加油 (jiāyóu): Encouragement You Can Feel

What does it really mean when someone in China says 加油?

Often translated as “keep going” or “you can do it,” 加油 is more than just a phrase of encouragement. It shows up in moments of effort, exhaustion, and perseverance—whether on a race course, before an exam, or in the middle of something difficult.

In this episode of our Beyond Translation season, host Stephanie Wendler is joined by Paul Wendler and Lydia Choi to explore how this simple phrase carries such powerful meaning. From quiet beginnings at a marathon to the shared energy of collective encouragement, they reflect on how their understanding of 加油 has grown while living in China—and how it can transform both individual effort and group experience.

Together, they look beyond the translation to discover what 加油 reveals about encouragement, shared perseverance, and the ways people support one another through everyday challenges.

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面子 (miànzi): More Than Just “Face”

What does it really mean when someone in China talks about 面子?

Often translated as “face,” 面子 goes far beyond reputation or pride. It shapes how people communicate, how they handle disagreement, and how they protect one another’s dignity—sometimes in ways that aren’t immediately visible to outsiders.

In this episode of our Beyond Translation season, host Stephanie Wendler is joined by Jonathan and Rebecca Chiew, parents of Xi’an International School students, to explore how this concept shows up in everyday life. From moments of misunderstanding to experiences of learning the hard way, they reflect on how their awareness of 面子 has grown while engaging in Chinese contexts—and how it can deeply impact relationships.

Together, they look beyond the translation to discover what 面子 reveals about respect, indirect communication, and the role of preserving dignity in maintaining harmony.

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辛苦 (xīnkǔ): Seeing the Effort Behind the Work

What does it really mean when someone in China says 辛苦了?

Often translated as something like “you’ve worked hard,” 辛苦 goes beyond simple gratitude. It acknowledges the effort, endurance, and unseen labor behind what someone has done. It’s a way of recognizing not just the action, but the weight someone carried to make it happen.

In this episode of our Beyond Translation season, host Stephanie Wendler is joined by Xi'an International School staff member Cassie Outlaw to explore how this everyday phrase reflects deeper cultural values around work, care, and appreciation. From moments when “thank you” felt strangely distant to the first time hearing 辛苦 in a meaningful way, they reflect on how their understanding of effort and recognition has evolved while living in China.

Together, they look beyond the translation to discover what 辛苦 reveals about noticing one another’s work, honoring shared responsibility, and making effort visible in relationships.

We’d love to hear from you: https://form.jotform.com/260956093913161