Daily Mandarin Podcast
Two hosts teach beginner Mandarin by narrating classic fables and breaking down vocabulary in a conversational Q&A format.
This is a scripted, co-hosted educational podcast for beginner Mandarin learners. Each episode is a retelling of a classic fable (often from Aesop), framed as a conversation. One host narrates the story while the other interjects, asking for definitions of key words, which allows for natural vocabulary explanations targeted at the HSK 1-2 level.
“The show's signature is its two-host, question-and-answer teaching style, where one host plays the role of the storyteller and the other acts as the curious student. This format, combined with the consistent use of classic fables and the provision of full downloadable scripts, distinguishes it from monologue-based or purely conversational language podcasts.”
Who hosts this show
Daily Mandarin Podcast provides beginner-friendly Chinese listening practice (HSK 1-2) through storytelling. The hosts, known on-air as Xiao Ming and Xiao Li, use a dialogue format to tell classic fables, explain vocabulary, and introduce related Chinese idioms. The show aims to make learning Mandarin simple and relaxing by helping listeners grow their skills comfortably and consistently.
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06(HSK 1–2) The Wind and the Sun | 风与太阳 | Daily Mandarin PodcastMay 18, 2026 · 5 min
- 07
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01(HSK 1–2) The Tortoise Begged to Fly. The Eagle Said Yes.
A clear example of the show's format, telling a classic fable and deriving the idiom '量力而行' (act within your ability) from its moral.
- 02(HSK 1–2) Are You Spending Money You Haven't Earned Yet?
This episode on 'The Milkmaid and Her Pail' demonstrates how the hosts connect a Western fable to a parallel Chinese idiom, '别打如意算盘' (Don't count your chickens before they hatch).
- 03(HSK 1–2) The Most Painful Betrayal: The Farmer and the Snake
Illustrates how the podcast tackles themes of kindness and betrayal, linking the story to the idiom '恩将仇报' (repaying kindness with harm).
What you'll be asked on this show
This is a co-hosted, scripted educational show; it does not feature interviews. The format involves one host (Xiao Ming or Xiao Li) narrating a story while the other asks clarifying questions about vocabulary. The explanations are clear and targeted at beginners. Each episode concludes with a discussion of the story's moral and the introduction of a relevant Chinese idiom (成语).
Signature segments
- · Fable of the Day
- · Conversational Vocabulary Q&A
- · Moral of the Story
- · Idiom of the Day (今天的成语是...)
- · Full script downloads
Topics covered repeatedly
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
There is no evidence of paid sponsors or advertisements in the episodes provided. The podcast appears to be self-funded.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a co-hosted podcast where the hosts tell a classic fable in Mandarin. One host narrates while the other asks questions about vocabulary, which are then explained for a beginner audience.
- Who are the hosts?
- The hosts use the on-air names Xiao Ming and Xiao Li. Their real identities are not publicly disclosed.
- What level of Mandarin is this for?
- The podcast is explicitly designed for beginner learners, corresponding to HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) levels 1 and 2.
- Is this an interview podcast?
- No, it is a scripted, educational podcast with a storytelling format. It does not feature guests or interviews.
- Where can I find transcripts?
- The podcast provides a link to a full script (in Chinese, Pinyin, and English) in the description of each YouTube episode.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · medium confidence
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