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Maayot, a Chinese graded reading platform that sends short Chinese stories to learners regularly, making Chinese reading easier to turn into a habit. Check out Maayot here: 👉https://www.maayot.com/Maayot，一个中文分级阅读平台。它可以定期给学习者发送短篇中文故事，帮助学习者更轻松、更持续地进行中文阅读练习。0:00 开场5:29 Maayot 8:40 我们刷哪些不正经的短视频-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Even after a long, exhausting day, taking 5 minutes to scroll through short videos before bed has become a universal decompression ritual. In this unscripted episode of Dashu Mandarin, the three hosts peel back the curtain and reveal what’s really on their algorithm feeds!From viral news to bizzare late-night livestreams, this episode is packed with authentic Chinese vocabulary and hilarious life observations:NYC Mayor Speaks Chinese: A look at the NYC Mayor’s viral Mandarin video and how online Chinese teachers chased the clout!Late-Night Guilty Pleasures: Uncle Cha gets moved by retired dairy cows and globe-trotting cats, while Ben encounters chaotic livestreams, kids flipping tables, and driving simulators!Learning Chinese Through Short Videos: How 10-second action clips can actually serve as incredible material for advanced description practice.

An unscripted episode turned into an absolute surprise! What started as a casual gossip session about our favorite "mysterious 4th member"—Brice (布莱)—took an unexpected turn when HE LOCALLY JOINED THE CALL mid-conversation!In this episode, the uncles dive deep into Brice’s life in Taiwan, only for Brea himself to crash the party and share his side of the story:- The Romance & Reality: How Brice met his Japanese girlfriend Coco, navigating an international relationship, and facing the sudden financial pressures of dating in Taiwan.- The Caught Red-Handed Moment: Brice joins the live call while Uncle Cha is mid-gossip—leading to laughter, awkwardness, and a truly wholesome confrontation!- Stunning Photography & Tears: Brice shows off his secret talent as a talented photographer, sharing incredible visual stories from Vietnam, Japan, and Korea. Uncle Cha’s heartfelt compliments leave Brice visibly moved (and wiping away a tear!).- Learning Chinese & New Projects:Brice breaks down the differences between self-studying Chinese vs. attending language school at NTU, and introduces his newly built Chinese learning tracker app, Edenia.试试布莱的edenia - https://www.edenia.study/From romantic unexpected encounters to genuine moments of vulnerability, this is one of our most chaotic, heartfelt, and entertaining episodes yet!

It’s an unscripted, completely spontaneous episode! Starting with zero preparation and a collective brain freeze, the three hosts dive into a genuinely candid conversation about meeting online friends in real life.What happens when your digital connections step into reality?Ben gets recognized at a Barcelona restaurant by a former student from two years ago!Uncle Richard shares a traumatic experience of being stood up by an online student and how it changed his approach to meeting people.Uncle Can talks about his wife’s online mom group organizing massive offline meetups, and his own story of finding like-minded souls online through children's literature.

🎓 "I'll never be a teacher!" ...Famous last words! ⏳ 10 years later, Teacher Yunyun has taught in primary and secondary schools in Thailand, pursued her Master's in Educational Studies in the UK, and helped thousands of students master Mandarin.In this special episode of Dashu Mandarin, Yunyun joins us to address the biggest obstacle facing language learners: The feeling of loneliness. Learn how to break through learning plateaus, build real-life language connections, and discover how maayot serves as your 24/7 language companion!❤️=Maayot, a Chinese graded reading platform that sends short Chinese stories to learners regularly, making Chinese reading easier to turn into a habit. Check out Maayot here: 👉https://www.maayot.com/Maayot，一个中文分级阅读平台。它可以定期给学习者发送短篇中文故事，帮助学习者更轻松、更持续地进行中文阅读练习。=

In this episode of Dashu Mandarin, Ben shares the big news: He finally got his Spanish permanent residency! But immediately after, a hilarious "7-year itch" moment hit him—is it time to move to Southeast Asia?!We also take an honest, comedic, and deep dive into:The nightmare of European bureaucracy (and paying agents just to get an appointment!)The reality of WFH life, housing prices in Barcelona, and the infamous "Okupas" (squatters)Uncle Richard and Uncle Can’s warm and grounded philosophy on travel, family, and home life

In this special episode of Dashu Mandarin, we are joined by KoKo, a super energetic and uniquely talented Chinese teacher based in Suzhou!Teaching Chinese primarily through Japanese, KoKo shares her fascinating observations on Japanese cultural nuances, personal boundary rules, and how she broke through the "invisible wall" to turn students into lifelong friends—and even "half-family."We also dive deep into the real, raw side of being an independent content creator & online educator.

How did a crudely animated, hand-made movie by a mother-son duo beat Hollywood blockbusters at the Chinese box office?In this hilarious and insightful episode of Dashu Mandarin, the three uncles dive into China's latest viral internet phenomenon: "Niu Lai" (牛来). From crowd psychology and "ugly-appreciation" (审丑) to a deep dive into the flaws of today's film industry, we break down why millions flocked to cinemas just to laugh together. Plus, discover why this low-budget film unexpectedly became the ultimate learning material for Chinese language students worldwide!

In this surprisingly candid and hilarious episode of Dashu Mandarin, the three uncles tackle a taboo topic that most men avoid: Why are more Chinese men choosing to sit down when using the bathroom?What starts as a funny, late-night confession quickly evolves into a deep, relatable discussion about aging, physical vulnerabilities, personal boundaries, and the unsung burdens of daily housework. From Ben’s wild "toilet-seat friendship breakup" to a vulnerable confession after surgery, this episode blends pure humor with authentic reflections on modern masculinity and family relationships.

What does it truly mean to be a father in modern China? Is parenting about unconditional support, or pushing kids through fierce competition?In this episode of Dashu Mandarin Podcast (大叔中文播客), Teacher Can (璨叔) takes the mic to share a deeply personal, unscripted look at Chinese fatherhood, parenting struggles, and raising a child today. From dealing with high academic pressure and kid's myopia to tackling parental anxiety and teaching resilience through a Rubik’s cube—this conversation goes far beyond typical stereotypes.

From standardizing hotel management in Macau to teaching Mandarin online in Portugal! 🇲🇴✈️🇵🇹In this special interview episode of Dashu Mandarin, Can Shu and Cha Shu welcome Vanessa (Yingying)—a former hotel administrative professional who spent years in Taiwan and Macau before moving to Portugal with her family. We dive deep into her unique journey: transitioning from the intense hospitality industry to becoming a full-time online Chinese teacher, navigating the challenges of raising bilingual/multilingual kids in Europe, and finding true happiness in a simple, minimalist lifestyle.Vanessa 老师的网站是 Vanessa's websitehttps://iengieng.my.canva.site/mymandarinjourneyYouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@UCQK28JZjC8KWa9_P0SFwizw

What happens when three friends sit down to ask each other deep, unfiltered questions? Things get real, fast! 💬✨In this episode of Dashu Mandarin, what started as a simple Q&A game quickly turned into one of our most intimate and emotional conversations yet. From funny family updates to deep life philosophies, we’re opening up about the moments that shaped us.🔥 Inside this episode:• Can’s reality check on owning a cat & how children’s passions change 🐱• Ben’s independent take on family boundaries, aging parents, and dignity 👴• Cha’s raw confession: A 7-year long-distance love story that survived against all odds ❤️

Why is installing an air conditioner in Spain a month-long nightmare, while in Asia it only takes 24 hours? In this episode of Dashu Mandarin, Ben, Cha, and Can dish on the ultimate culture shock for Asian expats living in Europe: EFFICIENCY! From waiting weeks for an AC installation and banks closing at 2 PM, to multi-year roadworks and strict social rules—we compare the slow-paced European lifestyle with the ultra-convenient culture of China and Taiwan.Is Europe's slow pace a result of strong worker protections and monopolies, or just pure inefficiency? Let’s talk about it!🌏 In this episode, we cover:- Ben's crazy story of buying & installing an AC in Barcelona- Service efficiency comparison: Spain vs. Taiwan vs. Mainland China- Bank hours, road construction, and public infrastructure speed- Train security checks, train tickets, and social governance (drunk driving & strict laws)

What is it really like to move from Beijing to London and navigate a cross-cultural marriage? 🌏In this episode, we sit down with Kerin, a Beijing native now living in the UK, to talk about life, love, and the cultural shocks that actually matter. Forget the textbooks—we are diving into the real, unfiltered stuff: from the "hidden" perks of having a British mother-in-law to the complex reality of raising "third culture" kids.Is it true that British men put their wives before their mothers? And why is the "Mother-in-Law drama" so different in the UK compared to China? Kerin shares her personal journey from being an Chinese teacher in Beijing to an expat navigating a completely new society in London.

Let’s be real—we usually talk about life, culture, and Chinese language. But in this episode, we’re peeling back the curtain on something we don’t discuss enough: the "hustle," the desire for financial stability, and how our perspectives on money have shifted as we’ve hit mid-life. From Japanese student gifts to the surprisingly polarizing topic of "skinny injections," this conversation took some unexpected turns. Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with losing weight, and why are we, three "uncles" who are supposed to be focused on teaching, suddenly talking about our earnings and our retirement plans?

Can you believe it? Dashu Mandarin has officially hit the 4-year mark! What started as three guys casually chatting has turned into over 200 episodes of unfiltered, honest, and sometimes deeply personal conversations about life, teaching, and everything in between. In this special anniversary episode, we’re dropping the "teacher personas" and getting real about what this podcast has actually meant to us. It wasn’t just about creating study material for Chinese learners; it became our safe harbor. Ben, Can, and Cha share the stories behind the scenes—from the "black hole" of work burnout to finding a sense of community and purpose that we didn't know we were missing.