秋月慢谈 Real Chinese Talk - Immersion for Intermediates

2025 is over! I used the week off after Christmas to look back on 2025 and make plans for 2026.I’d give my 2025 an 8 out of 10. What score would you give your own 2025?00:31 A week off after Christmas spent staying at home01:29 Reflecting on 2025 and planning for 202602:14 Three principles for making plans05:56 Language-learning progress in 2025 and language plans for 202608:25 2025 as a year of “doing less”10:09 Changes brought about by Stoicism13:50 The best thing that happened in 2025: starting to learn music16:27 Realizing my strengths and learning preferences in 20252025结束了！我用圣诞节后的假期，回顾了2025年并制定了2026年的计划。我给自己的2025打8分（10分满分）！你给自己的2025年打几分呢？00:31 留在家的圣诞节后的一周假期01:29 回顾2025、规划202602:14 制定计划的三个原则05:56 2025语言学习进步及2026语言计划08:25 2025是做减法的一年10:09 斯多葛主义带来的改变 13:50 2025发生的最好的事情：开始学习音乐16:27 2025意识到自己的优势与学习偏好------------------------------------I'm Qiuyue 秋月, a native Chinese speaker who speaks multiple languages and works in tech and the creative industry in the Netherlands. In 秋月慢谈, I talk about language learning, personal life, productivity, culture, and technology, using authentic, slow, and clear Chinese.My goal is to give you Chinese comprehensive input of interesting and relevant content.-------------------------------------In the latest newsletter, I introduced a very interesting and extremely common way of expressing meaning in Chinese – the numeric expressions. Interested in more Chinese content beyond the podcast and the video? Subscribe to the newsletter at https://www.realchinesetalk.nl/ The newsletter is available in both Chinese and English, making it a great read practice for you!-------------------------------------Podcast Video (with bilingual subtitles): https://youtu.be/0mkpLT8QfzIAdditional learning materials: https://www.patreon.com/RealChineseTalk Support me via Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/realchinesetalk Contact: [email protected]

I feel like I’ve recently found the best way to learn a language, and I can’t wait to share it with you!00:00 Sharing what I think is the best language learning method00:48 Method 1: Using the language you’re learning to study things you’re genuinely interested in01:35 My practice: Learning music in Japanese (music theory classes, finding teachers, all-Japanese communication)06:00 Challenges and how to transfer this method to other languages07:42 Method 2: Writing as a stable form of output14:30 Method 3: Learning “small words”17:52 Review of the three methods我感觉最近找到了最好的语言学习方法，迫不及待想和你分享！00:00 分享我觉得最好的语言学习方法00:48 方法一：用正在学习的语言去学习真正感兴趣的事情01:35 我的实践：用日语学音乐（上乐理课、找老师、全日语交流）06:00 难点与迁移思路07:42 方法二：写作作为稳定输出14:30 方法三：学习“小词” 17:52 三种方法回顾------------------------------------I was in a talk with Lao Liu, another Chinese polyglot/YouTuber/Podcaster who’s also making Chinese content. We talked a lot about how language changed our lives, how I started learning languages and recommendations on language learning.I was talking in my normal speaking speed with another Chinese native speaker. Curious about the content or wondering if you could understand me there? Check it out via the link: https://youtu.be/BBwxnjTdJVg?si=hqk7hcGoVsC0SHUd-------------------------------------Podcast Video (with bilingual subtitles): https://youtu.be/8NsJVoNnv8AAdditional learning materials: https://www.patreon.com/RealChineseTalk Support me via Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/realchinesetalk Contact: [email protected]

Social media always brings me all kinds of negative emotions: anxiety, addiction, anger…More importantly, my time slips away among endless short videos.So I made up my mind to quit social media. I can’t say I’ve completely succeeded yet, but I’ve already seen some progress.The most immediate result: my life has become much more relaxed. :)00:00 I want to talk about social media00:40 Why quitting social media is difficult04:15 I uninstalled almost all social media apps, only kept WeChat06:07 The most direct benefits after quitting06:43 Deeper changes: less anxiety, smaller emotional ups and downs, etc.10:42 Xiaohongshu’s particular impact and reflections; social media also has benefits. So what’s the key?社交媒体总是给我带来各种各样负面的情绪：焦虑、上瘾、愤怒……更重要的是，时间流失在了各种短视频之间。所以我下定决心，想要戒掉社交媒体。目前虽然不能说完全成功了，但是已经小有成效。最直接的一个结果：我的生活变得更轻松了:)00:00 想聊聊社交媒体00:40 戒掉社交媒体的难点04:15 卸载几乎所有社交App，只留微信06:07 戒断后的直接好处06:43 更深层的变化：焦虑减少、情绪起伏变小，等等10:42 小红书的特殊影响与反思；社交媒体也有好处。那关键是什么？------------------------------------In the latest newsletter, I introduced the number superstitions of in Chinese, which might demystify some unique phenomenon in China.Interested in more Chinese learning tips and resources beyond the comprehensible input from the podcast? Subscribe to the Real Chinese Talk newsletter at https://www.realchinesetalk.nl/ The newsletter is available in both Chinese and English, making it a great read for you!-------------------------------------Podcast Video (with bilingual subtitles): https://youtu.be/pd_FcV5vPLkAdditional learning materials: https://www.patreon.com/RealChineseTalk Support me via Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/realchinesetalk Contact: [email protected]

A few months ago, I decided to change my reading habits, and I immediately felt the benefits of that change.Even though many books and articles are “teaching” us how to read, I think any method that helps you keep reading is a good method — everything else is secondary.Do you have a habit of reading?00:00 Winter in the Netherlands, time to read01:25 Sisyphe Bookstore and the university library04:05 The sense of achievement and pressure brought by reading check-ins after starting work06:01 Three adjustments to my reading habits: stop forcing myself, return to paper books, and only note what matters09:37 The Courage to Be Disliked and “separating tasks,” plus its connection to Stoicism14:55 Stan Lai’s Creativity and Picture This: How Pictures Work几个月前我决定改变我的阅读习惯，现在我立马感受到了改变的好处。尽管有很多书和文章都在“教”我们怎么阅读，但我认为，能让自己读下去的方法，就是好方法，其他的都是次要。你有读书的习惯吗？00:00 荷兰入冬、阅读时间到01:25 西西弗书店与图书馆04:05 工作后的阅读打卡习惯带来的成就与压力06:01 阅读习惯的三项调整：停止强迫、回归纸质、只记关键09:37 《被讨厌的勇气》与“课题的分离”、斯多葛主义的对应思路14:55 《赖声川的创意学》、Picture This: How Pictures Work-------------------------------------In the latest newsletter, I introduced some unique words/concepts in Chinese, which show some unique mindset of Chinese people.Interested in more Chinese learning tips and resources beyond the comprehensible input from the podcast? Subscribe to the Real Chinese Talk newsletter at https://www.realchinesetalk.nl/ The newsletter is available in both Chinese and English, making it a great read for you!-------------------------------------Podcast Video (with bilingual subtitles): https://youtu.be/dG1MDDkv_QEAdditional learning materials: https://www.patreon.com/RealChineseTalk Support me via Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/realchinesetalk Contact: [email protected]

Most Chinese people are gradually losing the ability to write by hand, and I think that’s a real pity.For us, handwriting is not just something that takes time to do, but a way to create a connection between people.00:00 Why I want to talk about handwriting01:18 The decline of handwriting ability04:06 Handwriting and calligraphy in Chinese culture06:04 From “ugly handwriting” to being asked to write for others08:24 The emotional value of handwriting13:27 The importance of writing culture in the Chinese-speaking world and some suggestions15:01 How writing methods may change in the future大部分中国人正在丧失手写的能力，我觉得这是非常可惜的一件事情。手写对我们来说并不仅仅是一件需要花时间做的事情，而是一个和人产生连结的方式。00:00 为什么想聊手写01:18 手写能力退化的现象04:06 中国文化中的手写与书法06:04 从“字丑”到别人让我帮忙写字08:24 手写的情感价值13:27 中文世界里书写文化的重要性与建议15:01 未来书写方式的变化-------------------------------------In the latest newsletter, I introduced some unique words/concepts in Chinese, which show some unique mindset of Chinese people.Interested in more Chinese learning tips and resources beyond the comprehensible input from the podcast? Subscribe to the Real Chinese Talk newsletter at https://www.realchinesetalk.nl/ The newsletter is available in both Chinese and English, making it a great read for you!-------------------------------------Podcast Video (with bilingual subtitles): https://youtu.be/oA8MSCc95Ms Additional learning materials: https://www.patreon.com/RealChineseTalk Support me via Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/realchinesetalk Contact: [email protected]