Real Chinese Talk - Immersion for Intermediates

I took a three-week escape from the dreary weather of the Netherlands and found myself in Portugal. The trip was meant to be a relaxing getaway, but instead, my mind was filled with questions: Why do we travel? What does it really mean? What do we hope to gain from our journeys? In his book The Art of Travel, Alain de Botton writes, "Journeys are the midwives of thought. Few places are more conducive to internal conversations than a moving plane, ship or train.“ Perhaps this is part of the answer, but I have many more thoughts on the matter. 我从荷兰糟糕的天气中逃离了三个星期，去了葡萄牙。 本来这应该是一次放松的旅行，但我的脑海中却不断涌现出各种问题：为什么人们要旅行？旅行的意义是什么？我们能从中获得什么？ 在阿兰·德波顿的书《旅行的艺术》中，他写道：“旅行能催人思索。很少地方比在行进中的飞机、轮船和火车上更容易让人倾听到内心的声音。” 这或许是其中的一个答案，但我对此还有更多的想法。 ------------------------------------- In last week’s newsletter, we introduced a book designed to help you learn Chinese characters more effectively, while also deepening your understanding of Chinese history and culture. Interested in more Chinese learning tips and resources beyond the comprehensive input from the podcast? Subscribe to the Real Chinese Talk newsletter at https://www.realchinesetalk.nl/ ------------------------------------- Podcast Video (with bilingual subtitles) Additional learning materials Newsletter Contact: [email protected]

I recently spoke with a friend from China, and our conversation reminded me of the many struggles I faced while living there. Although there are many things I miss about China, I'm grateful to my past self for deciding to move to another country years ago. Why do I feel this way? Find out in this podcast! 我最近和一个在中国的朋友聊天，这次对话让我想起了当年生活在中国时经历的种种挑战。 虽然我仍然怀念很多中国的事物，但我很感激当初那个决定移居国外的自己。 为什么我会这样想？答案都在这期播客中！ ------------------------------------- In last week’s newsletter, we highlighted three popular buzzwords in Chinese that reflect the current mindset of young people in China. One of these terms, 内卷 (involution), is also discussed in this episode. Interested in more Chinese learning tips and resources beyond the comprehensive input from the podcast? Subscribe to the Real Chinese Talk newsletter at realchinesetalk.nl ------------------------------------- Podcast Video (with bilingual subtitles) Additional learning materials Newsletter Contact: [email protected]

Imagine standing in a vast plaza, surrounded by shops and restaurants. You enter a nearby building and take the elevator, finding yourself on the 18th floor. But when you descend to the ground floor, you suddenly realize you're on the 10th floor of another building! This mind-bending scenario is a reality in Chongqing, China's cyberpunk metropolis! Chongqing is a true mountain city, where buildings and infrastructure are ingeniously constructed along steep hillsides. The result is a mesmerizing, three-dimensional urban landscape where structures seem to defy gravity and logic. But Chongqing's vertical cityscape is just the beginning of its wonders. This vibrant metropolis has so much more to explore and discover. Join us in this podcast episode as we dive into the fascinating world of Chongqing! 你站在一个巨大的广场上，这里有商店、餐厅；然后你走进广场边上的楼里坐电梯，发现你在这栋楼里的十八楼；当你坐电梯到一楼，你发现你在另外一栋楼里的十楼。 这样的情形，就发生在中国赛博朋克之都——重庆！ 重庆是一座真正意义上的山城，这里的建筑和基础设施都是依山而建，错落的建筑创造了奇特的立体感。 但是除了这里的立体城市景观之外，重庆还有很多其他值得探索的事情。 这一期播客里，我们一起走进重庆！ Podcast Video (with bilingual subtitles) Additional learning materials Newsletter Contact: [email protected]

In Chinese, there's a saying "三十而立" (san shi er li), which originates from Confucius. It means that by the age of thirty, a person should be able to stand on their own, have a clear sense of self, and possess the ability to prove their worth. So when I turned thirty, I had a strange feeling. On one hand, according to society's expectations, I had reached an age where I should have achieved something. On the other hand, I was very aware that I still had many uncertainties about various things. When someone asked me, "Now that you're thirty, do you feel anything special?" I thought to myself, "This day isn't any different from any other. After it passes, I’m still just as uncertain." However, there’s one thing I’m certain about: I don’t want to go back to my early twenties. Why is that? I'll talk about it in this episode of the podcast. 在中文里有“三十而立”的这样一个说法（来源于孔子），意思是说一个人到了三十岁之后要能够自立，有自己的核心，有能力证明自己。 因此，当我三十岁的时候，我有一种很奇怪的感觉，一方面根据外界的期待，我已经到了应该有一定成就的年龄；另一方面我又很清楚，自己对于很多事情还是有很多疑惑。 当有人问我：三十岁了，你有什么特殊的感觉吗？ 我心想：三十岁这一天和其他的日子没有什么不同，过了之后，我还是一样的疑惑。 但是我一件事情我很清楚：我并不想回到二十岁出头的时候。 为什么呢？这期播客里我来聊一聊。 Podcast Video (with bilingual subtitles) Additional learning materials Newsletter Contact: [email protected]