✰ Practice how to use chengyu in conversation, with me! Live Chengyu Workshop next Tuesday. Early bird price ends this Friday, 9/11.Details here

✰Full version of this episode & Transncripts (zhuyin, pinyin and Eng-Ch) here

✰ Your support means a world! If our conversation help you improve your Taiwanese Mandarin listening and speaking, please consider give it 5 star review or on Spotify and leave comments on Apple podcast.

Jumbo's Instagram➡ Jumbo 20250101

✰ Your goal is to converse with Taiwanese friends and family with confidence? Express yourself more deeply in conversation? Check out my online trainings here

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show

今天這集很私密：一個生重病的九歲小女孩許願去東京迪士尼的真實故事。這個小女孩就是我。It's a very personal episode: the true story of a nine-year-old girl who got seriously ill and made a wish to go to Tokyo Disneyland. I'm her.

這集我邀請喜願協會（Make-A-Wish Taiwan）志工 Wendy，一起回到我九歲那年，聊聊生病、住院化療、許願，還有最後圓夢的旅程。(真的很感恩)

In this episode, I'm joined by Wendy, a Make-A-Wish Taiwan volunteer, as we look back on that year. We talk about illness, chemotherapy, children's hospital life, and the wish that finally came true. (so grateful!)

我們的對話很適合給中級程度的臺灣華語學生練習。包含醫院、生病治療、志工、相關的實用詞彙。字稿（中英文、注音拼音）已公開在 Patreon，你可以下載邊聽邊學。

Great for intermediate Taiwanese Mandarin learners. It's a real, unscripted conversation practice with vocabulary around hospitals, illness, and volunteering. Full transcript (Chinese/English with zhuyin/pinyin) is free on Patreon HERE. Learners can study while listening this episode.

➡️喜願柑仔店 Make a Wish Taiwan's podcast show

🌠 捐款資訊 donation info

Make-A-Wish Taiwan serves children ages 3–17 who have been diagnosed with life-threatening critical illnesses, making life-changing wishes come true.

When a wish comes true, it makes courage possible. We invite you to become a wish-granter too:

➡️ Give monthly, support a dream: https://neti.cc/Pk8RWmr

➡️ Donate via 發票 receipt lottery donation code 愛心碼
You can donate your receipt at checkout by telling the cashier you'd like to donate it using a 愛心碼 charity code, just give them the code "2656".

➡️ For international donors, use this link here and choose Make-A-Wish Taiwan, or your own country's chapter.

🌠 志工資訊 Make-a-Wish Taiwan Volunteer info ​HERE​

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show

From Hesitant (fear) to Confident Speaking Camp is open (July-Aug)! If you've been wanting more real conversation practice, feel free to check out the Details here .

Perhaps it's hard for you to imagine, but we Taiwanese don't have much vacations. When Mayors (市長) annonce a Typhoon day off (颱風假), we just feel thrilled and grateful. In this episode, I talk about our typhoon day off culture , why instant noodles (泡麵) become everyone's favorite meal, and what life is like during a typical typhoon day in Taiwan.

You can study the transcripts (zhuin, pinyin, Chinese and English) , which are available on Patreon. 謝謝你們 Your support keeps this podcast going!

As always, I hope this episode helps you improve both your listening and speaking

while understnading Taiwanese culture.

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show

➠ See you in the 成語 Workshop on July 1st! Details & signup HERE

➠Transcripts (Chinese-English, Pinyin & Zhuyin) )on Patreon. By becoming a member, you're supporting this podcast. It means a world. (Note: 🙏 Please subscribe via Patreon.com (not the iOS app) so 100% of your support can reach me)

🇹🇼 My Online Programs to help you converse with Taiwanese people with confidence.

1. Boost TOCFL score in 4 steps: the ultimate guide to 1000 TOCFL Band A vocabulary

2. Master Spoken Chinese: Taiwanese Mandarin conversation training

3. Master Conversational Taiwanese Mandarin: Eating, Drinking, and Chatting

Converse with Taiwanese People Fluently in everyday-life Situations. Understand Locals' Natural Speaking Speed. Navigate Taiwan with Confidence.

4. Level up Complete Program (progress from A2 to B level)

Comprehend Taiwanese media & Engage in deeper Conversations with Taiwanese Locals.

Details here

I hope my content makes you feel warm and relaxed while learning Taiwanese Mandarin —just as life should be :)

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show

Transcripts & Coaching info 👇

🇹🇼 Premier Coaching Circle (五月至十月 May - October)

The goal of this coaching circle is to help you engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations with Taiwanese people and feel more connected to Taiwan. This small group is taught entirely by me, no other instructors.

One spot left. Enrollment closes May 26th. 👉 Details here

🇹🇼 Transcripts (zhuyin, pinyin & Ch Eng) available on Patreon HERE

🇹🇼 My Online Programs

Summary

In this episode, I chat with my friend 佩容 about how Taiwanese people choose baby names 取名字 — a fascinating window into Taiwanese culture and traditions.

We discuss: •

Why Taiwanese parents consult a fortune teller 算命老師 to name their children

• How the five elements 五行 (金木水火土) influence name choices

• Why certain characters became trendy in specific eras

• How modern parents balance tradition with personal meaning

• Why today's parents are careful about homophones 諧音

• how my friend chose her two daughters' name

This is a real, natural Taiwanese Mandarin conversation — perfect for intermediate to advanced Chinese learners or heritage learners who want to improve their listening skills and learn more about Taiwanese culture.

Thank you again for learning Taiwanese Mandarin with me! I I'm grateful for having you. Thank you my patreon members and students who've enrolled my online programs.

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show

Coaching info & Timeline

The Level Up & Connect Premier Coaching Circle is opening again!

🇹🇼 (五月至十月 May - October)

The goal of this coaching circle is to help you engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations with Taiwanese people and feel more connected to Taiwan.

If you wish to progress from intermediate to advance level, check out all the ​details here

Timeline

01:30 Returning to New York
03:29 Lots of Taiwanese people love the show Sex and the City 慾望城市
04:59 What did I do in Manhattan
10:00 Talking with locals:
a stranger notices my 底片相機 film camera
08:00 “廁所在哪 Where is the toilet?” I miss Taipei for this:)
13:40 Final thought: New York belongs to the world.

Study my transcripts (pinyin, zhuyin and Eng translation) on Patreon.

I'm so grateful for this NYC trip. 很感激有這樣的機會去紐約

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show

From Chinese Taipei (中華隊) to Team Taiwan (臺灣隊), baseball has helped shape Taiwan’s identity. It’s the one sport that truly brings people across Taiwan together.

In this episode, my little sister and I talk about how baseball has shaped our lives and what it has taught us about perseverance. You'll be learning two expressions. (球是圓的、不到九局下半不能放棄).

In the full version, we visit the Taipei Dome to watch an international game and observe this incredible phenomenon firsthand.

Video podcast version and Full video available on Patreon.

🇹🇼 Follow up reading: I wrote a blog post to dig deeper about the connection of basbeball and Taiwanese identity.

🇹🇼 Courses & resources to help you speak like a Taiwanese

(from beginner-friendly to more advanced levels.)

1. Boost TOCFL score in 4 steps: the ultimate guide to 1000 TOCFL Band A vocabulary​

2. Master Spoken Chinese: Taiwanese Mandarin conversation training​

3. Master Conversational Taiwanese Mandarin: Eating, Drinking, and Chatting​

4. Level up & Connect to Taiwan Program (progress from Intermediate to advanced level)​

5. Learn more effectively with my podcast transcripts and bonus episodes (starting from pre-intermediate or anyone who prefers to learn in an authentic relaxed way)

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show

Study with my transcripts (Ch–Eng, pinyin, Zhuyin) here. Today, I share 4 gentle ways that help learners stay consistent.

1. Make it natural（習慣成自然）
2. You can always come back
3. Find enjoyment in the process
4. Reward & Encouragement (Bonus for patreon members here)

Note

I know many of your goal is to be able to converse with Taiwanese friends annd family with confidence and feel connected to Taiwan. That's why I'd made these 4 online training programs.

I’ve structured them in the ideal learning order (beginner-friendly to more advanced levels.)

1. Boost TOCFL score in 4 steps: the ultimate guide to 1000 TOCFL Band A vocabulary

2. Master Spoken Chinese: Taiwanese Mandarin conversation training

3. Master Conversational Taiwanese Mandarin: Eating, Drinking, and Chatting

4. Level up & Connect to Taiwan Program (progress from Intermediate to advanced level)

For any questions or feedback, contact me here

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show