About us
This is a group for anyone wishing to learn Mandarin. We aim to provide a friendly community for anyone learning or wishing to learn Mandarin Chinese. We welcome people of all levels from beginner to native speaker. Founded, October 2009.
Joining the meetup group
To be a member of this group, you need to have a profile photo in which you are recognizable as yourself. This helps people recognize each other at meetups. This is required for all members joining after January 2022. For all members of the group, please do not use AI generated photos and photos of other people. Also, please join the group with your actual name and in your personal capacity, not as a company or organization.
Member information
As from June 2024, regular Meetup members (without an organizer subscription)
- Can view the information on the home page and event pages of public meetup groups.
- Can view names but not profile pictures on attendee lists for events.
- Cannot view the full members list.
- Can view the list of organizers.
May 2026 Reading Text
Stories of the Sahara - Ch. 18 - Crying Camels
撒哈拉的故事 - 18 - 哭泣的骆驼（节录）
作者：三毛
Links to all reading text files
Chinese text with pinyin and selected vocabulary and explanations provided in Google Sheets. Best viewed on Chrome or Firefox browsers.
May 2026 Topics
May 2 - Mandarin English Conversation Practice - Saturday Afternoon Online
Childhood dreams
童年梦想
(suggested by Maria)
May 6 - All Mandarin Online Conversation Meetup - Advanced Learners
The most annoying thing anyone has ever said to you.
别人对你说过的最令人恼火的话。
(suggested by Natalie)
May 13 - All Mandarin Online Conversation Meetup - Advanced Learners
Do two incomes make us poorer than one income?
双收入会不会使我们比单收入贫穷？
(suggested by Stefanie)
Mandarin Language Groups
We run small groups for beginners and intermediate learners so they can build up their Mandarin language skills in a friendly, constructive environment. Advanced learners can practice with each other and help beginners. Once or twice a month we will have social and reading meetups for learners of all levels, held online on Zoom, or offline in a venue likely to be in London. We will also try to organize outdoor language exchange events for the group.
Zoom meetings
Please note that in our Zoom meetings, participants are encouraged to use the Zoom chat window to write down words and expressions to help each other learn. No participant has the right to restrict how and when another participant uses the chat window. The host has overall responsibility for how the meetup is conducted. Where there is anti-social behaviour, such should be reported to the host.
Event Cancellation
Some groups cancel events at the last minute because there are too few signups. We will not do this. If an event is announced, it will be held. Unless there is inclement weather, a natural disaster or a serious transport strike, there will not be a cancellation.
If an event can only be held if a certain number of members sign up, this will be stated on the event page when the event is announced.
No-Flake, Zero No-show group
Group events often involve reservations at restaurants and hiring of venues. Organizers have to put in a lot of effort to set up the event. Members might change work schedules and travel far to meet other members. It is inconsiderate to the group and its members to sign up for in-person events and then send in a last-minute cancellation or do a no-show.
No-shows and flake outs undermine the relationship between organizers and members, and destroy the community spirit of meetups. The attendance record has a large role to play in deciding how we host future events, and in the extreme case, if we can even have events.
We should try to make our group a no-flake, zero no-show group. Let's make a commitment to respect each other, and support group events by showing up.
‘People feel they don’t owe anyone anything’: the rise in ‘flaking’ out of social plans - The Guardian
No-shows:
If you sign up for an event, please show up. If you have a schedule change and can't make it, please change your RSVP to "Not going". All no-shows in all meetups from 2022 onwards have been marked as such, so the attendee lists all reflect actual attendance. For in-person meetups, no-shows will be recorded when and where it is practical to do so.
Group Links:
London Mandarin Learners Pages (Google Sheets)
Screenshots of all LML Pages (Google Docs)
Event Notes - 2022
Group Message Board - Archive - feature removed by Meetup in July 2024
Group Mailing List - Archive - feature removed by Meetup in July 2024
List of links to Reading Text - 2022
List of Chinese English Language Exchange and Learning meetup groups in the UK and North America
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Banner graphic:
選對 - Choosing Right - Uploaded By Erica (Minhua) - February 23, 2014
Reading Meetup: Twenty Tips: 阅读活动：二十个推荐
- from LML photo album
Upcoming events
3
Mandarin English Conversation Practice - Saturday Afternoon Online
·OnlineOnlineTopic:
Paranormal experiences
超自然经历
- our own experiences (if any) and stories we've heard
----子曰："见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。"
- 论语Mandarin Learners, let's get together online for an afternoon of Mandarin conversation practice for all levels. When we run out of vocabulary, we continue to chat in English, but we write down the words we want to learn how to say in Chinese, and we ask our Mandarin speaking friends to help.
我们在线上聚会，练习中文会话。当遇到难题，不知道用中文该如何表达，我们用英语记下来，找说中文的朋友来帮忙。欢迎不同水平的中文学习者参与。
To get an idea of the sort of topics and vocabulary we cover in our online converation practice meetups, please have a look at our Event Notes page. Best viewed with a web browser on a computer.
Attendance at previous Saturday morning conversation event: 12
Start time: 3:00 PM London time (Saturday, May 16th, 2026)
Zoom meeting room will open at 2:50 PM
RSVPs close at 2:00 PM3:00 PM - Introductions in Mandarin and English, Housekeeping announcements
3:30 PM - Topic of the day in breakout rooms- Participants will be asked to suggest a topic. We'll vote to decide.
- Mandarin only rooms for intermediate and advanced Mandarin speakers
- Mandarin English mixed conversation rooms for language exchange
- Chinese text and vocabulary reading practice - New!
- Zoom session will be set up to allow participants to move between rooms and take part in different conversations
- 30-40 minutes per session.
5:00 PM - End. Anyone who wants to chat in English can stay on for another half an hour.
Topic:
Paranormal experiences
超自然经历
- our own experiences (if any) and stories we've heardPlease note that topics are icebreaker suggestions, you can talk about anything you like in the breakout rooms, just try to do it in Mandarin.
Reading room:
The Three Body Problem - Ch. 19 - Three Body: Einstein, the Pendulum Monument, and the Great Rip
by Liu Cixin
三体 - 19 - 三体、爱因斯坦、单摆、大撕裂（节录）
作者：刘慈欣Reading text
Chinese text with pinyin and selected vocabulary and explanations provided in Google Sheets. Best viewed on Chrome or Firefox browsers.
050-A|Three Body: Einstein, the Pendulum... - reading page with pinyin (beginners)
t-050-B - the original article (advanced)
t-050-C - vocabulary with pinyin and definitions (from Google, with corrections)
t-050-D - Chinese text with pinyin and definitions (beginners)Further Reading
The Three Body Problem on Wikipedia
三体 - 维基百科Leaving before the end
Participants can leave any time they like. The main thing is for everyone to try and take part in the Mandarin conversation, and make an effort to express themselves and communicate with others in Mandarin.No-shows:
If you sign up for an event, please show up. If you have a schedule change and can't make it, please change your RSVP to "Not going". No-shows will be marked as such, so that attendee lists can accurately reflect attendance.Webcams:
Participants will be asked to turn on their webcams so we can interact with each other just like we're in a face to face meetup. Please make sure your webcam and microphone are working before you log on.Who should take part in this event?
- Intermediate learners.
- Beginners who would like to try something more difficult.
- Advanced learners who would like to help other learners.
- Native speakers of Mandarin with good command of English who would like to help.
Who should not take part in this event?
- People who just decided last week they wanted to start learning Mandarin.
- If you can't read basic Chinese characters in Pinyin, you're not a beginner. You need to spend a few months with a Mandarin teacher or a language learning App.
- Native speakers of Mandarin who only want to practice English.
Required:
- A computer with Zoom installed.
- A reliable internet connection.
- A working webcam.
- Web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari.
- A Gmail account for sharing Google sheets and docs.
Zoom link and password:
Please do not post Zoom login information on social media or on public pages of the Meetup website.Before logging in, please read the following page:
Usage of Zoom and Tips for a better online meetup
*** No participant has the right to restrict how and when another participant uses the chat window. The host has overall control over how the meetup is conducted.*
- Zoom recording by participants is disabled and is not permitted throughout the course of the meetup session. If for some reason part of the session needs to be recorded, this will be done by the host, and participants will be given forewarning.
- Taking photos and videos of participants and posting them online without permission is not allowed.
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Banner graphic:
選對 - Choosing Right - Uploaded By Erica (Minhua) - February 23, 2014
Reading Meetup: Twenty Tips: 阅读活动：二十个推荐
- from LML photo album1 attendee
All Mandarin Online Conversation Meetup - Advanced Learners
·OnlineOnline各位高阶的中文学习者，在这个网上聚会里，让我们挑战自己，只用中文（普通话）来交流。大家不要说英语！遇到难题可以在聊天窗里用英语做笔记，我们一起去探究中文该如何说。大家互相帮忙，一起学习。
若人数太少，很难进行交流。如聚会前一天参加人数仍不足四人（主持人以外），此聚会将可能延后一周在同一时间段举行。届时将通过 Meetup 通讯公告参加者。
上次聚会参加者总数：3
建议话题：
Stories about adventures or traveling
有关旅游或探险的故事
(inspired by last week's Song Sharing theme)自选话题
时事新闻 娱乐八卦 体育运动 音乐艺术
生活旅游 政治宗教 吃喝玩乐 烹饪家政
科技科学 诗词文学 历史哲学 地理文明聚会时间
二零二六年六月三日，伦敦时间周三中午十二点开始（美东时间周三早上八点 - 美国在本月第二个星期天开始实施夏令时间）
伦敦时间周三早上十一点终止报名聚会方式
人多分组，人少不分。一边谈话，一边研讨。只说中文，不说外语。遇到疑难，互相帮助。话题
能说流利的中文，当能天南地北，风花雪月，无需事先准备，随便点个话题，即可举一反三，出口成章。大家即兴想说什么就说什么，话到穷时可以聊最近忙些什么。注："风花雪月" 原指旧时诗文里经常描写的自然景物。（见百度百科解释）
提前下线
参加者什么时候都可以下线，聚会期间请尽量说中文，积极参与交流。缺席
报了名参加聚会的会员请尽量出席。如若不能，请把 RSVP 改为 "Not going"，或通过 Meetup 通讯告知主持人，或在本页留言。缺席（no-show）是对自己不尊重，也对聚会不尊重，为认真求学者所不取。摄像头
参加者需要打开摄像头，让大家可以看见对方，如同面对面的聚会，这样有利于交流。谁该参加这个聚会？
非中文母语的高阶中文学习者。请打开我们最近的阅读文章档案，若可以不看拼音而能够轻易朗读出其中文字，加上能与别人用纯中文交谈，不用加插外语，阁下便是高阶学习者。欢迎来参加聚会。
阅读文章：霉霉的纽约大学毕业演讲已经能说流利中文，为何还要参加聚会？
登高博见，见贤思齐。熟能生巧，业精于勤。（荀子，论语，韩愈）
只要求学心诚，天地虽大，却到处都是同道和朋友。中文母语的会员可否参加？
中文母语的朋友最好参加伦敦时间周六下午的聚会，这个活动就留给非中文母语的朋友自己奋斗吧。Zoom 的使用守则
- 请注意，聚会中任何参加者不得干预其他参加者如何使用 Zoom 的聊天窗。若有特殊事情发生，主持人会处理。
- Zoom 的录像功能将全程关闭，若出现特殊情况需要录像，将由主持人进行，并会预先通知参加者。
- 参加者不得在未经其他参加者同意的情况下拍照、录像，并上载到网上。
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页顶横幅:
二十个推荐
伦敦中文学士会员敏华上载 - 二零一四年二月二十三日
阅读活动：伦敦中文学士组照片库2 attendees
Online Reading Meetup for all levels
·OnlineOnlineText from:
Stories of the Sahara - Ch. 19 - Lonesome Land
by Sanmao
撒哈拉的故事 - 19 - 寂地（节录）
作者：三毛Reading text
Chinese text with pinyin and selected vocabulary and explanations provided in Google Sheets. Best viewed on Chrome or Firefox browsers.
037-A|Lonesome Land - reading page with pinyin (beginners)
t-037-B - the original article (advanced)
t-037-C - vocabulary with pinyin and definitions (from Google, with corrections)
t-037-D - Chinese text with pinyin and definitions (beginners)Further Reading
三毛 - 维基百科
撒哈拉的故事 - 百度百科
Sanmao - Wikipedia
Stories of the Sahara - Wikipedia
Sahara Stories
"Stories of the Sahara" by SanmaoAbout the event
The purpose of this series of reading meetups is not to handhold participants through reading Chinese text, but to introduce written material that can readily be applied to one's learning of the language.Attendance at previous Saturday morning reading event: 12
Start time: 3:00 PM London time (Saturday, June 6th, 2026)
Zoom meeting room will open at 2:50 PM
RSVPs close at 2:00 PM3:00 PM - Introductions in Mandarin and English, Housekeeping announcements
3:15 PM - Reading in breakout rooms- We'll go into breakout rooms and learn the pinyin and vocabulary in the spreadsheet
- We take turns to read the text out loud and help each other get the pinyin and tones correct
4:15 PM - Sharing and discussion in the main room
- We'll share what we learnt in the breakout rooms.
- Ask questions about interesting vocabulary and sentence structures.
- Share background material about the text.
5:00 PM - End.
- Beginners can stay and read the text again.
- Advanced learners can stay to help if they have time.
- We'll try and help everyone taking part to read at least a paragraph of the text based on the characters and pinyin.
Leaving before the end
Participants can leave any time they like. The main thing is for everyone to try and take part in the Mandarin conversation, and make an effort to express themselves and communicate with others in Mandarin.No-shows:
If you sign up for an event, please show up. If you have a schedule change and can't make it, please change your RSVP to "Not going". No-shows will be marked as such, so that attendee lists can accurately reflect attendance.Webcams:
Participants will be asked to turn on their webcams so we can interact with each other just like we're in a face to face meetup. Please make sure your webcam and microphone are working before you log on.Who should take part in this event?
- Intermediate learners.
- Beginners who would like to try something more difficult.
- Advanced learners who would like to help other learners.
- Native speakers of Mandarin with good command of English who would like to help.
Who should not take part in this event?
- People who just decided last week they wanted to start learning Mandarin.
- If you can't read basic Chinese characters in Pinyin, you're not a beginner. You need to spend a few months with a Mandarin teacher or a language learning App.
- Native speakers of Mandarin who only want to practice English.
Required:
- A computer with Zoom installed.
- A reliable internet connection.
- A working webcam.
- Web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari.
- A Gmail account for sharing Google sheets and docs.
Zoom link and password:
Please do not post Zoom login information on social media or on public pages of the Meetup website.
Before logging in, please read the following page:Usage of Zoom and Tips for a better online meetup
*** No participant has the right to restrict how and when another participant uses the chat window. The host has overall control over how the meetup is conducted.*
- Zoom recording by participants is disabled and is not permitted throughout the course of the meetup session. If for some reason part of the session needs to be recorded, this will be done by the host, and participants will be given forewarning.
- Taking photos and videos of participants and posting them online without permission is not allowed.
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Banner photo:
Stories of the Sahara (Cover)
- from Wikipedia1 attendee
Past events
649
