。”En: She said, "Jiang Guo, this project is important. We have to be careful, or we might lose points."Zh: 随着时间的推进，李梅决定跟随蒋国的建议，给他一些创作自由。En: As time went on, Li Mei decided to go along with Jiang Guo's suggestion and gave him some creative freedom.Zh: 她虽然内心依然紧张，但她告诉自己这是一个学习的机会。En: Although she still felt nervous inside, she told herself that this was a learning opportunity.Zh: 演示开始了，李梅和蒋国站在讲台前，几组同学和老师在下面等待着。En: The presentation began, with Li Mei and Jiang Guo standing at the podium while their classmates and teacher waited below.Zh: 李梅尽力流畅地讲述着项目内容，突然蒋国适时地插入了一个即兴的故事，这让所有人眼前一亮。En: Li Mei did her best to smoothly present the project content, and suddenly Jiang Guo spontaneously inserted an impromptu story, capturing everyone's attention.Zh: 教室里安静了一瞬间，然后爆发出掌声。En: The classroom fell silent for a moment and then erupted in applause.Zh: 老师也露出赞许的微笑，最终给予了他们高分。En: The teacher also showed a approving smile and ultimately awarded them high marks.Zh: 结束后，李梅感叹：“谢谢你，蒋国。你的创意真的很棒。”En: Afterward, Li Mei sighed, "Thank you, Jiang Guo. Your creativity is truly amazing."Zh: 蒋国拍拍李梅的肩膀说：“团队合作，信任很重要。”En: Jiang Guo patted Li Mei's shoulder and said, "Teamwork and trust are very important."Zh: 从这一刻起，李梅意识到信任和创造力的重要性，成功不单是分数的体现，也需要合作与创新。En: From that moment on, Li Mei realized the significance of trust and creativity; success is not solely based on grades but also requires collaboration and innovation.Zh: 随着海浪声的低语，她觉得心情格外轻松。En: With the whispering sound of the waves, she felt particularly at ease. Vocabulary Words:coastal: 海滨azure: 蔚蓝anticipation: 憧憬presentation: 展示tense: 紧张serious: 认真laid-back: 随性innovation: 创新spontaneously: 适时地impromptu: 即兴applause: 掌声trust: 信任creativity: 创造力collaboration: 合作whispering: 低语ease: 轻松located: 坐落于shore: 海岸边gently: 轻轻breezes: 拂过upcoming: 即将到来的final touches: 最后的润饰freedom: 自由opportunity: 机会smoothly: 流畅地capturing: 眼前一亮silent: 安静erupted: 爆发significance: 重要性solely: 单

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Snowfall and Solstice: Reviving Traditions on the Great Wall Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-06-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 白雪轻轻覆盖在古老的长城上，整个北方的景色显得空旷而美丽。En: The snow gently covered the ancient Great Wall, making the entire northern landscape appear vast and beautiful.Zh: 严冬的寒风带着历史的肃穆，冷冽地环绕在人们的耳边。En: The cold wind of the severe winter carried the solemnity of history, chillingly blowing around people's ears.Zh: 冬至即将到来，长城的维护队正在为即将到来的游客们做准备。En: With the Winter Solstice approaching, the maintenance team of the Great Wall was preparing for the incoming visitors.Zh: 主任明华站在高处，深吸了一口新鲜的冷空气。En: The director, Minghua, stood at a high point and took a deep breath of the fresh, cold air.Zh: 他的目光扫过这片熟悉而又亲切的土地，心中涌起一丝对童年的怀念。En: His gaze swept over this familiar and dear land, as a wave of nostalgia for his childhood surged in his heart.Zh: 他出生成长在附近的村庄，那时每到冬至，村子里就会热闹非凡，大家围坐在一块儿吃汤圆，讲古老的故事。En: He was born and raised in a nearby village, where every Winter Solstice, the village would be bustling with activity.Zh: 大家围坐在一块儿吃汤圆，讲古老的故事。En: Everyone would sit together, eating tangyuan and sharing ancient stories.Zh: 这些记忆一直伴随着他，也成为了他心中珍贵的传统。En: These memories had always accompanied him, becoming a cherished tradition in his heart.Zh: 然而，此刻的工作并不轻松。En: However, the current work was not easy.Zh: 年轻的工人梁干劲十足，他希望在队伍中展示自己。En: The young worker, Liang, was full of energy, eager to prove himself within the team.Zh: 梅是旅游局的代表，虽然心系景区的宣传，但她内心始终对自己的工作充满疑惑。En: Mei, representing the tourism bureau, though focused on promoting the scenic area, harbored doubts about her work.Zh: 梅希望通过冬至期间吸引更多游客来参观长城，因此为团队制定了紧凑的工作计划。En: Mei hoped to attract more tourists to visit the Great Wall during the Winter Solstice period and therefore formulated a tight work schedule for the team.Zh: 天气变幻无常，冷风夹杂着冰雪，让工程推进困难重重。En: The weather was unpredictable; cold winds mixed with snow made progress difficult.Zh: 梅不断施压，希望能按时完成，为迎接游客做好准备。En: Mei continued to pressure the team to finish on time to prepare for the visitors.Zh: 但是，明华意识到安全才是最重要的。En: However, Minghua realized that safety was of utmost importance.Zh: 他必须做出选择，是将队伍推向极限完成任务，还是暂时停工以保证每个人的安全？En: He had to decide whether to push the team to their limits to complete the task or halt work temporarily to ensure everyone's safety.Zh: 忽然，天空中飘起了更大的雪花。En: Suddenly, larger snowflakes began to fall from the sky.Zh: 明华决定让大家休息。En: Minghua decided to let everyone take a rest.Zh: 他对梅解释道：“我们不能让时间表凌驾于安全之上。让我们利用这个机会，感受冬至的意义吧。”En: He explained to Mei, "We cannot let the schedule override our safety. Let's use this opportunity to appreciate the meaning of the Winter Solstice."Zh: 于是，整个队伍围坐在长城上，倾听着明华讲述关于冬至的传统故事。En: So, the entire team gathered on the Great Wall, listening to Minghua recount traditional stories about the Winter Solstice.Zh: 梅也安静地坐下，感受到一种前所未有的宁静。En: Mei also quietly sat down, experiencing an unprecedented sense of peace.Zh: 通过这些故事，她开始理解传统的重要性，而不仅仅是像以往那样视作宣传手段。En: Through these stories, she began to understand the importance of tradition, rather than merely viewing it as a promotional tool as before.Zh: 随着天空渐渐放晴，一种团结的气氛在队伍中蔓延开来。En: As the sky gradually cleared, a sense of unity spread among the team.Zh: 每个人都感受到了彼此之间的温暖与共同努力所带来的成就感。En: Everyone felt the warmth between each other and the sense of accomplishment brought by their joint efforts.Zh: 明华看着这一切，心中充满了对过往和未来的感激。En: Minghua looked at everything, filled with gratitude for the past and the future.Zh: 梅也意识到，尊重文化遗产有时比迎合商业需求更为重要。En: Mei also realized that respecting cultural heritage is sometimes more important than catering to commercial demands.Zh: 长城仍在那里，坚固而古老，仿佛也是在见证着这些深刻的改变。En: The Great Wall remained there, strong and ancient, seemingly witnessing these profound changes. Vocabulary Words:gently: 轻轻ancient: 古老solitude: 空旷landscape: 景色severe: 严solemnity: 肃穆chillingly: 冷冽地maintenance: 维护nostalgia: 怀念cherished: 珍贵tradition: 传统eager: 渴望harbor: 充满schedule: 计划unpredictable: 变幻无常pressure: 施压progress: 推进fathom: 理解decide: 决定override: 凌驾于unprecedented: 前所未有appreciate: 感受unity: 团结accomplishment: 成就感gratitude: 感激commercial: 商业demand: 需求profound: 深刻heritage: 遗产witness: 见证

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Tech Treasure Hunt: Navigating Smartphone Choices With Wisdom Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-05-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在高科技城的一个冬日，天气寒冷，电子商城里却热闹非凡。En: On a winter day in the high-tech city, the weather was cold, but the electronic mall was bustling with excitement.Zh: 里面人头攒动，到处是色彩斑斓的显示屏，满是热心的科技迷和正在尝试最新小玩意的购物者。En: Inside, it was crowded with people, everywhere were colorful displays, filled with enthusiastic tech fans and shoppers trying out the latest gadgets.Zh: 刘伟是一个实用却有点儿优柔寡断的科技爱好者，今天他和他的朋友张华一起来到这里。En: Liu Wei was a practical yet somewhat indecisive technology enthusiast, and today he came here with his friend Zhang Hua.Zh: 张华对当前的科技趋势了如指掌，是刘伟在电子产品方面的好帮手。En: Zhang Hua was well-versed in current tech trends and was a helpful advisor for Liu Wei when it came to electronic products.Zh: 刘伟希望给自己买一款新智能手机，但面对琳琅满目的选择，他感到无从下手。En: Liu Wei hoped to buy a new smartphone for himself, but faced with a dazzling array of choices, he felt overwhelmed.Zh: 他既想要最好的性能，又希望能够物超所值。En: He wanted the best performance but also hoped for the best value for money.Zh: “刘伟，这两款手机其实差不多，”张华指着展示台上的两部手机说，“不过，我觉得这款更好，评价高、拍照效果好，还在打折呢。”En: "Liu Wei, these two phones are pretty much the same," Zhang Hua said, pointing to two phones on the display stand, "But, I think this one is better, it has great reviews, good photo quality, and it's on sale."Zh: “可是……”刘伟看着两部手机，心里仍然没底。En: "But..." Liu Wei looked at the two phones, still unsure.Zh: 两人接着在商城里转悠了一圈，张华耐心地解释各种套餐和功能。En: The two of them continued to wander around the mall, with Zhang Hua patiently explaining the different packages and features.Zh: 刘伟却依旧犹豫不决。En: Still, Liu Wei was indecisive.Zh: 他在想，是不是应该更仔细地研究一下再做决定。En: He wondered if he should research more thoroughly before making a decision.Zh: 走到结账台时，刘伟开始动摇。En: As they approached the checkout counter, Liu Wei began to waver.Zh: 他不禁担心自己会后悔。En: He couldn't help but worry he might regret his choice.Zh: 如果选择错误的手机，几乎要用整年才可能换新的。En: If he picked the wrong phone, it might be a year before he could get a new one.Zh: “刘伟，有时候听朋友的建议并不是坏事，”张华安慰他说，“你不能让自己陷在选择中，一直犹豫就不会前进。”En: "Liu Wei, sometimes listening to a friend's advice isn't a bad thing," Zhang Hua comforted him, "You can't just stay stuck in choice. If you keep hesitating, you won't move forward."Zh: 在张华的鼓励下，刘伟深吸了一口气，终于下定决心选了张华的推荐。En: Encouraged by Zhang Hua, Liu Wei took a deep breath and finally made up his mind to choose Zhang Hua's recommendation.Zh: 他意识到，有时候，依靠朋友的判断也是种智慧。En: He realized that sometimes relying on a friend's judgment is also a kind of wisdom.Zh: 最后，他们欢快地离开了电子商城。En: Finally, they left the electronic mall happily.Zh: 刘伟握着新手机，心情轻松了许多。En: Liu Wei held his new phone, feeling much more relaxed.Zh: 从此以后，他学会了在做决定时适度依赖朋友的意见，变得更加开放和信任。En: From then on, he learned to moderately rely on friends' opinions when making decisions, becoming more open and trusting.Zh: 商场外寒风呼啸，但刘伟的心变得温暖而宁静。En: Outside the mall, the cold wind howled, but Liu Wei's heart became warm and peaceful. Vocabulary Words:high-tech: 高科技bustling: 热闹非凡enthusiastic: 热心gadgets: 小玩意indecisive: 优柔寡断well-versed: 了如指掌trends: 趋势array: 琳琅满目overwhelmed: 无从下手performance: 性能value for money: 物超所值reviews: 评价photo quality: 拍照效果on sale: 打折wander: 转悠features: 功能thoroughly: 仔细waver: 动摇regret: 后悔checkout counter: 结账台encouraged: 鼓励hesitating: 犹豫judgment: 判断moderately: 适度rely: 依赖opinions: 意见trusting: 信任howled: 呼啸peaceful: 宁静displays: 显示屏

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Rediscovering Tradition: A Heartfelt New Year in High-Tech City Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-05-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 广东的高科技城购物中心在冬季显得格外热闹。En: The Guangdong High-Tech City Shopping Center is especially lively during the winter.Zh: 五光十色的灯饰和节日装饰，让人感受到浓厚的春节气氛。En: The colorful lights and festive decorations give people a strong sense of the Chinese New Year atmosphere.Zh: 琳娜带着她的弟弟魏来到这里，准备为即将到来的春节购置礼物。En: Lina brought her younger brother Wei here to prepare gifts for the upcoming Spring Festival.Zh: 琳娜是一个事业心很强的女商人，但对家庭传统一直抱有一份柔软的感情。En: Lina is a very career-oriented businesswoman, but she has always held a soft spot for family traditions.Zh: 她想要为家人购买完美的礼物，希望这次春节能特别而愉快。En: She wants to buy perfect gifts for her family, hoping this Spring Festival will be special and joyful.Zh: 然而，繁忙的购物中心让她感到有些不知所措。En: However, the busy shopping center makes her feel a bit overwhelmed.Zh: 人群涌动，琳娜面对琳琅满目的选择，犹豫不决。En: With crowds bustling around her and faced with a dazzling array of choices, Lina is indecisive.Zh: 她想要在预算内找到合适的礼物，还要节省时间。En: She wants to find suitable gifts within budget and also save time.Zh: 魏比她小几岁，性格开朗。En: Wei, a few years younger than her, is cheerful by nature.Zh: 他注意到姐姐的压力，想帮助她放松。En: Noticing his sister's stress, he wants to help her relax.Zh: 他提议说：“姐，我们不如找一些有意义的东西，而不是贵的礼物。En: He suggests, "Sis, why don't we look for something meaningful instead of expensive gifts?Zh: 或许，我们可以考虑一些体验，而不是单纯的物品。En: Maybe we can consider some experiences rather than just objects."Zh: ”琳娜听了弟弟的建议，心里有些动摇。En: Hearing her brother's suggestion, Lina feels somewhat swayed.Zh: 商场的科技区吸引了她的注意，那里的最新设备让她心动。En: The technology area of the shopping mall caught her attention, with its latest gadgets tempting her.Zh: 但就在这时，魏在一个小店里发现了一套精致的茶具。En: But just then, Wei discovered a set of exquisite tea sets in a small store.Zh: 茶具让他们想起了小时候在奶奶家喝茶的情景，那是他们记忆中温暖的片段。En: The tea set reminded them of their childhood memories of drinking tea at Grandma's house, a warm moment etched in their memories.Zh: 在那个瞬间，琳娜意识到了春节的真正意义。En: In that moment, Lina realized the true meaning of Chinese New Year.Zh: 与其追求奢华的礼物，不如珍惜和亲人一起度过的时光。En: Rather than pursuing luxurious gifts, it's better to cherish the time spent with loved ones.Zh: 她决定和魏一起，为全家准备一次家庭茶会，而不是继续在商场里徘徊。En: She decides, along with Wei, to prepare a family tea party instead of wandering further in the shopping mall.Zh: 最终，琳娜和魏带着几份贴心而有意义的礼物离开了商场。En: In the end, Lina and Wei left the mall with a few thoughtful and meaningful gifts.Zh: 他们同心协力，为家庭准备了一场温馨的茶会，增添了节日的温情。En: Together, they prepared a warm tea party for the family, adding to the holiday's warmth.Zh: 琳娜感受到，比起昂贵的礼物，和家人在一起的宝贵时光才是最值得珍惜的。En: Lina felt that compared to expensive gifts, the precious time with family is what truly deserves to be cherished.Zh: 这个春节，从此变得不同寻常。En: From that point, this Spring Festival became extraordinary. Vocabulary Words:lively: 热闹festive: 节日的atmosphere: 气氛overwhelmed: 不知所措bustling: 涌动dazzling: 琳琅满目indecisive: 犹豫不决cheerful: 开朗experiences: 体验swayed: 动摇gadgets: 设备exquisite: 精致etched: 刻cherish: 珍惜luxurious: 奢华wander: 徘徊thoughtful: 贴心precious: 宝贵traditions: 传统soft spot: 柔软的感情prepare: 准备budget: 预算suggestion: 建议tempting: 心动moment: 瞬间meaningful: 有意义special: 特别joyful: 愉快array: 选择finally: 最终

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Snowy Dreams: Lian's Journey to Medical Empowerment Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-04-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在这个寒冷的冬天，辽阔的白雪覆盖了地面，空气中飘着细小的雪花。En: In this cold winter, the vast white snow covered the ground, with tiny snowflakes floating in the air.Zh: 一群高中生来到医院，他们是来了解医疗工作者的职业生涯。En: A group of high school students arrived at the hospital; they came to learn about the careers of healthcare workers.Zh: 在这群学生中，有一个名叫连的女孩。En: Among this group of students, there was a girl named Lian.Zh: 她一直对医学充满热情，但也常常质疑自己的能力。En: She has always been passionate about medicine but often doubts her own abilities.Zh: 她的好朋友明站在她的身边，热情地鼓励她：“你一定能做到的！En: Her good friend Ming stood by her side, enthusiastically encouraging her, "You can definitely do it!"Zh: ”医院里很忙碌，医生和护士们穿着白大褂，忙碌地走来走去。En: The hospital was busy, with doctors and nurses wearing white coats, bustling back and forth.Zh: 学生们被带到了一个明亮的会议室，那里能看到窗外的雪景。En: The students were taken to a bright conference room, where they could see the snowy scene outside the window.Zh: 而今天，他们的导游是一个名叫陶的医学院学生。En: Today, their guide was a medical school student named Tao.Zh: 陶给学生们介绍了医学院生活的点滴。En: Tao introduced the students to the ins and outs of life in medical school.Zh: 他的眼中闪烁着对医学的热爱，让连既羡慕又紧张。En: His eyes sparkled with a love for medicine, making Lian both envious and nervous.Zh: 她不知道自己是否能像陶一样热情和专业。En: She was unsure if she could be as passionate and professional as Tao.Zh: “小连，你想成为一名医生吗？En: "Xiao Lian, do you want to become a doctor?"Zh: ”陶微笑着问她。En: Tao asked her with a smile.Zh: “嗯……我想是的。En: "Um...Zh: 但我不确定自己能不能做到，”连低声说。En: I think so.Zh: 陶笑了笑，鼓励地说：“我也曾有过许多疑问。En: But I'm not sure if I can do it," Lian said softly.Zh: 有时候会怀疑自己，但只要坚持，就会进步。En: Tao smiled and encouragingly said, "I had many doubts, too.Zh: ”听到这番话，连心里感到一阵暖意。En: Sometimes you might doubt yourself, but as long as you persist, you will improve."Zh: 她鼓起勇气问陶：“你是怎么克服挑战的？En: Hearing these words, Lian felt a warmth in her heart.Zh: ”“我也有过许多挑战，但学习和实践让我不断成长。En: She mustered up the courage to ask Tao, "How did you overcome challenges?"Zh: 在遇到困难时，记得找朋友和老师聊聊，这会让你轻松很多。En: "I've faced many challenges, but learning and practice have allowed me to keep growing.Zh: ”陶回答。En: When facing difficulties, remember to talk to friends and teachers; it will ease the burden a lot," Tao replied.Zh: 通过这次对话，连似乎看到了未来的一丝希望。En: Through this conversation, Lian seemed to see a glimmer of hope for the future.Zh: 她开始相信自己的潜力，并为自己的梦想感到兴奋无比。En: She began to believe in her potential and felt incredibly excited about her dream.Zh: 在参观结束时，连走出了会议室，心中充满新的决心。En: At the end of the visit, Lian walked out of the conference room, filled with new determination.Zh: 她更坚定地认为自己能够在医学领域找到自己的位置。En: She was more convinced that she could find her place in the field of medicine.Zh: 明拍了拍连的肩膀，“看吧，我说过你可以的。En: Ming patted Lian on the shoulder, "See, I told you, you can do it."Zh: ”连微笑着点点头，内心的自信如同窗外的阳光，愈发明亮。En: Lian smiled and nodded, her inner confidence shining brighter, just like the sunlight outside the window.Zh: 她现在知道，只要努力，她也能成为像陶那样出色的医学生。En: She now knew that with effort, she too could become an outstanding medical student like Tao.Zh: 于是，医院的白色走廊中，连和明并肩走着，雪花在她们身后轻轻飘落，为这段重要旅程留下了温暖的记忆。En: So, in the white corridors of the hospital, Lian and Ming walked side by side, snowflakes gently falling behind them, leaving warm memories of this important journey. Vocabulary Words:vast: 辽阔snowflakes: 雪花healthcare workers: 医疗工作者passionate: 热情abilities: 能力enthusiastically: 热情地bustling: 忙碌conference room: 会议室guide: 导游sparkled: 闪烁envious: 羡慕professional: 专业persist: 坚持warmth: 暖意mustered: 鼓起overcome: 克服challenges: 挑战ease: 轻松burden: 负担potential: 潜力determination: 决心confidence: 自信shining: 明亮outstanding: 出色snowy scene: 雪景tiny: 细小beyond: 超出gently: 轻轻memories: 记忆career: 职业生涯

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Healing Hearts: A Hospital Ward Reunion Amidst Tensions Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-04-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 医院走廊里总是充满了忙碌的脚步声和轻声的交谈，那股特殊的消毒水味飘荡在空气中，与从微微开着的窗户吹进来的冬日寒风混合在一起，让人清醒。En: The corridor of the hospital was always filled with the sound of busy footsteps and soft conversations, with the distinct smell of disinfectant wafting in the air, mixing with the cold winter breeze blowing in through slightly open windows, keeping everyone alert.Zh: 明浩走在走廊上，他的眉头紧皱。En: Minghao walked down the hallway, his brow furrowed.Zh: 今天，他决定面对陈，解决他们之间长久以来的矛盾。En: Today, he decided to face Chen to resolve the longstanding conflict between them.Zh: 他知道，这一步并不容易，但为了丽华，他必须去做。En: He knew this step wouldn't be easy, but for Lihua, he had to do it.Zh: 丽华是他们共同的朋友，现在躺在三楼的病房里。En: Lihua was their mutual friend, currently lying in a third-floor ward.Zh: 病情虽然稳定，但需要精心照顾。En: Her condition, although stable, required meticulous care.Zh: 她，尽管病痛在身，却时常微笑着给周围的人带来阳光。En: Despite her illness, she often smiled, bringing sunshine to those around her.Zh: 她期待着明浩和陈能和解，希望过去的争吵不再影响到现在。En: She hoped that Minghao and Chen could reconcile and that past arguments would no longer affect the present.Zh: 明浩推开病房的门。En: Minghao pushed open the ward door.Zh: 陈已在里面，与丽华交谈，声音中带着丝丝紧张和不安。En: Chen was already inside, talking with Lihua, a hint of tension and unease in his voice.Zh: 看见明浩，陈的面色明显沉了下来。En: Upon seeing Minghao, Chen's expression noticeably darkened.Zh: 他们之间的气氛紧张而沉默。En: The atmosphere between them became tense and silent.Zh: “我们需要谈谈。”明浩开口，他的声音低沉但坚定。En: "We need to talk," Minghao began, his voice low but firm.Zh: 陈抬头看了他一眼，随即转向窗外，显得无动于衷。En: Chen glanced at him briefly, then turned towards the window, appearing indifferent.Zh: “丽华的情况需要我们一起做决定，”明浩说，“过去的事，我很抱歉，我知道是我的错，那次事故……我本应该更小心的。”En: "Lihua's condition requires us to make decisions together," Minghao said. "About the past, I'm sorry, I know it was my fault. That accident... I should have been more careful."Zh: 陈转过头，眼里闪过一丝复杂的情绪。En: Chen turned his head, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.Zh: 他做了个深呼吸，仿佛在努力控制自己的情绪。En: He took a deep breath, seemingly trying to control his emotions.Zh: 丽华微微地笑，沙哑的声音打破了沉默：“你们都很重要，En: Lihua gently smiled, her raspy voice breaking the silence, "You both are important.Zh: 我不想看到你们因为我继续争吵。En: I don't want to see you continue arguing because of me.Zh: 明浩，陈，过去的事情已经过去了，En: Minghao, Chen, the past is past.Zh: 我们现在需要想办法一起面对。”En: We need to find a way to face the present together."Zh: 她的话如同一股温暖的溪流，化解了空气中的冰冷。En: Her words were like a warm stream, dissolving the coldness in the air.Zh: 陈沉默了一会儿，然后点了点头。En: Chen was silent for a moment, then nodded.Zh: “我想，我们应该摒弃过去，为丽华着想。”他终于说，声音不再强硬。En: "I think we should set aside the past for Lihua's sake," he finally said, his voice no longer harsh.Zh: 明浩感激地看着陈，两人眼中重新有了信任的光芒。En: Minghao looked at Chen with gratitude, a renewed trust shining in their eyes.Zh: 在丽华的鼓励下，他们决定从现在开始，携手为她的病情制定最好的治疗方案。En: Encouraged by Lihua, they decided to join forces from that moment on to plan the best treatment strategy for her condition.Zh: 短暂但重要的谈话，让明浩意识到，愿意打开自己的心扉，表达真正的感受，可以让人与人之间的关系更紧密。En: This brief but important conversation made Minghao realize that being willing to open one's heart and express true feelings can bring people closer together.Zh: 这个冬天，他们的心仿佛也暖了起来，不再被过去的阴影所笼罩。En: This winter, their hearts seemed to warm up, no longer overshadowed by the past.Zh: 故事在丽华温柔的笑声中结束，友谊和希望在寒冷的冬日里悄悄生长。En: The story ended with Lihua's gentle laughter, as friendship and hope quietly grew in the cold winter days. Vocabulary Words:corridor: 走廊footsteps: 脚步声distinct: 特殊的disinfectant: 消毒水wafting: 飘荡breeze: 寒风furrowed: 紧皱resolve: 解决longstanding: 长久以来conflict: 矛盾mutual: 共同的ward: 病房meticulous: 精心reconcile: 和解tension: 紧张unease: 不安indifferent: 无动于衷complex: 复杂的flickering: 闪过raspy: 沙哑的dissolving: 化解harsh: 强硬gratitude: 感激encouraged: 鼓励strategy: 方案realize: 意识到willing: 愿意overshadowed: 笼罩laughter: 笑声friendship: 友谊

On this episode of “613 Books” Podcast, Producer-Host Heather Dean's guest is Mitchell A. Silk, author of “A Seat at the Table: An Inside Account of Trump's Global Economic Revolution.” Mr. Silk served as assistant secretary for International Markets at the US Department of the Treasury and was the first Hassidic Jew to ever serve in a presidentially nominated and Senate-confirmed role. From his earliest beginnings as a dishwasher in a Chinese restaurant to his work in international law and finance, Mitchell A. Silk's story illustrates how perseverance and divine providence led him to become the first Hassidic Jew ever confirmed by the Senate for a position in the US Federal government and a consequential leader in Trump's Treasury. Mr. Silk is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, and he actively engages in pro bono work within the Jewish community. This is PART ONE of a two-episode interview. Next episode will be a deeper dive into Mitchell Silk's foray into: the upper echelons of the US Department of the Treasury; formality and protocol with the Chinese delegation; and formulating the historic Abraham Accords! SUBSCRIBE to “613 Books” Podcast and discover new books every week! = = = Show notes: Featured author interview: Mitchell Silk, author of “A Seat at the Table: An Inside Account of Trump's Economic Revolution” To Purchase “A Seat at the Table” on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Seat-Table-Account-Economic-Revolution/dp/B0F318DTSH To Purchase “A Seat at the Table” through the publisher, Simon & Schuster: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Seat-at-the-Table/Mitchell-A-Silk/9798895652268 Show Announcer for 613 Books Podcast: Michael Doniger Michael's contact info, voice-over samples, and demo: https://michaeldoniger.net/ SUBSCRIBE to “613 Books” Podcast and discover new books every week!

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Reconnecting with Roots: Li Wei's Journey Home to Huangshan Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-03-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 黄山的冬天宁静而美丽，白雪覆盖在连绵的山峰上，仿佛给整个世界披上一层纯白的外衣。En: The winter in Huangshan is tranquil and beautiful, with white snow covering the continuous mountain peaks, as if draping the entire world in a pure white coat.Zh: 这时正值冬至节，李伟站在山脚下，心里有些紧张。En: It was the time of the Winter Solstice festival, and Li Wei stood at the foot of the mountain, feeling somewhat nervous.Zh: 多年在国外生活，他一直觉得和故乡有些疏远。En: Having lived abroad for many years, he had always felt somewhat distant from his hometown.Zh: 李伟曾经很渴望走出国门，去看看外面的世界。En: Li Wei once longed to venture beyond his country's borders to see the world outside.Zh: 而今他回来了，来到黄山与家人团圆。En: Now, he has returned to Huangshan to reunite with his family.Zh: 可是，他的心中有些不安。En: However, there was some unease in his heart.Zh: 他担心自己与家人的隔阂，更害怕无法重新融入这个大家庭。En: He was worried about the estrangement he felt from his family and feared that he might not be able to reintegrate into this big family.Zh: 家人们已经在山上的小木屋里等着他，热情地期待着团聚。En: His family was already waiting for him in a cabin on the mountain, eagerly anticipating the reunion.Zh: 一进入房间，李伟闻到了熟悉的香味，是冬至的饺子。En: As he entered the room, Li Wei smelled the familiar aroma of Winter Solstice dumplings.Zh: 炉火燃烧着，温暖的光芒照亮了每一张笑脸。En: The fireplace crackled, its warm glow lighting up every smiling face.Zh: 大家围着桌子，气氛轻松愉快。En: Everyone gathered around the table, the atmosphere light and cheerful.Zh: 李伟坐在一旁，有些出神。En: Li Wei sat aside, a little lost in thought.Zh: 周围的谈笑仿佛与他隔着一层无形的墙。En: The laughter and conversation around him seemed separated from him by an invisible wall.Zh: 他开始怀疑，这些年在外，他是否已经变得不再属于这里。En: He began to doubt whether, after all these years abroad, he had changed so much that he no longer belonged here.Zh: 晚宴开始了，大家一边享用美食，一边分享着彼此的生活故事。En: The dinner began, and everyone enjoyed the food while sharing their life stories.Zh: 李伟知道，这是一个难得的机会。En: Li Wei knew this was a rare opportunity.Zh: 他鼓起勇气，决定坦诚相待，诉说自己的心声。En: He gathered his courage and decided to be honest, to express his innermost feelings.Zh: “我想跟大家分享一下我在国外的生活，”李伟开口说道，声音有些颤抖。En: “I want to share with everyone about my life abroad,” said Li Wei, his voice slightly trembling.Zh: 他讲述了自己初到他国时的迷茫，也回忆了想家的孤独。En: He spoke of the confusion he felt when he first arrived in a foreign country and also recalled the loneliness of missing home.Zh: 家人们静静地听着，眼中满是理解。En: His family listened quietly, their eyes full of understanding.Zh: 慢慢地，李伟的话变得流畅，他开始讲述在异国的成长和思考。En: Gradually, Li Wei's words flowed more smoothly as he started to share about his growth and reflections in the foreign land.Zh: 他说，他明白了家的意义，以及文化对一个人的影响。En: He said he had come to understand the meaning of home and the impact culture has on a person.Zh: 他的声音渐渐坚定，心中的不安仿佛一点一点消散了。En: His voice gradually grew firm, and the unease in his heart seemed to dissipate bit by bit.Zh: “无论身在何处，我始终是这片土地的一部分，”李伟总结道。En: "No matter where I am, I am always a part of this land," concluded Li Wei.Zh: 家人们报以热烈的掌声，母亲轻轻地握住李伟的手，温柔地笑着：“欢迎回家。En: His family responded with enthusiastic applause, and his mother gently held Li Wei's hand, smiling tenderly: "Welcome home."Zh: ”这一刻，李伟感到前所未有的温暖。En: In that moment, Li Wei felt an unprecedented warmth.Zh: 他终于摆脱了内心的隔阂，重新找到了属于自己的位置。En: He finally shed the inner barrier and found his rightful place once again.Zh: 他的心不再漂泊，而是安稳地停靠在家庭的港湾。En: His heart no longer wandered; it had come to rest securely in the harbor of his family.Zh: 李伟明白，文化和家人是他永远的根源。En: Li Wei understood that culture and family were his eternal roots.Zh: 他的身份在此确认，并在这次冬至节重新焕发了生机。En: His identity was confirmed here and was revitalized during this Winter Solstice festival.Zh: 窗外黄山的雪，依旧洁白，它似乎在祝愿着李伟寻找到的全新开始。En: Outside the window, the snow on Huangshan remained pristine, as if it was blessing the new beginning that Li Wei had found. Vocabulary Words:tranquil: 宁静continuous: 连绵draping: 披上unease: 不安estrangement: 隔阂reintegrate: 重新融入anticipating: 期待aroma: 香味crackled: 燃烧invisible: 无形belonged: 属于courage: 勇气trembling: 颤抖confusion: 迷茫loneliness: 孤独reflections: 思考impact: 影响dissipate: 消散firm: 坚定enthusiastic: 热烈tenderly: 温柔地unprecedented: 前所未有barrier: 隔阂wandered: 漂泊harbor: 港湾eternal: 永远revitalized: 焕发pristine: 洁白blessing: 祝愿roots: 根源

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Love and Resilience: A Journey Along the Snowy Great Wall Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-03-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 长城在冬至这一天显得格外雄伟。En: The Changcheng appeared particularly majestic on the day of the Winter Solstice.Zh: 白色的雪覆盖在城墙上，阳光下闪烁着点点亮光，大地静谧而广袤，仿佛世界也停了下来。En: White snow covered the walls, sparkling under the sunlight, the land vast and silent, as if the world had come to a halt.Zh: 这一天，梁和梅决定来这里，希望在这古老的地方找回，他们之间失去的联系。En: On this day, Liang and Mei decided to come here, hoping to find the lost connection between them in this ancient place.Zh: 他们沿着长城缓慢地前行，寒风凛冽，吹得脸颊发红。En: They walked slowly along the Great Wall, the biting cold wind reddening their cheeks.Zh: 梅挽着梁的手臂，她的一边脸仰望着他，脸上挂着微笑，但心中却充满了担忧。En: Mei held Liang's arm, her face upturned to him with a smile, yet her heart was full of worry.Zh: 她怕梁心里藏着什么，说不出口。En: She feared that Liang held secrets in his heart that he couldn't speak of.Zh: 其实，梁心里确实有很多疑虑。En: In truth, Liang did have many doubts.Zh: 他在这段关系中感到彷徨，总在思考该如何面对这些沉默的问题。En: He felt lost in the relationship, always pondering how to face these silent issues.Zh: 为了梅，也为了他自己，他希望今天能找到答案。En: For Mei, and for himself, he hoped to find answers today.Zh: 走了一段后，他们在一个较高的地方停了下来。En: After walking for a while, they stopped at a higher point.Zh: 这里的景色让人震撼，白雪覆盖的山脉连绵不绝。En: The view here was breathtaking, with snow-covered mountains stretching endlessly.Zh: 梅叹了口气，看向梁：“你还好吗？En: Mei sighed and looked at Liang, "Are you okay?"Zh: ”梁看着远方，不知从何说起。En: Liang stared into the distance, not knowing where to begin.Zh: 他的心在这冷风中沉重，却在期待中跳动。En: His heart was heavy in the cold wind, yet it beat with anticipation.Zh: 他深吸了一口气，终于说：“梅，我一直有些事情没有告诉你。En: He took a deep breath and finally said, "Mei, there are things I haven't told you.Zh: 我对我们的未来感到不确定。En: I'm uncertain about our future."Zh: ”梅愣了一下，迅速却温柔地抓紧了梁的手，“别怕，梁。En: Mei paused, then quickly but gently tightened her grip on Liang's hand, "Don't be afraid, Liang.Zh: 我们可以一起面对。En: We can face it together."Zh: ”这时，寒风似乎停了一瞬，一切都安静下来。En: At that moment, the cold wind seemed to pause, and everything fell silent.Zh: 梁感受到梅的温暖，心头的疑惑仿佛融化了。En: Liang felt Mei's warmth, and the doubts in his heart seemed to melt away.Zh: 他看着梅的眼睛，继续说：“谢谢你，也谢谢你总是这么乐观。En: He looked into Mei's eyes and continued, "Thank you, and thank you for always being so optimistic.Zh: 我不再想逃避。En: I don't want to run away anymore."Zh: ”在雪地上，他们紧紧相拥。En: In the snow, they embraced tightly.Zh: 此刻，双方心中的疑虑和不安都化成了理解和承诺。En: At this moment, both their doubts and anxieties transformed into understanding and commitment.Zh: 梅微笑着说：“我们一起走下去。En: Mei smiled and said, "Let's keep moving forward together."Zh: ”梁点点头，眼中闪烁着坚定。En: Liang nodded, determination gleaming in his eyes.Zh: 长城的某个地方，阳光照在他们身上，仿佛为他们的新起点注入了无尽的力量。En: Somewhere on the Great Wall, the sunlight shone on them, as if injecting endless strength into their new beginning.Zh: 故事在这团结中结束，梁变得更坦诚，而梅则对梁有了更深的理解。En: The story ends in this unity, with Liang becoming more honest and Mei gaining a deeper understanding of him. Vocabulary Words:majestic: 雄伟halt: 停下来biting: 凛冽reddening: 发红upturned: 仰望pondering: 思考breathtaking: 震撼sigh: 叹了口气anticipation: 期待uncertain: 不确定grip: 抓紧embraced: 拥anxieties: 不安commitment: 承诺optimistic: 乐观determination: 坚定gleaming: 闪烁understanding: 理解connection: 联系heart: 心silent: 静谧sparkling: 闪烁lost: 失去doubts: 疑虑face: 面对endlessly: 连绵不绝paused: 愣了一下transformed: 化成unity: 团结vast: 广袤

Book episode! What happens when a policy meant to shape a nation reaches into the most intimate corners of a family's life? Journalist Barbara Demick'sDaughters of the Bamboo Grove becomes a prism for a China where babies vanish, families fracture, and two identical lives grow up worlds apart. One twin speaks Mandarin, the other English. One hides in a bamboo grove; the other lands in Texas. Demick joins The Jacob Shapiro Show to explore the lives shaped, and misshaped, by China's restrictive one-child policy. Shapiro and Demick probe the emotional aftershocks of separation, the uneasy collision of two cultures when twins are reunited across continents, and the moral ambiguity of institutions that believed they were doing the right thing.--Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Introduction(00:46) - Discussing the Book: Daughters of the Bamboo Grove(02:04) - Barbara's Journey and Discoveries in China(05:15) - The Impact of China's One-Child Policy(11:28) - Adoption and Family Planning in China(21:21) - Cultural and Demographic Shifts in China(25:35) - Cultural Juxtaposition of Twins(26:35) - Impact of COVID on US-China Relations(27:35) - Adoption and Diplomatic Relations(28:31) - Challenges for Chinese and American Families(30:57) - Adoptees as Cultural Ambassadors(32:02) - Religious Influences in Adoption(34:42) - Economic Comparisons Between Families(39:18) - Psychological Trauma of Adoptees(45:13) -Author's Career and Future Projects(50:27) - Upcoming Book on Berlin--Referenced in the Show:Barbara Demick - https://www.barbarademick.com/Daughters of the Bamboo Grove - https://www.barbarademick.com/book/daughters-of-the-bamboo-grove/--Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.comJacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShapJacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe --The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today's volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.--

Citrus season is here! Kevin and Austin sit down in studio to discuss growing citrus like mandarins, Meyer lemons, Key limes, navel oranges and more. Kevin shares his favorite varieties, growing tips, pest management and even his recipe for delicious Key lime pie.Check out these Tips For Growing CitrusLearn more from our friends at Four Winds GrowersGreen Acres Garden PodcastGreen Acres Nursery & SupplyGreen Acres Garden Podcast GroupIn the greater Sacramento area? Learn how to make your yard Summer Strong and discover water-saving rebates at BeWaterSmart.info.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Whispers of Adventure: Discovering Zijincheng's Hidden Secrets Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-02-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 紫禁城的冬日早晨，雪花轻轻地飘落在砖红色的城墙和金黄色的屋顶上。En: On a winter morning in Zijincheng, snowflakes gently fell on the brick-red city walls and the golden-yellow rooftops.Zh: 明和夏跟随他们的老师和同学们，兴奋地走入这座壮丽的古老宫殿。En: Ming and Xia followed their teacher and classmates, excitedly entering this magnificent ancient palace.Zh: 明总是对历史充满好奇心。En: Ming was always full of curiosity about history.Zh: 他走在队伍的最后，看着周围的景色，心里想着如何能找到一个不为人知的地方，让自己从人群中脱颖而出。En: He walked at the end of the line, looking around at the scenery, pondering how he could find an unknown place to distinguish himself from the crowd.Zh: 他的朋友夏平时很安静，但她喜欢读各种冒险故事，暗中希望自己也能有一次冒险。En: His friend Xia was usually very quiet, but she enjoyed reading various adventure stories, secretly hoping she could have an adventure herself.Zh: "夏，我有个主意。" 明悄悄地对夏说。En: "Xia, I have an idea," Ming whispered to Xia.Zh: “什么主意？” 夏好奇地问。En: "What idea?" Xia asked curiously.Zh: “我们一起去找一个没有人去过的地方。我听说，在紫禁城里，有一些不在官方导览里的秘密。” 明低声说道，眼中闪烁着兴奋的光芒。En: "Let's find a place no one else has been to. I heard there are some secrets in the Zijincheng that aren't on the official tour," Ming said softly, his eyes sparkling with excitement.Zh: 夏犹豫了一下，但她也想尝试着去冒险一次。En: Xia hesitated for a moment, but she also wanted to try going on an adventure.Zh: 于是，她点了点头。“好吧，但我们要快点，不能被发现。”En: So, she nodded. "Alright, but we have to be quick and not get caught."Zh: 他们趁着一个转角，无声无息地脱离了队伍。En: When they reached a corner, they silently separated from the group.Zh: 走过几道长廊，他们终于发现了一扇半掩着的旧木门。En: After walking through several corridors, they finally discovered a half-closed old wooden door.Zh: 门后，他们进入了一个古老而寂静的庭院。En: Behind the door, they entered an ancient and quiet courtyard.Zh: 庭院被雪覆盖，显得格外安宁，四周的树枝上挂着晶莹剔透的冰晶。En: The courtyard was covered with snow, appearing extraordinarily peaceful, with crystal-clear icicles hanging from the branches around.Zh: "这里真美。" 夏轻声说道。En: "This place is so beautiful," Xia said softly.Zh: "是啊，这就是我想看到的东西。" 明回道，脸上露出了得意的笑容。En: "Yeah, this is what I wanted to see," Ming replied, with a satisfied smile on his face.Zh: 但时间渐渐过去，两人意识到他们停留得太久，可能会错过和小组会合的时间。En: But as time passed, they realized they had stayed too long and might miss the group's meeting time.Zh: 顿时，他们的心跳加速，赶紧按照来时的路返回。En: Suddenly, their hearts beat faster, and they hurried back the way they came.Zh: 幸好，他们及时赶回起点，同学们正准备上车。En: Fortunately, they returned to the starting point in time, as the classmates were just preparing to get on the bus.Zh: “我们做到了。” 明喘着气说道。En: "We did it," Ming said, panting.Zh: “是啊，这趟冒险真值得。” 夏微微笑着，眼里充满了感激。En: "Yes, this adventure was truly worth it," Xia said with a slight smile, her eyes filled with gratitude.Zh: 回到车上，明和夏对视一眼，心照不宣地决定将这次不寻常的探索作为他们的小秘密。En: Back on the bus, Ming and Xia exchanged a glance, tacitly deciding to keep this unusual exploration as their little secret.Zh: 从此以后，明变得更自信，而夏也觉得冒险比想象中更有趣。En: From then on, Ming became more confident, and Xia found adventure more fascinating than she had imagined.Zh: 紫禁城的冒险，让他们的友谊更加深厚，并激励他们在生活中寻找更多可能性。En: The adventure in the Zijincheng deepened their friendship and inspired them to seek more possibilities in life. Vocabulary Words:snowflakes: 雪花brick-red: 砖红色rooftops: 屋顶magnificent: 壮丽的curiosity: 好奇心pondering: 思考distinguish: 脱颖而出secretly: 暗中hesitated: 犹豫corridors: 长廊half-closed: 半掩着的icicles: 冰晶extraordinarily: 格外admiration: 崇拜heartbeat: 心跳tacitly: 心照不宣地exploration: 探索confidence: 自信possibilities: 可能性adventure: 冒险whispered: 悄悄地说glance: 对视gratitude: 感激starting point: 起点fascinating: 有趣separated: 脱离discover: 发现courtyard: 庭院branches: 树枝sparkling: 闪烁

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unearthed Secrets: A Journey Through Time in Zijincheng Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-02-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 冬天的清晨，紫禁城被一层淡淡的雾气笼罩。En: On a winter morning, the Zijincheng was shrouded in a light layer of mist.Zh: 漫步在宏伟的宫殿间，莲心中充满了好奇。En: As Lian strolled among the magnificent palaces, her heart was filled with curiosity.Zh: 莲是一名历史学的学生，特别迷恋古代文物。En: Lian is a student of history, particularly fascinated by ancient artifacts.Zh: 今天，她和考古学家明约在紫禁城的庭院中汇合。En: Today, she is meeting with archaeologist Mingyue in the courtyard of the Zijincheng.Zh: 对于莲来说，这是一场不同寻常的探险。En: For Lian, this is an extraordinary adventure.Zh: 几天前，他们偶然发现了一张神秘的地图。En: A few days ago, they accidentally discovered a mysterious map.Zh: 地图上描述了一个隐藏的宝物，据说就埋藏在紫禁城的某个角落。En: The map described a hidden treasure, supposedly buried in some corner of the Zijincheng.Zh: 莲兴奋地想要揭开这个秘密，她总觉得这个宝物能为她的身份寻根溯源。En: Lian was excited to uncover the secret, feeling that this treasure might trace the roots of her identity.Zh: 然而，明对此持怀疑态度，认为地图可能不可信，而且关于守护灵的传说更是无稽之谈。En: However, Ming was skeptical, believing the map might not be credible, and the legends of guardian spirits were nonsense.Zh: “可这地图是不完整的。”明拿着地图说。En: "But this map is incomplete," Ming said, holding the map.Zh: 他脸上露出几分担忧，“你不觉得这太冒险了吗？”En: His face showed a hint of worry, "Don't you think this is too risky?"Zh: 莲坚定地说：“我们必须试一试。也许这是一生一次的机会。”En: Lian replied firmly, "We must try. Perhaps this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."Zh: 于是，两人开始沿着地图上的指引前进。En: Thus, the two began to follow the directions on the map.Zh: 冷风吹拂，紫禁城的庭院中静得出奇，仿佛在等待着什么。En: The cold wind blew, and the courtyard of the Zijincheng was unusually quiet, as if waiting for something.Zh: 随着越往前，路径变得越来越难辨。En: As they progressed, the path became increasingly indistinct.Zh: 莲拉紧她的围巾，对明轻声说：“就快到了。”En: Lian tightened her scarf and softly said to Ming, "We're almost there."Zh: 沿途，他们开始感到一种难以名状的压力，就像被某种无形的力量监视。En: Along the way, they began to feel an indescribable pressure, as if being watched by some invisible force.Zh: 突然，空气中响起了奇异的声音，树叶无风自响。En: Suddenly, strange sounds filled the air, and the leaves rustled without wind.Zh: 莲和明心中都涌起了一阵恐惧。En: Both Lian and Ming felt a surge of fear.Zh: “也许传说是真的？”明不再那么坚定。En: "Perhaps the legends are true?" Ming was no longer so steadfast.Zh: 他开始有些动摇。En: He started to waver.Zh: 但莲没有放弃。En: But Lian did not give up.Zh: 她感受到使命感的驱动，继续朝前走。En: Driven by a sense of mission, she continued walking forward.Zh: 不远处，一扇隐蔽的门出现在她的视野中。En: Not far away, a concealed door appeared in her sight.Zh: 两人对视一眼，默契地走上前去，推开那扇看似普通的门。En: They exchanged a glance and stepped forward in unison, pushing open what seemed like an ordinary door.Zh: 他们进入了一个小小的密室，映入眼帘的不是宝物，而是一段刻在石板上的信息。En: They entered a small secret chamber, where they were greeted not by treasure but by an inscription on a stone slab.Zh: 文字简单，却充满力量：“遗产重于金银，守护胜于占有。”En: The words were simple yet powerful: "Legacy is weightier than gold and silver, protection surpasses possession."Zh: 虽然没有找到预期中的宝物，莲却从中领悟到了更深刻的道理。En: Although they did not find the treasure they anticipated, Lian gained a deeper understanding.Zh: 她转向明，微笑着说：“有些秘密是属于过去的，值得我们去保护，而非占有。”En: She turned to Ming and said with a smile, "Some secrets belong to the past and are worth protecting, not possessing."Zh: 明点头，同意地说道：“历史的分量在于保存，而不是探寻。En: Ming nodded in agreement and said, "The significance of history lies in preservation, not exploration.Zh: 我们都学到了宝贵的一课。”En: We have both learned a valuable lesson."Zh: 走出密室，雾气渐渐散去，阳光重新洒在紫禁城壮丽的屋檐上。En: As they walked out of the secret chamber, the mist gradually dissipated, and the sunlight once again shone on the magnificent eaves of the Zijincheng.Zh: 莲与明在这一刻都明白了，守护历史才是最珍贵的宝藏。En: At that moment, both Lian and Ming understood that safeguarding history is the most precious treasure. Vocabulary Words:shrouded: 笼罩curiosity: 好奇magnificent: 宏伟artifacts: 文物extraordinary: 不同寻常accidentally: 偶然mysterious: 神秘treasure: 宝物skeptical: 怀疑credible: 可信legend: 传说guardian spirit: 守护灵incomplete: 不完整opportunity: 机会unusual: 出奇indistinct: 难辨scarf: 围巾indescribable: 难以名状pressure: 压力invisible: 无形concealed: 隐蔽inscription: 刻legacy: 遗产possession: 占有significance: 分量preservation: 保存exploration: 探寻gradually: 渐渐magnificent eaves: 壮丽的屋檐safeguarding: 守护

The Men Who Killed The News (Book)My Substack (Subscribe)* Consider leaving a review on Apple or Spotify * (nothing does more to help grow the show)---Eric Beecher is a veteran journalist, editor and entrepreneur whose experienced first hand the dramatic evolution of the previous 40 years of media. From broadsheet's to TV to the internet to facebook, podcasts, now AI. Eric has been across all these, both an employee and employer as the business models were repeatedly shaken and recast. And he asks, what is the cumulative damage when owners of journalism place profits and power over civic responsibility and decency. That book is called, ‘The Men Who Killed The News' and series a history of media moguldom, the perennial story of power and influence chipping away ever so gradually, the role good journalism esteems in helping us make sense of the world. It's not nostalgia for the good old days, but rather an attempt to understand how we got here, and whether there is anything that can be done about it.Eric was formerly the youngest editor at the Sydney Morning Herald before being recruited by Murdoch himself to run at the time, his latest media acquisition, before resigning sighting ethical differences. Eric runs today alongside his colleagues, Crikey, The Mandarin and SmartCompany. Eric is a major architect of modern Australian independent media, and it is my pleasure to welcome him to the podcast. 

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Li Yang's Voice: Courage and Change at the Climate Summit Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-01-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 北京的冬天寒冷而迷人，街道上挂满了节日的灯饰，雪花轻轻地飘落，给这个繁忙的城市增添了一丝宁静。En: The winter in Beijing is cold yet enchanting, with streets adorned with festive lights, as snowflakes gently fall, adding a touch of tranquility to this bustling city.Zh: 此时，国际气候变化高峰论坛正在一座宏伟的礼堂内举行，来自世界各地的代表们齐聚一堂。En: At this time, the International Climate Change Summit is being held in a grand hall, gathering delegates from around the world.Zh: 礼堂里，一场学校间的演讲比赛即将开始。En: In the hall, an inter-school speech competition is about to begin.Zh: 李阳，一位高中三年级的学生，站在后台，心中忐忑不安。En: Li Yang, a senior high school student, stands backstage, filled with nervousness.Zh: 她对环境保护充满热情，但面对大场合的演讲，她却总是感到不安。En: She is passionate about environmental protection, but when it comes to speaking in large venues, she always feels uneasy.Zh: 台下，是来自世界各地的权威和专家，气氛紧张而严肃。En: In the audience are authorities and experts from all over the world; the atmosphere is tense and serious.Zh: 身边的梅, 她的搭档，显得格外沉着自信。En: Beside her is Mei, her partner, who appears exceptionally calm and confident.Zh: 梅热爱舞台，从不害怕聚光灯的瞩目。En: Mei loves the stage and is never afraid of the spotlight.Zh: 而对李阳来说，仅仅站在这样的大舞台上，便已需要克服巨大的心理障碍。En: For Li Yang, just standing on such a large stage requires overcoming a huge psychological barrier.Zh: 比赛即将开始，梅微笑着对李阳说：“别担心，我们会做得很棒的。En: As the competition is about to start, Mei smiles and says to Li Yang, "Don't worry, we're going to do great."Zh: ”然而，李阳却不愿在此刻退缩。En: However, Li Yang is not willing to back down at this moment.Zh: 她点点头，心中默默决定：她也要站在舞台上，展现她对环保的热情。En: She nods, silently deciding in her heart: she too will stand on stage and demonstrate her passion for environmental protection.Zh: 轮到他们的时候，李阳和梅走上了舞台。En: When it's their turn, Li Yang and Mei walk onto the stage.Zh: 礼堂内一片寂静，所有的目光都聚集在她们身上。En: The hall falls silent, all eyes are on them.Zh: 李阳深吸一口气，开始了她的部分。En: Li Yang takes a deep breath and begins her part.Zh: 开头她有些结巴，但随着她的讲述深入，她的热忱逐渐战胜了恐惧。En: She starts with a bit of a stammer, but as she delves deeper into her story, her enthusiasm gradually overcomes her fear.Zh: 她谈到地球的未来，谈到年轻一代的责任，声音越来越坚定。En: She speaks about the future of the Earth, about the responsibility of the younger generation, and her voice grows more firm.Zh: 她动情地描述了自己对自然的热爱，以及希望通过行动改变世界的愿望。En: She passionately describes her love for nature and her wish to change the world through action.Zh: 每一个字都深深感染了现场的听众。En: Every word deeply moves the audience.Zh: 演讲结束，礼堂陷入了短暂的沉默，接着爆发出雷鸣般的掌声。En: When the speech concludes, the hall falls into a brief silence, followed by a thunderous applause.Zh: 李阳和梅微笑着离开舞台，她们的努力得到了认可。En: Li Yang and Mei leave the stage smiling, their efforts recognized.Zh: 李阳甚至收到了知名环境倡导者的个人赞誉，这让她倍感自豪。En: Li Yang even receives personal praise from a renowned environmental advocate, which makes her feel immensely proud.Zh: 此次演讲，不仅让学校在环保议题上崭露头角，也让李阳发现了自己声音的力量。En: This speech not only showcased the school in the field of environmental topics but also allowed Li Yang to discover the power of her own voice.Zh: 她知道，那些曾经让她恐惧的东西，如今变成了她迈向改变的动力。En: She realized that the things that once filled her with fear have now become her motivation to drive change.Zh: 此时，北京夜色降临，落雪为城市增添了一层银色的薄被。En: At this moment, night falls over Beijing, and the falling snow adds a silver blanket to the city.Zh: 李阳走在街头，心中充满了温暖和希望。En: Li Yang walks through the streets, her heart filled with warmth and hope.Zh: 无论前路多坎坷，她已经下定决心，要成为一个为环境发声的人。En: No matter how challenging the road ahead might be, she is determined to be a voice for the environment. Vocabulary Words:enchanting: 迷人adorned: 挂满snowflakes: 雪花tranquility: 宁静bustling: 繁忙delegates: 代表nervousness: 忐忑不安authority: 权威expert: 专家tense: 紧张barrier: 障碍stammer: 结巴firm: 坚定advocate: 倡导者praise: 赞誉immensely: 倍感showcase: 崭露头角motivation: 动力determined: 下定决心grand: 宏伟passionate: 热情psychological: 心理spotlight: 聚光灯concludes: 结束thunderous: 雷鸣般renowned: 知名hall: 礼堂generation: 一代delve: 深入overcomes: 战胜

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Secrets of the Forbidden City Revealed by Young Adventurers Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-01-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 紫禁城的秋风轻轻吹拂，金黄的屋顶在阳光下闪烁着耀眼的光芒。En: The autumn breeze softly brushed through the Zijin Cheng, the Forbidden City, as the golden roofs shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight.Zh: 紫涵和美玲，两个好朋友，跟随学校旅游团，一起踏入了这个宏伟的古老皇宫。En: Zihan and Meiling, two good friends, followed the school tour group and stepped into this magnificent ancient palace together.Zh: 紫涵充满期待地四下张望，他对历史充满浓厚的兴趣，总想找到一些不为人知的秘密来惊艳他的历史老师和同学。En: Zihan looked around full of expectation; he had a deep interest in history and always wanted to find some unknown secrets to impress his history teacher and classmates.Zh: 相比之下，美玲更享受与朋友们的嬉笑玩耍。En: In contrast, Meiling enjoyed laughing and playing with friends more.Zh: 她走在紫涵身边，手握相机，不时停下来与同学合影。En: She walked beside Zihan, holding a camera, and frequently stopped to take photos with classmates.Zh: "紫涵，你看，前面有一家很特别的纪念品店！"美玲兴奋地指着前方，她拉着紫涵的手，想要过去看看。En: "Zihan, look, there's a very special souvenir shop ahead!" Meiling excitedly pointed forward, pulling Zihan's hand, eager to go and see.Zh: 紫涵却显得有些犹豫，他心中依然惦记着他的历史探险计划。En: However, Zihan appeared a bit hesitant, his mind still preoccupied with his historical exploration plan.Zh: "美玲，我想去那边的安静角落看看。或许能发现什么特别的东西呢。”紫涵指了指一处鲜有人至的角落。En: "Meiling, I want to check out that quiet corner over there. Maybe I'll discover something special." Zihan pointed to a scarcely visited corner.Zh: 美玲噘了噘嘴，但还是理解地点了点头，“好吧，不过你可要快点，我还想去那边的凉亭小歇一会儿呢。”En: Meiling pouted but understandingly nodded, "Alright, but hurry up, I still want to rest for a while at the pavilion over there."Zh: 紫涵走向那片静谧之地，他仔细观察着屋檐上的雕刻和墙上的图案。En: Zihan headed towards the tranquil area, carefully observing the carvings on the eaves and the patterns on the walls.Zh: 他突然注意到一位坐在角落里的老先生，手中捧着一本泛黄的书。En: He suddenly noticed an elderly gentleman sitting in the corner, holding a yellowed book.Zh: "您好，您在看什么？"紫涵好奇地问。En: "Hello, what are you reading?" Zihan asked curiously.Zh: 老先生抬起头来，微微一笑，“孩子，你对这里感兴趣吗？让我来告诉你一个秘密。En: The old gentleman looked up, smiling slightly, "Child, are you interested in this place? Let me tell you a secret.Zh: 在这片宫墙后，其实有一个隐藏的密室，曾经是皇帝秘密会面的地方。”En: Behind these palace walls, there's actually a hidden chamber which used to be where the emperor held secret meetings."Zh: 紫涵听得目瞪口呆，这个信息正是他想要的。En: Zihan listened, dumbfounded—this information was exactly what he was looking for.Zh: 他飞快地将这一消息记录下来，然后兴冲冲地跑回到美玲和大家身边。En: He quickly jotted down the news and then eagerly ran back to Meiling and everyone else.Zh: “大家，我有一个惊人的发现！”紫涵大声说道，随后把关于密室的故事讲给大家听。En: "Everyone, I have an amazing discovery!" Zihan exclaimed loudly, and then told the story about the secret chamber.Zh: 朋友们听得入神，连老师都对紫涵刮目相看。En: His friends listened intently, and even the teacher looked at Zihan with new respect.Zh: “紫涵，你真厉害！”美玲对紫涵竖起大拇指，表示赞许。En: "Zihan, you're amazing!" Meiling gave him a thumbs-up to show her praise.Zh: 虽然她更喜欢拍照玩耍，但她也知道紫涵的发现有多么难得。En: Although she preferred taking photos and playing, she also recognized how rare Zihan's find was.Zh: 经过这次经历，紫涵对自己的兴趣更加充满信心，并学会了如何在追求历史知识与享受友谊之间找到平衡。En: After this experience, Zihan felt more confident about his interests and learned how to balance the pursuit of historical knowledge with enjoying friendships.Zh: 而美玲呢，也开始对这些古迹产生浓厚的兴趣，理解了教育体验的真正价值。En: As for Meiling, she also began to develop a strong interest in these ancient sites, understanding the true value of educational experiences.Zh: 在夕阳的余晖下，他们逐渐离开紫禁城，那金色的宫墙悄悄地陪伴着两个年轻人的成长与领悟。En: Under the afterglow of the sunset, they gradually left the Forbidden City, with the golden palace walls quietly accompanying the growth and understanding of these two young individuals. Vocabulary Words:breeze: 秋风shimmered: 闪烁magnificent: 宏伟expectation: 期待unknown: 不为人知impress: 惊艳contrast: 相比之下souvenir: 纪念品preoccupied: 惦记tranquil: 静谧carvings: 雕刻eaves: 屋檐elderly: 老yellowed: 泛黄secret: 秘密dumbfounded: 目瞪口呆discovery: 发现thumbs-up: 竖起大拇指balance: 平衡pursuit: 追求value: 价值afterglow: 余晖accompanying: 陪伴growth: 成长understanding: 领悟palace: 皇宫ancient: 古老frequently: 不时curious: 好奇jotted: 记录

Today's Episode:Discover how a young woman from the UK fell head-over-heels for Chinese food and became one of its greatest storytellers. In this episode, meet Fuchsia Dunlop — the first foreigner to train at a Sichuan chef school, and explore her delicious journey into Chinese cuisine.Membership Preview:Discover China's breakfast culture with next MaoMi Chinese+ episode! From hot, filling meals in the north to soft, light dishes in the south, and unique local specialties in every city. Learn about morning markets, local traditions, and the warmth of a Chinese morning.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

Chinese characters are beautiful and fascinating, but learning to write them by hand is time-consuming. If you want to learn to write Chinese characters by hand with the least possible time investment, what's the best approach?#learnchinese #characters #hanzi #handwriting #strategyA minimum-effort approach to writing Chinese characters by hand: https://www.hackingchinese.com/a-minimum-effort-approach-to-writing-chinese-characters-by-handThe building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-building-blocks-of-chinese-part-1-chinese-characters-and-words-in-a-nutshellMy best advice on how to learn Chinese characters: https://www.hackingchinese.com/my-best-advice-on-how-to-learn-chinese-characters16 reasons to learn to write Chinese characters by hand: https://www.hackingchinese.com/reasons-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-handDo you have to learn to write Chinese characters by hand? https://www.hackingchinese.com/is-it-necessary-to-learn-to-write-chinese-characters-by-handHow to improve your Chinese handwriting: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-improve-your-chinese-handwritingAn introduction to extensive reading for Chinese learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/introduction-extensive-reading-chinese-learnersWhat to read to improve your Chinese and why: https://www.hackingchinese.com/what-to-read-to-improve-your-chinese-and-whyLearning to pronounce Mandarin with Pinyin, Zhuyin and IPA: Part 1: https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-to-pronounce-mandarin-with-pinyin-zhuyin-and-ipa-part-1How to learn Zhuyin (Bopomofo) in two hours: https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-learn-zhuyin-bopomofo-in-two-hoursPhonetic components, part 1: The key to 80% of all Chinese characters: http://www.hackingchinese.com/phonetic-components-part-1-the-key-to-80-of-all-chinese-charactersSpaced repetition software and why you should use it: http://www.hackingchinese.com/an-introduction-to-spaced-repetition-softwareSkritter review: Boosting your Chinese character learning: http://www.hackingchinese.com/boosting-your-character-learning-with-skritterLearning to write Chinese characters through communication: http://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-to-write-chinese-characters-through-communicationReal communication: What it is, why you want it and how to get it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/real-communication-what-it-is-why-you-want-it-and-how-to-get-itMore information and inspiration about learning and teaching Chinese can be found at https://www.hackingchinese.comMusic: "Traxis 1 ~ F. Benjamin" by Traxis, 2020 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: From Tension to Triumph: An Office Team's Revival Story Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-11-30-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在秋天的某个早晨，公司办公室的玻璃墙上反射着城市的晨光。En: On a certain autumn morning, the glass walls of the company's office reflected the city's morning light.Zh: 员工们一边忙着手中的工作，一边不时地讨论着一个对公司未来至关重要的项目。En: The employees were busy with their work while occasionally discussing a project critical to the company's future.Zh: 这个项目的成功与否，直接关系到连和伟两人的职业生涯。En: The success or failure of this project directly affected the careers of both Lian and Wei.Zh: 连是这个项目的项目经理，En: Lian is the project manager for this project.Zh: 她是一个追求完美的人，希望通过这次项目能获得晋升。En: She is a perfectionist, hoping to earn a promotion through this project.Zh: 伟是团队的领队，他更看重团队的协调与每一个成员的贡献。En: Wei is the team leader, and he values team coordination and each member's contribution more.Zh: 两人的目标虽然不同，但都希望这个项目能够顺利完成。En: Although their goals are different, both hope this project will be completed smoothly.Zh: 一天，团队收到一个坏消息。En: One day, the team received bad news.Zh: 负责供应的供应商没有按时交货，这会严重影响项目的进度。En: The supplier responsible for supplies did not deliver on time, which would severely affect the project timeline.Zh: 连感到前所未有的压力，她开始事无巨细地管理每一个细节，这让团队成员们感到疲惫。En: Lian felt unprecedented pressure and began to manage every detail meticulously, leaving the team members exhausted.Zh: 伟看在眼里，他认为现阶段需要寻找新的解决方案，而不是纠结于细节。En: Wei noticed this and believed that it was necessary to find new solutions at this stage, rather than being bogged down with details.Zh: 伟决定和连沟通。En: Wei decided to communicate with Lian.Zh: “连，我知道你为了项目付出了很多。En: “Lian, I know you've put a lot into this project.Zh: 但现在是时候考虑新的方案了。” 伟说道。En: But now it's time to consider new solutions,” Wei said.Zh: 他建议联系其他供应商，或尝试寻找替代材料。En: He suggested contacting other suppliers or trying to find alternative materials.Zh: 连犹豫不决。En: Lian was indecisive.Zh: 她知道如果不改变计划，可能会错过截止日期。En: She knew that if they didn't change the plan, they might miss the deadline.Zh: 但是改变计划，意味着会有更大的未知风险。En: But changing the plan meant greater unknown risks.Zh: “我们能做到吗？”连问伟。En: "Can we do it?" Lian asked Wei.Zh: 伟坚定地看着她，“我们是一个团队，一定能成功的。”En: Wei looked at her firmly, “We are a team, and we will definitely succeed.”Zh: 连最终下定决心，选择相信伟的提议。En: Lian finally made up her mind and chose to trust Wei's proposal.Zh: 她允许团队以新的方式开展工作。En: She allowed the team to work in a new way.Zh: 随着截止日期越来越近，整个办公室的气氛愈加紧张。En: As the deadline approached, the atmosphere in the office grew increasingly tense.Zh: 但在伟的带领下，团队成员们齐心协力，终于在最后时刻完成了项目。En: But under Wei's leadership, the team members worked together and finally completed the project at the last moment.Zh: 上级对这个结果非常满意，并给予了连和伟高度的评价。En: The higher-ups were very satisfied with the result and gave Lian and Wei high praise.Zh: 连意识到，合作和信任往往比个人追求更重要。En: Lian realized that cooperation and trust are often more important than personal pursuits.Zh: 她学会了倾听自己的团队，并在随后的工作中，变得更加开放。En: She learned to listen to her team and became more open in subsequent work.Zh: 秋天的阳光依旧温暖，办公室里的员工们也重新展现出活力。En: The autumn sunlight remained warm, and the employees in the office regained their vitality.Zh: 对于连和伟来说，这不只是一个项目的结束，而是一个新开始。En: For Lian and Wei, this was not just the end of a project, but a new beginning.Zh: 未来，他们将一起继续创造属于他们的辉煌。En: In the future, they will continue to create brilliance that belongs to them together. Vocabulary Words:autumn: 秋天reflected: 反射perfectionist: 追求完美的人promotion: 晋升coordination: 协调contribution: 贡献supplier: 供应商timeline: 进度meticulously: 事无巨细地exhausted: 疲惫alternatives: 替代材料indecisive: 犹豫不决deadline: 截止日期proposal: 提议tensive: 紧张atmosphere: 气氛praise: 评价realized: 意识到cooperation: 合作trust: 信任pursuits: 追求subsequent: 随后的remained: 依旧vitality: 活力careers: 职业生涯smoothly: 顺利unprecedented: 前所未有firmly: 坚定地allocated: 分配brilliance: 辉煌

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Overcoming Fears: Lina's Brave Leap for Career Success Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-11-30-08-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 办公室里，一片节日气氛。En: The office was filled with a festive atmosphere.Zh: 温暖的灯光中，圣诞树上挂满了彩色的灯泡和金色的小铃铛。En: In the warm lighting, the Christmas tree was adorned with colorful lights and golden little bells.Zh: 每个角落都洋溢着节日的喜庆。En: Every corner was brimming with the joy of the holiday.Zh: 而窗外，寒冷的秋末冬初风轻轻吹拂。En: Outside the window, a cold late autumn, early winter breeze blew gently.Zh: 这天，公司举办圣诞节派对。En: On this day, the company was holding a Christmas party.Zh: 作为一名尽职却内向的初级经理，丽娜走进装饰得焕然一新的办公室，内心忐忑不安。En: As a diligent but introverted junior manager, Lina walked into the newly decorated office, feeling nervous inside.Zh: 她希望能在今天的派对上吸引到陈经理的注意，争取到升职的机会，但她一直挣扎于自己的社交恐惧。En: She hoped to catch Chen manager's attention at today's party and strive for a promotion opportunity, but she constantly struggled with her social anxiety.Zh: 丽娜的同事，小魏，正在热情地与其他同事交谈，似乎浑身充满了活力和自信。En: Lina's colleague, Xiao Wei, was enthusiastically chatting with other colleagues, seemingly full of energy and confidence.Zh: 小魏注意到了站在一旁不知所措的丽娜，鼓励她：“没关系，丽娜，今天是个好机会，你要抓住机会自我表现。”En: Xiao Wei noticed Lina standing awkwardly on the side and encouraged her, “It's okay, Lina. Today is a good opportunity; you should seize the chance to express yourself.”Zh: 丽娜点了点头，但心里依旧不安。En: Lina nodded, but she was still anxious inside.Zh: 终于，礼物交换环节开始了。En: Finally, the gift exchange segment began.Zh: 秘书将一个精美的礼物递给丽娜，里面是一条手工围巾。En: The secretary handed Lina a delicate gift, which contained a handmade scarf.Zh: 丽娜轻声道谢，但她注意到，陈经理也在看着这边。En: Lina softly thanked them but noticed that Manager Chen was also looking in this direction.Zh: 献礼时间到了，丽娜做了一个深呼吸，决定迎接挑战。En: The time came for gift presentations, and Lina took a deep breath, deciding to face the challenge.Zh: 她拿着礼物，尽量自然地走到了不远处的陈经理面前。En: She held the gift and walked as naturally as possible towards Manager Chen.Zh: 陈经理微笑地看着她，似乎在等待她的发言。En: Manager Chen smiled at her, seemingly expecting her to speak.Zh: 丽娜清了清嗓子，声音微微颤抖地说：“陈经理，感谢您一直以来的指导和帮助。En: Lina cleared her throat and, with a slightly trembling voice, said, “Manager Chen, thank you for your guidance and support all this time.Zh: 我也想借此机会感谢我的团队，感谢所有的支持和鼓励。En: I also want to take this opportunity to thank my team and everyone for their support and encouragement.Zh: 我希望能有更多的机会为公司贡献。”En: I hope to have more opportunities to contribute to the company.”Zh: 陈经理被丽娜的勇气打动，认真的回声：“你的表现和努力我都看在眼里，En: Manager Chen was moved by Lina's courage and sincerely responded, “I have noticed your performance and effort.Zh: 改天我们找时间聊聊你在公司的未来。”En: Let's find some time to talk about your future in the company soon.”Zh: 丽娜惊喜地笑了，心中充满了说不出的欣喜和满足。En: Lina smiled with surprise, her heart filled with indescribable joy and satisfaction.Zh: 原来，只要踏出那一小步，她可以克服恐惧，勇敢去争取想要的东西。En: It turns out that with just a small step forward, she could overcome her fear and bravely strive for what she wanted.Zh: 派对上，气氛愈发欢快。En: At the party, the atmosphere became increasingly joyful.Zh: 丽娜心中不再胆怯，取而代之的是一种全新的自信。En: No longer timid, Lina felt a new sense of confidence.Zh: 这次经历让她明白，她的能力和努力值得被关注和认可。En: This experience taught her that her abilities and efforts deserve attention and recognition.Zh: 不远处，小魏给了她一个鼓励的眼神，丽娜感激地回以笑容。En: Not far away, Xiao Wei gave her an encouraging look, and Lina gratefully returned the smile.Zh: 窗外寒风依旧，但办公室里已是暖意融融。En: The cold wind still blew outside, but inside the office, warmth prevailed.Zh: 丽娜感受到一种全新的节日氛围，她知道，未来一切都会越来越好。En: Lina felt a brand-new holiday atmosphere, knowing that everything in the future would only get better. Vocabulary Words:festive: 节日atmosphere: 气氛adorned: 挂满breeze: 风diligent: 尽职introverted: 内向nervous: 忐忑不安promotion: 升职anxiety: 恐惧enthusiastically: 热情地confident: 自信awkwardly: 不知所措seize: 抓住delicate: 精美trembling: 颤抖guidance: 指导satisfaction: 满足timid: 胆怯recognition: 认可prevail: 融融contribute: 贡献opportunity: 机会support: 支持encouragement: 鼓励overcome: 克服enthusiasm: 欢快fear: 恐惧challenge: 挑战attention: 关注joyful: 喜庆