# Chinese through dramas and shows

**Language:** Chinese  
**CEFR Level:** A2  

> Join 苡沫 and 沐辰 to decode the authentic spoken Chinese that subtitles often flatten out, one short conversation at a time. Each lesson trains your ear until you can follow every word and answer back.

**Setting:** While sitting at a traditional dessert shop in Liwan, Guangzhou, enjoying double-skin milk, Shenzhen metro controller 苡沫 and Shanghai table-tennis coach 沐辰 strike up a conversation about their favorite TV shows to unwind. They decide to keep in touch throughout their travels to share tips on how real-life spoken Chinese differs from on-screen subtitles.

## Lessons

### 1. Talking about travel and origins

Yǐmò and Mùchén chat about where they are from, where they currently work, and how they like to travel during their free time.

### 2. Discussing after-work hobbies

Mùchén asks Yǐmò about her after-work routine, leading them to discuss how they use different types of TV shows to unwind.

### 3. Comparing favorite TV show genres

Yǐmò explains her preference for modern family dramas, while Mùchén shares his humorous observations about their typical plotlines.

### 4. Discussing language details in shows

Mùchén points out an interesting discrepancy between subtitles and spoken terms of address in historical dramas, which surprises Yǐmò.

### 5. Explaining how to watch dramas

苡沫 and 沐辰 discuss how terms like "阿姨" are used in modern shows and agree that viewers should listen closely to the spoken dialogue rather than just relying on subtitles.

### 6. Discussing common catchphrases

苡沫 shares some common catchphrases she hears in TV shows, and 沐辰 suggests they stop using formal pronouns to speak more like friends.

### 7. Asking for TV recommendations

苡沫 and 沐辰 introduce themselves by their names to establish a friendlier tone, and 苡沫 asks 沐辰 to recommend a good drama to watch.

### 8. Describing a TV show plot

沐辰 describes a historical drama about a hardworking girl who overcomes obstacles to become a government official, while 苡沫 asks about the main character's traits.

### 9. Describing cooking show mishaps

Yimo shares details about a new variety show where celebrities cook, and Muchen talks about the funny cooking mistakes people make on these shows.

### 10. Comparing translations to original speech

Muchen and Yimo discuss how English subtitles often fail to capture the humor of Chinese slang, agreeing that listening to natural speech is more useful.

### 11. Proposing a listening comprehension challenge

Muchen offers to play a full-speed TV show clip from his phone, and Yimo prepares herself to test her listening comprehension.

### 12. Sharing listening practice results

After listening to the clip, Yimo admits she only understood half of it due to the fast speed, and Muchen reassures her with his own past experience.

### 13. Exchanging contact information

苡沫 suggests they recommend TV shows to each other, leading 沐辰 to propose adding each other on WeChat so they can easily share music and dramas.

### 14. Suggesting to order more food

After discussing regional slang, 沐辰 expresses how much he enjoyed meeting 苡沫 and suggests ordering another portion of their delicious dessert, which she gladly accepts.