Unpleasant Sounds or Awkward Pronunciation

膩 (nì) – Greasy, overly rich (often used for food but also for excessive behavior).

黏 (nián) – Sticky, clinging (can refer to textures or overly attached people).

齁 (hōu) – Overly sweet or salty (common in Taiwanese Mandarin but sounds rough).

癢 (yǎng) – Itchy (some dislike the way it sounds when spoken).

喳喳叫 (zhā zhā jiào) – Chattering noisily (annoying both in sound and meaning).

Gross or Unpleasant Associations

痰 (tán) – Phlegm.

膿 (nóng) – Pus.

流湯 (liú tāng) – To ooze fluid (used for wounds or food, can sound disgusting).

爛 (làn) – Rotten, bad quality (commonly used to insult things or people).

發臭 (fā chòu) – To stink.

Overused or Annoying Phrases in Taiwanese Culture

馬上 (mǎ shàng) – "Right away" (often said but not always meant literally).

隨便啦 (suí biàn la) – "Whatever" (can sound dismissive or rude).

沒差啦 (méi chā la) – "Doesn’t matter" (casual, sometimes frustrating to hear).

你家在哪裡？(nǐ jiā zài nǎ lǐ?) – "Where’s your house?" (Common but feels nosy in Taiwan).

這樣可以嗎？(zhè yàng kě yǐ ma?) – "Is this okay?" (Overused in customer service settings).

Forced Taiwanese Internet Slang

母湯 (mǔ tāng) – Taiwanese Hokkien loanword meaning "don’t do that," some find it cringey.

87 (bā qī) – Internet slang for "idiot" (八七 sounds like 白癡 bái chī, meaning stupid).

安安 (ān ān) – Taiwanese internet greeting, can feel outdated.

尬聊 (gà liáo) – "Forced awkward chat" (often overused online).

好扯哦 (hǎo chě ò) – "So ridiculous!" (Overused in younger circles).

Taiwan-Specific Business or Social Annoyances

報稅 (bào shuì) – Tax filing (dreaded every year).

塞車 (sāi chē) – Traffic jam (a huge problem in Taiwan).

外送 (wài sòng) – Food delivery (used too often in daily conversation).

可以加LINE嗎？(kě yǐ jiā LINE ma?) – "Can we add each other on LINE?" (Some find it intrusive).

租屋 (zū wū) – Renting a house (frustrating for many due to high prices in Taiwan).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. is taking steps to ban TikTok—so what does this mean for users, creators, and businesses? In this episode of Mandarin Monkey, Ula (speaking Mandarin) and Tom (speaking English) dive into the controversy surrounding TikTok’s potential ban in America. We discuss why the U.S. government is pushing for it, what might happen next, and whether TikTok can survive this legal battle.

Join us for a bilingual discussion that breaks down the issue from multiple angles—political, economic, and cultural. Is this really about security, or is something else at play? Tune in and find out!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for a fun and relaxed way to improve your Mandarin? Join Tom and Ula for this bilingual podcast where they mix Mandarin and English to talk about everyday life, gaming, and parenting. This week, they explore how Stardew Valley makes them so relaxed they nearly fall asleep, while Enshrouded keeps their focus sharp. They also chat about the challenges of raising kids in a tech-savvy world and their youngest son’s bedtime struggles. Stay tuned for a festive discussion about Christmas—just in time for the holidays. Perfect for learners who want to hear real conversations in both Mandarin and English!

Tom and Ula discuss the peaceful gameplay of Stardew Valley and the concentration needed for Enshrouded while sharing their experiences as parents, including trying to get their youngest son to sleep better. They also dive into a thought-provoking conversation about raising children in a tech-based household. The episode wraps up with a sprinkle of Christmas cheer, all delivered in their unique mix of Mandarin and English—perfect for learners looking to improve their language skills naturally.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, we dive into the fascinating world of TikTokers and live streamers in Taiwan and China—how they captivate audiences and grow their following. We also share plans to transform our home into a winter wonderland and brainstorm festive ideas for Chinese New Year. Plus, an update on exciting plans for our studio!

Whether you're learning Mandarin, exploring Chinese culture, or just love our bilingual banter, this episode has something for everyone. Listen in for fun discussions, language tips, and cultural insights in both Mandarin and English.

Visit our website: www.mandarinmonkey.com for online lessons, exclusive content, and more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tom and Ula take you on a hilarious journey through the chaos of moving into their new home. From a wardrobe that refused to cooperate to an almost-electrical fire that cost a whopping $500 to fix, they’re sharing it all—with plenty of Chinglish banter along the way!

Whether you’re learning Mandarin or just love a good bilingual chat, this episode is packed with fun stories, useful vocab, and a reminder that even disasters can be funny (after the smoke clears). Perfect for Mandarin learners and fans of Chinglish life moments!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.