Today we're talking about the noun, workhorse. I have several things around me, on my desk, that I could describe as workhorses. Maybe you do too! I hope you find todays podcast useful.

DAILY Business English VOCABULARY builder

I have several horses in my office.

清明节，又称踏青节、行清节、三月节、祭祖节等。清明节源自上古时代的祖先信仰与春祭礼俗，兼具自然与人文两大内涵，既是自然节气点，也是传统节日。扫墓祭祖与踏青郊游是清明节的两大礼俗主题，这两大传统礼俗主题在中国自古传承，至今不辍。 

清明节在公历4月5日前后。

清明节是传统的重大春祭节日，扫墓祭祀、缅怀祖先，是中华民族自古以来的优良传统。清明节融汇自然节气与人文风俗为一体，是天时地利人和的合一，充分体现了中华民族先祖们追求“天、地、人”的和谐合一，讲究顺应天时地宜、遵循自然规律的思想。

清明节与春节、端午节、中秋节并称为中国四大传统节日。除了中国，世界上还有一些国家和地区也过清明节，比如越南、韩国、马来西亚、新加坡等。


Qingming Festival, also known as outing Festival, Qingming festival, March festival, ancestor worship festival. Tomb-sweeping Day comes from the ancient beliefs of our ancestors and the customs of Spring Festival. It is both natural and cultural. It is not only a natural solar term point but also a traditional festival.  Tomb sweeping and ancestor worship and outing are the two themes of the Qingming Festival. These two traditional themes have been passed down in China since ancient times.  

Tomb-sweeping Day falls around April 5 in the Gregorian calendar.  

Qingming Festival is a major traditional Spring Festival. It is a fine tradition of the Chinese nation since ancient times to sweep tombs and offer sacrifices to ancestors.  Qingming Festival combines natural solar terms and cultural customs as a whole, is the unity of heaven, earth and man, fully embodies the Chinese ancestors to pursue the harmony of "heaven, earth and man", pay attention to conform to the idea of heaven and earth, follow the laws of nature.  

Qingming Festival, The Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival are called the four traditional Festivals in China.  Besides China, qingming Festival is also celebrated in some countries and regions in the world, such as Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.  


Maple's fun Chinese  (Mandarin)

清明节  Qingming Festival   Qīngmíng jié

Can I Say - Can I Do

Poland

What if ancient wisdom could make your language learning calmer, stronger, and more sustainable?

In Episode 95 of 111 Tips for Learning a Language, we explore how Stoic philosophy can guide you through grammar, speaking, writing, listening, and more. With Stoicism, you stop fearing mistakes, accept challenges as training, and focus only on what is in your control—the effort itself.

Which Stoic principle do you need most in your language learning?

Discipline with grammar rules?

Courage to speak despite mistakes?

Acceptance when listening feels difficult?

Clarity of thought through writing?

Episode 95 shows how Stoicism can enrich both language learning and life. Grammar becomes training in discipline, pronunciation becomes freedom from others’ judgments, reading becomes practice in accepting difficulty, speaking becomes an act of courage, writing becomes a path to clarity, and listening becomes an exercise in equanimity. Stoic philosophy reminds us that obstacles are not barriers but the very path itself. By learning with calm determination and focusing on what you can control, you gain not only fluency but also resilience, patience, and wisdom.

💃🏻111 Tips for Learning a Language 

Tip 95 - How Stoicism can help you learn a language

mènɡ mǔ sān qiān  
孟母三迁
mènɡ zi shì kǒnɡ zi de xué shēnɡ， 
孟子是孔子的学生，
yě shì hěn yǒu mínɡ de sī xiǎnɡ jiā。 
也是很有名的思想家。
mènɡ zi xiǎo shí hou，jū zhù de dì fānɡ lí mù dì hěn jìn， 
孟子小时候，居住的地方离墓地很近，
suǒ yǐ tā yě xué zhe dà rén kū， 
所以他也学着大人哭，
yóu xì wán shuǎ de dōu shì xià zànɡ kū sānɡ zhī lèi de shì qinɡ。 
游戏玩耍的都是下葬哭丧之类的事情。
mènɡ zi de mǔ qīn jiàn le shuō： 
孟子的母亲见了说：
“zhè ɡe dì fānɡ bù shì hé hái zi jū zhù。” 
“这个地方不适合孩子居住。”  
yú shì tā men bān dào yí ɡè jí shì pánɡ biān。 
于是他们搬到一个集市旁边。
mènɡ zi yòu hé bié de hái zi yì qǐ， 
孟子又和别的孩子一起，
xué zhe dà rén mǎi mài dōnɡ xī。 
学着大人买卖东西。
mènɡ zi de mǔ qīn yòu shuō： 
孟子的母亲又说：
“zhè ɡe dì fānɡ hái shì bù shì hé hái zi jū zhù。” 
“这个地方还是不适合孩子居住。”
tā men yòu bān jiā le。 
他们又搬家了。
zhè cì tā men bān dào le yí ɡè xué xiào pánɡ biān。 
这次他们搬到了一个学校旁边。
xiǎo mènɡ zi hé bié de hái zi yì qǐ， 
小孟子和别的孩子一起，
ɡēn zhe lǎo shī xué xí， 
跟着老师学习，
màn màn ér xǐ huān niàn shū le。 
慢慢儿喜欢念书了。
mènɡ zi de mǔ qīn kàn le hěn ɡāo xìnɡ，shuō 
孟子的母亲看了很高兴，说：
“zhè cái shì shì hé wǒ ér zi jū zhù de dì fānɡ。” 
“这才是适合我儿子居住的地方。”
yīn wéi mènɡ zi de mǔ qīn fēi chánɡ zhù yì 
因为孟子的母亲非常注意
rànɡ mènɡ zi cónɡ xiǎo jiù jiē shòu hǎo de jiào yù，
让孟子从小就接受好的教育，
suǒ yǐ mènɡ zi zhǎnɡ dà yǐ hòu chénɡ le yǒu mínɡ de sī xiǎnɡ jiā。 
所以孟子长大以后成了有名的思想家。 
zhè jiù shì “mènɡ mǔ sān qiān” de ɡù shì。
这就是“孟母三迁”的故事。

CHINESE STORY中文故事

孟母三迁

inglis-el-i x-a-r-t?                             
kartv-el-i brjan-d-eb-i-t?
k’arg-ada x-a-r?
sada x-a-r?
kalak-¡i rat’om mi-v-di-v-a-r? 
xom k’arg-ada x-a-r?
cud-ad xom ara x-a-r? 
kalak-shii ar mi-di-an?

BlaBlaGeorgian

Asking questions Grammar point!!

To busk can mean to not have a clear plan and to make decisions while events are already in progress. We can also use, play something by ear, improvise, decide in real time, and decide on the fly to mean a similar thing. I hope you enjoy the podcast!

I busked this whole podcast, I wonder if anyone will notice?!

来漂亮国一年多了，我也逐渐适应这里的生活。过去的一年里，我观察到一些和中国文化差异很大的地方，今天这集播客里，我想和你们分享。
