Stop memorising and start understanding the system.

In this episode of Small Talk of China, we break down three of the most essential foundations for any Mandarin learner: Numbers 1-99, Dates, and Time.

Many learners struggle with these because they try to translate directly from English. Instead, we look at these through the lens of Western logic to show you how simple and predictable the Mandarin system actually is once you know the "rules."

In this lesson, you will learn:

• The 1-99 Framework: Why counting in Mandarin is more logical than English.
• Dates & Calendars: How to structure years, months, and days.
• Telling Time: How to communicate schedules and appointments with precision.

Struggling to move past "Ni hao" in your conversations?

The secret to great small talk is shifting the focus from your own performance to the person you are speaking with. In this episode, we explore the logic behind asking questions in Mandarin to keep conversations flowing naturally.

In this lesson, you will learn:

• The "Ma" vs. "Bu" Logic: Simple ways to turn any statement into a question.
• Open-Ended Starters: Moving beyond Yes/No answers to build real connections.
• Cultural Intelligence: How to ask questions that are polite and engaging in a Chinese context.

Tones aren't just an "optional accent"—in Mandarin, tones are the meaning.

In this episode, we tackle the biggest hurdle for Western learners: Tones. We move away from the idea that tones are "musical" and instead decode the "How" and the "Why Bother" using a logical framework.

What we cover:

• Meaning over Music: Why the wrong tone results in a completely different word.
• The 4 Tones Decoded: A practical breakdown of pitch and direction for English speakers.
• Training: How to start "hearing" tones in natural conversation.