http://popupchinese.com en-us © 2012 Language Systems Ltd. Learn Chinese with free mandarin podcasts, lessons, HSK sample tests, music videos, movies and more.... Popup Chinese Popup Chinese service@popupchinese.com Clean no Wed, 24 Sep 2014 09:00:00 -0700

With the Alibaba IPO throwing daytraders worldwide into a frenzed adulation of all things China, and the press going wild over Jack Ma and his Chinese e-commerce engine, this week's show takes a closer look at Taobao - the jewel in the Alibaba crown - with a hard-hitting quiz covering the most important things no-one seems to be able to remember about our favourite shopping site. Also on the show: questions about Beijing and the secrets of Uighur time....

Quiz Night is a regular feature here at Popup Chinese that we've put together for intermediate to upper-intermediate students. And our goal is not so much teaching anything in particular so much as producing a half-mandarin, half-english show that features higher-level vocabulary you won't run into in other learning materials. Today, join us and learn everything from the name of Goldman Sachs in Chinese, to the essential catchphrases needed to outsource your thesis to somewhere south of Wuhan.

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With the Alibaba IPO throwing daytraders worldwide into a frenzed adulation of all things China, and the press going wild over Jack Ma and his Chinese e-commerce engine, this week's show takes a closer look at Taobao - the jewel in the Alibaba crown - with a hard-hitting quiz covering the most important things no-one seems to be able to remember about our favourite shopping site. Also on the show: questions about Beijing and the secrets of Uighur time....

Quiz Night is a regular feature here at Popup Chinese that we've put together for intermediate to upper-intermediate students. And our goal is not so much teaching anything in particular so much as producing a half-mandarin, half-english show that features higher-level vocabulary you won't run into in other learning materials. Today, join us and learn everything from the name of Goldman Sachs in Chinese, to the essential catchphrases needed to outsource your thesis to somewhere south of Wuhan.

]]> no 21:31 Mon, 21 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0700

Did you ever thumb through a fresh copy of City Weekend and wonder why the Readers' Choice Award for Creepiest Park in Beijing has been awarded to Jingshan Park every year since the mid-1660s? In this episode, Megan squares off with returning champion Zhiqiang to answer this as well as questions on rehab and earth's diminishing dolphin population. Normally, Megan and Joakeem are trapped in a discussion on how to define their relationship but during Quiz Night this week they stay off that topic for 16 uninterrupted minutes of bliss.

Learning Chinese? The Popup Chinese Quiz Night is easy-to-digest mixed-language edutainment for intermediate learners. Our goal is offering up stimulating high-level vocabulary that can help you hone your listening comprehension and vocab while havng fun, or at least enjoying the warm feeling of knowing that your Chinese is better than that of the Swedish guy who is hosting the show.

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Did you ever thumb through a fresh copy of City Weekend and wonder why the Readers' Choice Award for Creepiest Park in Beijing has been awarded to Jingshan Park every year since the mid-1660s? In this episode, Megan squares off with returning champion Zhiqiang to answer this as well as questions on rehab and earth's diminishing dolphin population. Normally, Megan and Joakeem are trapped in a discussion on how to define their relationship but during Quiz Night this week they stay off that topic for 16 uninterrupted minutes of bliss.

Learning Chinese? The Popup Chinese Quiz Night is easy-to-digest mixed-language edutainment for intermediate learners. Our goal is offering up stimulating high-level vocabulary that can help you hone your listening comprehension and vocab while havng fun, or at least enjoying the warm feeling of knowing that your Chinese is better than that of the Swedish guy who is hosting the show.

]]> no 15:26 Sun, 04 May 2014 09:00:00 -0700

Occasionally, we think back on our years in China and look back at our casual brushes with death with the sort of nostalgia other people feel for high school prom. For such were those heady days of SARS, when the streets of Beijing were clean, taxis were readily available, and glaston and woad were part of the everyday lexicon here. Also on this show, what happened to the inventor of the flying car who strapped Cessena wings to a Ford Pinto.

Learning Chinese? Our Popup Chinese quiz show is intended for people who already have pretty good mandarin but are looking for a fun way to expand their vocabulary. This week we have nine questions split into three thematic categories, covering everything from mouthwash to our favorite ineffective Chinese herbal remedies. So if you're an upper-level student, check out the show and let us know what you think.

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Occasionally, we think back on our years in China and look back at our casual brushes with death with the sort of nostalgia other people feel for high school prom. For such were those heady days of SARS, when the streets of Beijing were clean, taxis were readily available, and glaston and woad were part of the everyday lexicon here. Also on this show, what happened to the inventor of the flying car who strapped Cessena wings to a Ford Pinto.

Learning Chinese? Our Popup Chinese quiz show is intended for people who already have pretty good mandarin but are looking for a fun way to expand their vocabulary. This week we have nine questions split into three thematic categories, covering everything from mouthwash to our favorite ineffective Chinese herbal remedies. So if you're an upper-level student, check out the show and let us know what you think.

]]> no 17:08 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 09:00:00 -0700

After a lengthy hiatus, we're pleased to release another episode of our Chinese Quiz Night. Joining new hosts Joakeem and Grace in our studio are two contestants known and feared by the other residents of Beijing: Martin the Destroyer, famous around Beijing for his mastery on the pub quiz circuit, as well as Ban "the terror from Qinghai" Yan, who is admittedly less intimidating in person that we were expecting.

Not sure what this show is doing in your iTunes feed? Our Chinese Quiz Show at Popup Chinese is a mixed English-Chinese concept show we're developing for upper-intermediate students: a quiz game that mixes Chinese questions with just enough English to keep things intelligible. We're still tweaking the balance, but if you're stretching past the intermediate level and looking for fun listening materials we think you'll like it -- our topics today range from general China knowledge to popular and not-so-popular singers, as well as a final category with language we hope none of us ever to have to use. Listen up and find out why.

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After a lengthy hiatus, we're pleased to release another episode of our Chinese Quiz Night. Joining new hosts Joakeem and Grace in our studio are two contestants known and feared by the other residents of Beijing: Martin the Destroyer, famous around Beijing for his mastery on the pub quiz circuit, as well as Ban "the terror from Qinghai" Yan, who is admittedly less intimidating in person that we were expecting.

Not sure what this show is doing in your iTunes feed? Our Chinese Quiz Show at Popup Chinese is a mixed English-Chinese concept show we're developing for upper-intermediate students: a quiz game that mixes Chinese questions with just enough English to keep things intelligible. We're still tweaking the balance, but if you're stretching past the intermediate level and looking for fun listening materials we think you'll like it -- our topics today range from general China knowledge to popular and not-so-popular singers, as well as a final category with language we hope none of us ever to have to use. Listen up and find out why.

]]> no 14:26 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 09:00:00 -0700

We've never heard of this phone, and don't feel particularly inclined to buy it, especially after seeing this video associating the device with daytime soap Chinese operas. We state this merely as evidence that not all viral videos are equal, and that a strategy of making the audience want to gun down your cast is perhaps not the best sales approach.

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We've never heard of this phone, and don't feel particularly inclined to buy it, especially after seeing this video associating the device with daytime soap Chinese operas. We state this merely as evidence that not all viral videos are equal, and that a strategy of making the audience want to gun down your cast is perhaps not the best sales approach.

]]> no 08:00 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Wang Daqiang's arrest - the third in as many months - had thrown the revolutionary leadership into panic. The police dragnet was tightening, and with Zhang Xiaoming the agent of their betrayal, it was clear their entire movement was compromised. The foreign concessions could provide only temporary safeguard: it would be necessary to flee Shanghai at once....

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Wang Daqiang's arrest - the third in as many months - had thrown the revolutionary leadership into panic. The police dragnet was tightening, and with Zhang Xiaoming the agent of their betrayal, it was clear their entire movement was compromised. The foreign concessions could provide only temporary safeguard: it would be necessary to flee Shanghai at once....

]]> no 08:00 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0700

In our fourth episode of Quiz Night, Tony from New Zealand matches matches his wits against Will from Australia in a battle that covers everything from T.S. Eliot's favorite detective novel, to horrific industrial accidents in Russia. Also up for your enjoyment? David repeatedly mispronounces the word "nuclear" and we learn the best place in Beijing for volleying ammunition into the Forbidden City.

Learning Chinese? Our quiz show is geared for anyone with good listening comprehension also looking for a fun way to expand their vocabulary. This show is a bit heavy on English and we're likely to push back towards a more Chinese-intensive show in future episodes, but even so there is still a decent amount of upper-level mandarin here. So join us for a fun romp through history, pop culture and modern China, and let us know what you think.

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In our fourth episode of Quiz Night, Tony from New Zealand matches matches his wits against Will from Australia in a battle that covers everything from T.S. Eliot's favorite detective novel, to horrific industrial accidents in Russia. Also up for your enjoyment? David repeatedly mispronounces the word "nuclear" and we learn the best place in Beijing for volleying ammunition into the Forbidden City.

Learning Chinese? Our quiz show is geared for anyone with good listening comprehension also looking for a fun way to expand their vocabulary. This show is a bit heavy on English and we're likely to push back towards a more Chinese-intensive show in future episodes, but even so there is still a decent amount of upper-level mandarin here. So join us for a fun romp through history, pop culture and modern China, and let us know what you think.

]]> no 19:50 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0700

This week is moving week at Popup Towers, and so we actually bought this toilet cleaning product after we saw the state of the washroom in our new apartment. After about an hour putting its claims to test, we can confirm that Mr. Muscle leaves a somewhat pleasing antiseptic smell in your washroom, although if you don't rinse well it can translate into nasal irritation. They really don't mess around with their chemicals.

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This week is moving week at Popup Towers, and so we actually bought this toilet cleaning product after we saw the state of the washroom in our new apartment. After about an hour putting its claims to test, we can confirm that Mr. Muscle leaves a somewhat pleasing antiseptic smell in your washroom, although if you don't rinse well it can translate into nasal irritation. They really don't mess around with their chemicals.

]]> no 08:00 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Nazi refreshments, racist stereotypes from the 1980s and boy bands that refuse to die. Such are just a few of the topics you can expect this week on our Popup Quiz Night, along with our usual round of China questions designed to make you absolutely insufferable to friends and family alike.

Learning Chinese? Our Popup Chinese quiz show is intended for people who already have pretty good mandarin but are looking for a fun way to expand their vocabulary. It features nine questions split into three thematic categories, with Chinese-heavy questions and a vocabulary review tucked onto the end. We've tried to make this show more difficult than our last one, so let us know what you think, and good luck!

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Nazi refreshments, racist stereotypes from the 1980s and boy bands that refuse to die. Such are just a few of the topics you can expect this week on our Popup Quiz Night, along with our usual round of China questions designed to make you absolutely insufferable to friends and family alike.

Learning Chinese? Our Popup Chinese quiz show is intended for people who already have pretty good mandarin but are looking for a fun way to expand their vocabulary. It features nine questions split into three thematic categories, with Chinese-heavy questions and a vocabulary review tucked onto the end. We've tried to make this show more difficult than our last one, so let us know what you think, and good luck!

]]> no 19:36 Wed, 29 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

A popular commercial from Seven-Up based loosely around the story of Snow White. And we say loosely because we don't see any mention of the seven dwarves. Or the wicked witch. In fact, major elements of the story seem to have been changed to include mention of carbonated soda and twist-off-the-cap prize giveaways.

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A popular commercial from Seven-Up based loosely around the story of Snow White. And we say loosely because we don't see any mention of the seven dwarves. Or the wicked witch. In fact, major elements of the story seem to have been changed to include mention of carbonated soda and twist-off-the-cap prize giveaways.

]]> no 08:00 Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

It probably isn't even necessary to have the coupon to be honest. Because if you said that you had the coupon at home and just stood there like tank man until you got your ten percent off, we're pretty sure that McDonald's would just give you the discount. Or you could be creative write a coupon for your own business right on the spot. Add as many zeroes as you'd like.

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It probably isn't even necessary to have the coupon to be honest. Because if you said that you had the coupon at home and just stood there like tank man until you got your ten percent off, we're pretty sure that McDonald's would just give you the discount. Or you could be creative write a coupon for your own business right on the spot. Add as many zeroes as you'd like.

]]> no 08:00 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Almost everyone who leaves China stops using QQ in favor of software that won't rootkit your laptop. Strangely, Tencent's attempt to reverse this involved hiring a director with a clear Woody Allen hangup, resulting in a bizarre mishmash that not only romanticizes the United States, but reminds many overseas students of the very reason they were so keen on studying abroad in the first place.

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Almost everyone who leaves China stops using QQ in favor of software that won't rootkit your laptop. Strangely, Tencent's attempt to reverse this involved hiring a director with a clear Woody Allen hangup, resulting in a bizarre mishmash that not only romanticizes the United States, but reminds many overseas students of the very reason they were so keen on studying abroad in the first place.

]]> no 08:00 Wed, 08 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

This video, selected for its absolutely gorgeous footage of Tibet, is based on the true story of Molly (the online nickname of the girl in the video), a student in Shanghai who chose a life of backpacking over a regular job. In a country where this sort of thing is incredibly rare, Molly's story spread quickly, and she has since parlayed her experience into a job traveling around southeast Asia and writing about her experiences.

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This video, selected for its absolutely gorgeous footage of Tibet, is based on the true story of Molly (the online nickname of the girl in the video), a student in Shanghai who chose a life of backpacking over a regular job. In a country where this sort of thing is incredibly rare, Molly's story spread quickly, and she has since parlayed her experience into a job traveling around southeast Asia and writing about her experiences.

]]> no 08:00 Wed, 15 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Seven-Up is fighting a losing battle for market-share in China, if only because the name Sprite has become synonymous with colorless and tasteless cola. As such, this commercial hints at Coca Cola company's desire to turn back the clock and introduce its drink earlier in Chinese history, and perhaps in Song dynasty poetry so that children will be forced to memorize the name as part of their early childhood education.

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Seven-Up is fighting a losing battle for market-share in China, if only because the name Sprite has become synonymous with colorless and tasteless cola. As such, this commercial hints at Coca Cola company's desire to turn back the clock and introduce its drink earlier in Chinese history, and perhaps in Song dynasty poetry so that children will be forced to memorize the name as part of their early childhood education.

]]> no 08:00 Mon, 06 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

After succumbing last episode to Brendan's wide-ranging knowledge of everything save contemporary pop music, Echo has switched sides this week to serve as Chinese quizmaster in a show that pits podcaster Sylvia against voice-legend Andy in a China-vs-China battle of the wits. And with a Chinese Mobile recharge card hanging in the balance, and SMS messages just waiting to be sent, the stakes could not be higher for our contestants.

Learning Chinese? Our quiz show is intended for people who already have pretty good mandarin but are looking for a fun way to expand their vocabulary. And with that in mind, our topics covered this week include famous American companies which have bought other famous American companies, people who did not win the Nobel Peace Prize, and Communist beards we know and love. This is a fun romp through history, pop culture, and German facial hair, so join us for the quiz and let us know what you think.

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After succumbing last episode to Brendan's wide-ranging knowledge of everything save contemporary pop music, Echo has switched sides this week to serve as Chinese quizmaster in a show that pits podcaster Sylvia against voice-legend Andy in a China-vs-China battle of the wits. And with a Chinese Mobile recharge card hanging in the balance, and SMS messages just waiting to be sent, the stakes could not be higher for our contestants.

Learning Chinese? Our quiz show is intended for people who already have pretty good mandarin but are looking for a fun way to expand their vocabulary. And with that in mind, our topics covered this week include famous American companies which have bought other famous American companies, people who did not win the Nobel Peace Prize, and Communist beards we know and love. This is a fun romp through history, pop culture, and German facial hair, so join us for the quiz and let us know what you think.

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