What we’re about
* Currently, our activities focus on language learning (listening and conversational practice, particularly in Mandarin and Cantonese) and Chinese culture (especially music, poems, movies, regional cuisines, art, calligraphy, history)
* Use your computer to plan ahead.
Look at our monthly calendar to find activities that appeal to you:
https://www.meetup.com/austin-chinese-language-and-culture/events/calendar/
RSVP a week in advance if you can. Otherwise, do so at least a day before the event.
If no one signs up for an event, it will probably be cancelled a couple of days before.
* Use the app to check messages (Event Chats and Direct Messages) a day or two before any event for possible discussion.
If you won't be able to attend, update your RSVP before the event starts.
If the host needs to make a schedule change, s/he should do so before the event start time, preferably at least a day in advance.
* Participate regularly.
If we don't see you for a few weeks, you'll probably be removed from the group. Nothing personal--our events probably just don't fit your interests or schedule.
* We're here to learn and improve.
Participate in online activities using headphones and from a quiet location.
Be open to information/strategies that may challenge your practices.
We invite discussion based on research/experience.
* Please do not advertise, attack, campaign, proposition, proselytize, or solicit.
If anyone contacts you through Meetup to do any of these, please let us know.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- [cameras on] intermediate (口语和书面) Mandarin listening comprehension study sessionLink visible for attendees
Participants should recognize and understand over 800 words and be familiar with a variety of verb complements (不得了，到，好，起來，完). An ideal participant should be able to understand the use of 比 in comparisons, 把 in "disposal" constructions, and 被 to express passive voice. We will emphasize fairly standard Putonghua pronunciation but also work towards comprehending regional accents.
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During the meeting, please
[1] be in a distraction-free, quiet environment;
[2] use headphones to minimize audio feedback;
[3] pay close attention to melody, rhythm, and sounds.---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
my favorite resources
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9:00 听力 listening / "comprehensible input" warm-up
大鹏说中文 Speak Chinese with Da Peng
Chinese Talk Ep. 30 牛仔节---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
9:15 发音 pronunciation/accent warm-up
紫 (zǐ; ㄗˇ) "purple"
指 (zhǐ; ㄓˇ) "finger"
词/詞 (cí; ㄘˊ) "word"
迟/遲 (chí; ㄔˊ) "late"
四 (sì; ㄙˋ) "four"
是 (shì; ㄕˋ) "to be"tone pair practice
绕口令 (tongue twisters)
这千字幕只是前年之前值钱。
Zhè qiān zìmù zhǐshì qiánnián zhīqián zhí qián.
These thousand subtitles were valuable only before (until) the year before last.即使技术解释及时结束继续接收建议。
Jíshǐ jìshù jiěshì jíshí jiéshù jìxù jiēshōu jiànyì.
Even if the technology explanations conclude in time, we'll continue to accept suggestions.其实，即使七十名骑士及时知道的知识确实只是事实，也没事。
Qíshí, jíshǐ qīshí míng qíshì jíshí zhīdào de zhīshì qíshí quèshí zhǐshì shìshí, yě méishì.
Actually, even if the knowledge that seventy knights knew in time was in fact simply factual, it would be fine.---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
9:25 听力 listening / "comprehensible input" and study
瞎扯学中文 Convo Chinese
Ep. 17 加纳利岛上的爱情故事---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
10:00 口语词汇 conversational vocabulary
rénshānrénhǎi "people everywhere"
Nǐ xíng, nǐ shàng "Put up or shut up."
xiǎng dé měi "In your dreams!"; "Dream on!"
méimén; méimé'r "No way!"wàng méi zhǐ kě (lit. “quench thirst by looking at plums") to satisfy one's desire only through one's imagination
Bù pà yīwàn, jiù pà wànyī. "Better (to be) safe than sorry."---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
10:15 "comprehensible input" "cool down" and/or conversation---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
Use calendar view to see other upcoming events at a glance.Not open - [in-person] singing songs mainly in MandarinThe Village (courtyard), Austin, TX
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If you're familiar with some of these songs, we invite you to sing with us:[01]《茉莉花》(清朝/Qing or 明朝/Ming dynasty?, 蔡琴)
[02]《康定情歌/"Kangding Love Song"》(1946; 2016, 龍飘飘)
[03]《情人的眼淚》(1958, 潘秀瓊/Poon Sow Keng; 1971, 姚苏蓉) karaoke
[04]《不了情/Love Without End》(1961, 顧媚/Koo Mei)[05]《月亮代表我的心》(1977, 鄧麗君/Teresa Teng)
[06]《甜蜜蜜》(1979, 鄧麗君/Teresa Teng)
[07]《一无所有/"Nothing to My Name"》(1986, 崔健/최건/Cui Jian)[08]《快樂頌》(1992?, 庾澄慶/Harlem Yu)
[09]《爱江山更爱美人》(1994, 李麗芬/Lily Lee)
[10]《輸了你，贏了世界又如何》(1994, 優客李林/Ukulele) karaoke
[11]《夜夜夜夜/"Night"》(1996-12, 齊秦/Chyi Chin)
[12]《心太軟/"Too Softhearted"》(1996-12-24, 任賢齊/Richie Jen)
(1997-04-16, 周華健/Emil Chau) karaoke
[13]《對面的女孩看過來/"Girl Across the Street, Look Over Here"》(1998-10-16, 任賢齊/Richie Jen) karaoke
[14]《紅豆/"Red Beans"》(1998-10-02, 王菲/Faye Wong) karaoke
[15]《那些花儿/"Those Flowers"》(1999?, 朴樹/Pu Shu) karaoke[16]《月亮之上/"Above the Moon"》(2001?, 韩红; 2005, 凤凰传奇/"Phoenix Legend")
[17]《情非得已》 (2001-05-18, 庾澄慶/Harlem Yu) karaoke
[18]《流星》(2001-06, 郑钧) Mandarin version of Coldplay's "Yellow"
[19]《十年》(2003-04, 陳奕迅/Eason Chan) karaoke
[20]《豆漿油條/Perfect Match》(2004-06, 林俊傑/JJ Lin)
[21]《七里香/Common Orange Jasmine》(2004-08, 周杰倫/Jay Chou)
[22]《老鼠愛大米/"Mice Love Rice"》(2004-12, 杨臣刚/Yáng Chéngāng) karaoke
[23]《童話/"Fairy Tale"》(2005-01-21, 王光良/Michael Wong) karaoke
[24]《小情歌》(2006-10, sodagreen/蘇打綠)
[25]《不能說的秘密/Secret》(2007-07, 周杰倫/Jay Chou; 2018, 林俊傑)
[26]《洋蔥》(2008-01, 楊宗緯/Aska Yang) karaoke[27]《星空/"Starry Starry Night"》(2011-11, 五月天/Mayday)
[28]《那些你很冒险的夢/"Those Were the Days"》(2011-12, 林俊杰/JJ Lin) karaoke
[29]《泡沫/Bubble》(2012-07, G.E.M./鄧紫棋)
[30]《聽見下雨的聲音/Rhythm Of The Rain》(2013-10, 魏如昀; 2014-12, 周杰倫) backing
[31]《Say Something/说些什么》(2014, 陳傑瑞/Jeric Tan + Rose Liu/刘明湘)
[32]《平凡之路/"Ordinary Road"》(2014-07-16, 朴樹/Pu Shu)
[33]《夜空中最亮的星/"Brightest Star In The Night Sky"》(2014-12, 逃跑计划/Escape Plan) backing
[34]《可惜沒如果/"Pity There's No If"》(2014-12-15, 林俊杰/JJ Lin) karaoke[35]《漂向北方》(2016-12-30, Namewee/黃明志 + 王力宏/Wang Leehom)
[36]《我的新衣》(2017-10, Vava, Ty., 王倩倩/Nina Wang)
[37]《雪落下的聲音/The Sound of Snow Falling》(2018-07, 陸虎; 2018, 周深) karaoke
[38]《你的答案/"Your Answer"》(2019, 阿冗/A Rong)---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
Use calendar view to see other upcoming events at a glance. - [cameras on] pre- to low intermediate listening & usage:Link visible for attendees
Participants should already
understand how pinyin notation expresses the precise pronunciation of Mandarin Chinese, including the "melody";
be familiar with a few hundred words;
be able to ask and answer questions like these:
"Do you like to dance/eat/sing/swim?" "I like to sing." "I don't like to dance."
"Who is she?" "She's my friend."
"What is this?" "This is a book/cup/fruit."
"What time are we going to see a movie?" "Tomorrow, at 7:30 in the evening."
"Where is David?" "He's at home."
"Why do you study Chinese?" "Because I would like to speak Chinese."and have a general idea of the "golden rule" of basic sentence structure
subject [+ time] [+ location] [+ manner] + verb [+ duration] [+ object]---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
my favorite resources
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"lighten up" and "tighten up"
Do you pronounce "wo" like "whoa"? (You should NOT! 😂)---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
HSK Level 3 audio translated
第十二课，课文一 (Lesson 12, Text 1)---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
supplementary listeningYouTube
张峻豪/Zhāng Jùnháo 随便跳舞/"random dance"
Blablapodcasts
TeaTime Chinese Why Chinese?---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
Use calendar view to see other upcoming events at a glance. - (cameras on, please) [novice+] Let's learn basic Chinese words/phrases!Link visible for attendees
In this online activity series for novice learners, we'll present some basic words/phrases, explain/discuss how to pronounce them, and take turns repeating them aloud.
During the meeting, please
[1] be in a distraction-free, quiet environment;
[2] use headphones/headset to minimize audio feedback;
[3] pay close attention to melody, rhythm, and sounds.---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
my favorite resources
Immersive Chinese incremental lessons (first 20 lessons free; $15 gets you lifetime access to all 160)What about apps? If your main goal is to be able to understand and speak some Mandarin, I would suggest the following three that focus on listening. The first two are available free of charge through many local public libraries!
Mango Languages is basically audio examples/flashcards, interspersed with text and audio explanatory notes. You may record yourself and play back both your sample and the native speaker's.
Pimsleur puts the focus on speaking. Compared with other programs, they give more detailed descriptions/explanations of pronunciation.
SuperChinese is essentially a combination of audio flashcards, with some multiple-choice and matching exercises for feedback. If you record yourself, it will give you a pronunciation score. It's the only app I've seen that has some parts only in audio and some questions that actually test comprehension.
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pronunciation tips
Běijīng: It really is "jing", not "zhing".
Zhōngguó: more like "joong-gwo", -not- "zhoong-gwaw", -not- "choong-gwaw".
"Wo" should not sound like "whoa"?! 😂---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
review
Zhè shì shénme? "What is this?"
Zhè shì shuǐ. "This is water."
Nà shì shénme? "What is that?"
Nà shì mǐfàn. "That is rice."Wǒ yǒu shǒujī. "I have (a) cell phone."
Wǒ méiyǒu chē. "I don't have (a) car/vehicle."
Yǒu méiyǒu xiāngjiāo? "Are there bananas?"; "Do you have bananas?"Tā shì shéi? "Who is s/he?"
Tā shì wǒ māmā; bàba; gēgē; dìdì; jiějiě; mèimei.
"S/he is my mom; dad; big brother; little brother; big sister; little sister;"
Tā shì wǒ de péngyǒu. "S/he is my friend."
Nà shì wǒ de péngyǒu de chē. "That is my friend's car."Xiànzài jǐ diǎn [zhōng]? What time is it (now)?
yī diǎn [zhōng] one o'clock
sān diǎn [zhōng] three o'clockchī to eat
píngshí normally; ordinarily; usually
Nǐ [píngshí] jǐ diǎn chī zǎocān? What time do you [normally] eat breakfast?
Wǒ zǎoshang bā diǎn chī zǎocān. I eat breakfast at 8 in the morning.
Nǐ [píngshí] jǐ diǎn chī wǎncān? What time do you [normally] eat dinner?
Wǒ wǎnshang qī diǎn chī wǎncān. I eat dinner at 7 in the evening.jǐ gè a few; several; how many?
jǐ wèi "Table for...?"; How many (are in your group)?
Duōshǎo qián? How much money (does it cost)?
Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? How many people are in your family?hěn [default modifier for predicate adjectives] quite; [UK] rather
Wǒ de péngyǒu hěn gāo; kāixīn; piàoliang; shuài. My friend is quite tall; happy; beautiful; handsome/cool.Nǐ hǎo ma? How are you?
[Nǐ] zěnmeyàng? How's it going [for you]?[Wǒ] hěn hǎo [I am] quite well.
[Wǒ] hěn bùcuò [I'm] not bad at all.Xièxie! Thanks!
zhīdào to know
[Wǒ] bù zhīdào. [I] don't know.
Ó, wǒ zhīdàole! Oh, I get it! (I know *now*!)zài to be located at/in/on
Nǐ zài nǎlǐ? Where are you?
Wǒ jiù zài zhèlǐ! I'm (right) here!zài jiā at home
zài bàngōngshì at the office
zài gōngyuán at/in a/the parkzài... [ne] to be in the process of
Wǒ zài chī wǎncān [ne]. I'm [right in the middle of] eating dinner.
zài kàn diànyǐng; zài tīng yīnyuè; zài xué Zhōngwén; zài zuòfàn watching movies; listening to music; learning/studying Chinese; cooking [a meal]zuò to do; to make
Nǐ zuò shénme? What do you do?
Nǐ zài zuò shénme ne? What are you doing?Jīntiān shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào? What is today's *date*? (lit. "Today is which month, which number?")
Jīntiān shì shí-èr yuè sānshíyī hào. Today is December 31st.Jīntiān shì xīngqí jǐ? What day [of the week] is it [today]?
Jīntiān shì xīngqísān. Today is Wednesday.
Jīntiān shì xīngqítiān. Today is Sunday.cóng Běijīng dào Shànghǎi from Beijing to Shanghai
Nǐ cóng nǎlǐ lái? Where did you come from?hǎochī delicious
hǎokàn good-looking
hǎowán enjoyable; funyòng to use; using
hǎoyòng easy to use; user-friendly
yǒuyòng useful ("to have use")zěnme shuō? How (does one) say (it)?
yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō? How (does one) say (it) in Chinese?
yòng kuàizǐ chīfàn to eat using chopsticks
yòng bǐ xiězì to write [Chinese characters] using a penxǐhuān to like
Wǒ xǐhuān ___. "I like ___."
Nǐ xǐhuān ___ ma? "Do you like ___?"zuì the most; "-est"
zuì xǐhuān de favoriteyùndòng exercise; movement; sport
Nǐ zuì xǐhuān de yùndòng shì shénme? "What is your favorite exercise/sport?"
Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de yùndòng shì ___. "My favorite exercise/sport is ___."pǎobù to run
yóuyǒng to swim
dǎ lánqiú to play basketball
dǎ wǎngqiú to play tennis
tī zúqiú to play soccer
dǎ páiqiú to play volleyballyánsè color
Nǐ zuì xǐhuān de yánsè shì shénme? "What is your favorite color?"
Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de yánsè shì ___. "My favorite color is ___."hēisè black
hóngsè red
huángsè yellow
báisè white
lánsè blue
jīnsè gold
lǜsè green
zǐsè purplenew
hǎo ma? Okay?
hǎo a! Okay! (Let's do that!)shì ma? Is that so?
shì a! Yes! That's right!---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
Use calendar view to see other upcoming events at a glance.
![[cameras on] intermediate (口语和书面) Mandarin listening comprehension study session cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/0/c/e/event_515948398.webp "[cameras on] intermediate (口语和书面) Mandarin listening comprehension study session")
![[in-person] singing songs mainly in Mandarin cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/0/b/a/event_511112954.webp "[in-person] singing songs mainly in Mandarin")
![[cameras on] pre- to low intermediate listening & usage: cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/5/0/c/event_521061772.webp "[cameras on] pre- to low intermediate listening & usage:")
![(cameras on, please) [novice+] Let's learn basic Chinese words/phrases! cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/8/c/9/event_514046825.webp "(cameras on, please) [novice+] Let's learn basic Chinese words/phrases!")
