Learning Chinese through Stories

宁愿+ option A,  也不 + option B is used to express that someone would rather choose A than B, even if A is not perfect. It highlights a deliberate preference for one option over another. It emphasizes the speaker's strong preference for A while firmly rejecting B. The tone often conveys determination, personal values, or reasoning behind the preference. Be sure to check out our Conjunction Collection to catch up on the previous 8 episodes that focused on Coordination Conjunctions. These episodes are packed with insights and real-life examples to help you master their usage. ************************************************************ Support Our Podcast If our podcast brings value to your life and you'd like to help us continue creating great content, consider becoming a patron for as little as $7 a month. As a patron, you will enjoy: ✨ Ad-free episodes for an uninterrupted listening experience. 📜Access to all story and story walkthrough transcripts. 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary lists. 🎧 Exclusive patron-only episodes. 💬 The opportunity to join our member community for weekly online meetups. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep delivering the content you love. Thank you for considering becoming a part of our community! 💖 - LCTS ************************************************************ Check out our playlists on Spotify  Chinese for Intermediate-Playlist  Chinese for Intermediate High-Playlist Chinese for Advanced-Playlist  Chinese for Superior- Playlist  Chinese for Beginners-Playlist

不是......就是...... means "If it's not A, then it's B" or "It must be either A or B."It reflects a binary choice, emphasizing that one of the two options will definitely happen or is true. Be sure to check out our Conjunction Collection to catch up on the previous 8 episodes that focused on Coordination Conjunctions. These episodes are packed with insights and real-life examples to help you master their usage. ************************************************************ Support Our Podcast If our podcast brings value to your life and you'd like to help us continue creating great content, consider becoming a patron for as little as $7 a month. As a patron, you will enjoy: ✨ Ad-free episodes for an uninterrupted listening experience. 📜Access to all story and story walkthrough transcripts. 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary lists. 🎧 Exclusive patron-only episodes. 💬 The opportunity to join our member community for weekly online meetups. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep delivering the content you love. Thank you for considering becoming a part of our community! 💖 - LCTS ************************************************************ Check out our playlists on Spotify  Chinese for Intermediate-Playlist  Chinese for Intermediate High-Playlist Chinese for Advanced-Playlist  Chinese for Superior- Playlist  Chinese for Beginners-Playlist

是......还是......(shi……haishi…… ) 是...还是 is used to ask a question where the speaker is offering two choices. It translates to "Is it... or...?" in English. 还是VS 或者 还是 is used in questions to present choices. 或者 is used in statements to indicate possibilities. Be sure to check out our Conjunction Collection to catch up on the previous 8 episodes that focused on Coordination Conjunctions. These episodes are packed with insights and real-life examples to help you master their usage. ************************************************************ Support Our Podcast If our podcast brings value to your life and you'd like to help us continue creating great content, consider becoming a patron for as little as $7 a month. As a patron, you will enjoy: ✨ Ad-free episodes for an uninterrupted listening experience. 📜Access to all story and story walkthrough transcripts. 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary lists. 🎧 Exclusive patron-only episodes. 💬 The opportunity to join our member community for weekly online meetups. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep delivering the content you love. Thank you for considering becoming a part of our community! 💖 - LCTS ************************************************************ Check out our playlists on Spotify  Chinese for Intermediate-Playlist  Chinese for Intermediate High-Playlist Chinese for Advanced-Playlist  Chinese for Superior- Playlist  Chinese for Beginners-Playlist

The structure "要么...要么..." (yàome... yàome...) is a conjunction in Chinese used to express exclusive choices. It highlights a situation where the speaker must choose one option from two or more possibilities, with the implication that only one choice can be made. Distinction Between 要么...要么... and 或者...或者... 要么...要么...Exclusive Choices: One must choose between the options. Implies mutual exclusivity: Choosing one excludes the others. 或者...或者...Neutral Options: Simply lists possibilities without requiring a choice. Does not imply exclusivity: More than one option can be valid. Be sure to check out our Conjunction Collection to catch up on the previous 8 episodes that focused on Coordination Conjunctions. These episodes are packed with insights and real-life examples to help you master their usage. ************************************************************ Support Our Podcast If our podcast brings value to your life and you'd like to help us continue creating great content, consider becoming a patron for as little as $7 a month. As a patron, you will enjoy: ✨ Ad-free episodes for an uninterrupted listening experience. 📜Access to all story and story walkthrough transcripts. 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary lists. 🎧 Exclusive patron-only episodes. 💬 The opportunity to join our member community for weekly online meetups. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep delivering the content you love. Thank you for considering becoming a part of our community! 💖 - LCTS ************************************************************ Check out our playlists on Spotify  Chinese for Intermediate-Playlist  Chinese for Intermediate High-Playlist Chinese for Advanced-Playlist  Chinese for Superior- Playlist  Chinese for Beginners-Playlist

After our series on Coordination Conjunctions in 2024, we’re now diving into additional common conjunctions. The topic of this episode is 或者huòzhě……，或者huòzhě....... It is used to present alternatives or options. It can be translated as "either... or..." in English. This construction allows speakers to express choices or possibilities in a clear and concise manner. Be sure to check out our Conjunction Collection to catch up on the previous 8 episodes that focused on Coordination Conjunctions. These episodes are packed with insights and real-life examples to help you master their usage. ************************************************************ Support Our Podcast If our podcast brings value to your life and you'd like to help us continue creating great content, consider becoming a patron for as little as $7 a month. As a patron, you will enjoy: ✨ Ad-free episodes for an uninterrupted listening experience. 📜Access to all story and story walkthrough transcripts. 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary lists. 🎧 Exclusive patron-only episodes. 💬 The opportunity to join our member community for weekly online meetups. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep delivering the content you love. Thank you for considering becoming a part of our community! 💖 - LCTS ************************************************************ Check out our playlists on Spotify  Chinese for Intermediate-Playlist  Chinese for Intermediate High-Playlist Chinese for Advanced-Playlist  Chinese for Superior- Playlist  Chinese for Beginners-Playlist

Welcome to 听故事说中文, the podcast where stories come alive to help you improve your Chinese language proficiency and cultural competency. Today, we bring you the story of 王磊, a programmer who came to Beijing three years ago, full of hope and ambition. Like many in the bustling city, his days were a blur of crowded subway rides, late-night work, and a seemingly endless cycle of routine. But one fateful evening, when his phone unexpectedly broke, he was forced to pause—and in that pause, he began to truly see the city around him. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your comments and let us know how this story resonates with you.  LCTS ************************************************************ Support Our Podcast If our podcast brings value to your life and you'd like to help us continue creating great content, consider becoming a patron for as little as $7 a month. As a patron, you will enjoy: ✨ Ad-free episodes for an uninterrupted listening experience. 📜Access to all story and story walkthrough transcripts. 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary lists. 🎧 Exclusive patron-only episodes. 💬 The opportunity to join our member community for weekly online meetups. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep delivering the content you love. Thank you for considering becoming a part of our community! 💖 - LCTS ************************************************************ Check out our playlists on Spotify  Chinese for Intermediate-Playlist  Chinese for Intermediate High-Playlist Chinese for Advanced-Playlist  Chinese for Superior- Playlist  Chinese for Beginners-Playlist

Welcome to 听故事说中文, the podcast where stories come alive to help you improve your Chinese language proficiency and cultural competency. Today, we bring you the story of 王磊, a programmer who came to Beijing three years ago, full of hope and ambition. Like many in the bustling city, his days were a blur of crowded subway rides, late-night work, and a seemingly endless cycle of routine. But one fateful evening, when his phone unexpectedly broke, he was forced to pause—and in that pause, he began to truly see the city around him. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your comments and let us know how this story resonates with you.  LCTS ************************************************************ Support Our Podcast If our podcast brings value to your life and you'd like to help us continue creating great content, consider becoming a patron for as little as $7 a month. As a patron, you will enjoy: ✨ Ad-free episodes for an uninterrupted listening experience. 📜Access to all story and story walkthrough transcripts. 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary lists. 🎧 Exclusive patron-only episodes. 💬 The opportunity to join our member community for weekly online meetups. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep delivering the content you love. Thank you for considering becoming a part of our community! 💖 - LCTS ************************************************************ Check out our playlists on Spotify  Chinese for Intermediate-Playlist  Chinese for Intermediate High-Playlist Chinese for Advanced-Playlist  Chinese for Superior- Playlist  Chinese for Beginners-Playlist

Welcome to 听故事说中文, the podcast where stories come alive to help you improve your Chinese language proficiency and cultural competency. Today’s episode takes us into the childhood of 巴德·舒尔伯格, a celebrated writer who grew up between the warm encouragement of his mother and the strict criticism of his father. At just eight or nine years old, he wrote his first poem, sparking a moment of pride and excitement. His mother’s glowing praise—“精彩极了！”—filled him with confidence, while his father’s harsh critique—“糟糕透了！”—brought him back to reality. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your comments and let us know how this story resonates with you.  LCTS ************************************************************ Support Our Podcast If our podcast brings value to your life and you'd like to help us continue creating great content, consider becoming a patron for as little as $7 a month. As a patron, you will enjoy: ✨ Ad-free episodes for an uninterrupted listening experience. 📜Access to all story and story walkthrough transcripts. 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary lists. 🎧 Exclusive patron-only episodes. 💬 The opportunity to join our member community for weekly online meetups. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep delivering the content you love. Thank you for considering becoming a part of our community! 💖 - LCTS ************************************************************ Check out our playlists on Spotify  Chinese for Intermediate-Playlist  Chinese for Intermediate High-Playlist Chinese for Advanced-Playlist  Chinese for Superior- Playlist  Chinese for Beginners-Playlist

Welcome to 听故事说中文, the podcast where stories come alive to help you improve your Chinese language proficiency and cultural competency. Today’s episode takes us into the childhood of 巴德·舒尔伯格, a celebrated writer who grew up between the warm encouragement of his mother and the strict criticism of his father. At just eight or nine years old, he wrote his first poem, sparking a moment of pride and excitement. His mother’s glowing praise—“精彩极了！”—filled him with confidence, while his father’s harsh critique—“糟糕透了！”—brought him back to reality. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your comments and let us know how this story resonates with you.  LCTS ************************************************************ Support Our Podcast If our podcast brings value to your life and you'd like to help us continue creating great content, consider becoming a patron for as little as $7 a month. As a patron, you will enjoy: ✨ Ad-free episodes for an uninterrupted listening experience. 📜Access to all story and story walkthrough transcripts. 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary lists. 🎧 Exclusive patron-only episodes. 💬 The opportunity to join our member community for weekly online meetups. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep delivering the content you love. Thank you for considering becoming a part of our community! 💖 - LCTS ************************************************************ Check out our playlists on Spotify  Chinese for Intermediate-Playlist  Chinese for Intermediate High-Playlist Chinese for Advanced-Playlist  Chinese for Superior- Playlist  Chinese for Beginners-Playlist

Welcome to 听故事说中文, the podcast where stories come alive to help you improve your Chinese language proficiency and cultural competency. Today, we’re sharing a nostalgic tale of 桂花雨, or "Osmanthus Rain," a story that takes us back to the author’s childhood in her coastal hometown. It’s a time when the air is filled with the enchanting fragrance of blooming osmanthus flowers, and the entire village comes together to harvest this delicate treasure before the looming threat of typhoon season. Through the eyes of a child, we’ll experience the joy of shaking the trees, watching the golden petals fall like fragrant rain, and the warmth of family traditions that turn these blossoms into tea and festive treats. This episode is a celebration of memory, scent, and the deep connection between people and their homeland. So, sit back, listen closely. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your comments and let us know how this story resonates with you. Happy listening! LCTS ************************************************************ Support Our Podcast If our podcast brings value to your life and you'd like to help us continue creating great content, consider becoming a patron for as little as $7 a month. As a patron, you will enjoy: ✨ Ad-free episodes for an uninterrupted listening experience. 📜Access to all story and story walkthrough transcripts. 📚 Comprehensive vocabulary lists. 🎧 Exclusive patron-only episodes. 💬 The opportunity to join our member community for weekly online meetups. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep delivering the content you love. Thank you for considering becoming a part of our community! 💖 - LCTS ************************************************************ Check out our playlists on Spotify  Chinese for Intermediate-Playlist  Chinese for Intermediate High-Playlist Chinese for Advanced-Playlist  Chinese for Superior- Playlist  Chinese for Beginners-Playlist