Make an appointment, alphabet part 1 & the declarative sentence, verb conjugations singular: (er, sie, es) kommt, wohnt, arbeitet.

Paul calls Anna. They arrange to meet for coffee on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Anna has no time because she already meets Meili. Anna meets Meili privately? Are they friends now? She didn't say anything about it ...

Here's how to get YOUR NAME on the next German Stories episode:

1) Launch the Apple Podcast app on your iPhone / iPad and tap the search icon (on top)
2) Search for “German Stories | Learn German with Stories”, and tap on our podcast
3) Once you're there, scroll down to "Ratings & Reviews", and tap "Write a Review" (or log in first)
4) Write us something nice and give us 5 stars :-)

German Stories | Learn German with Stories

7: Wann hast du Zeit? | When do you have time?

En este segundo episodio, vamos a hablar sobre los dos últimos usos comunes del verbo “acabar”. ¿en qué situaciones de la vida diaria puedes usarlo? ¿Qué frases idiomáticas puedes decir con "acabar"? Estás a punto de descubrirlo. Acompáñanos mientras exploramos las múltiples formas en que usamos este verbo en nuestras conversaciones.

Cápsula Fluida

Verbo ACABAR (parte 3)

古时候，有个叫张三的人，他费了好大的劲儿，才积攒下三百两银子，心里很高兴。但他总是怕别人把这些钱偷去，就找了一只箱子，把三百两银子钉在箱中，然后埋在屋后的地底下。

可是他还是不放心，怕别人到这儿来挖，于是就想了一个“巧妙”的办法。他拿出一张纸，写上七个大字:“此地无银三百两”,贴在墙角边,这才放心地走了。
 
谁知道他的举动，都被隔壁的王二看到了。半夜，趁张三熟睡，王二把三百两银子全偷走了。为了不让张三知道，他也在一张纸上写了七个大字:“隔壁王二不曾偷”，也贴在墙上。

张三第二天早上起来,到屋后去看银子，银子不见了，一见纸条，才恍然大悟。

“此地无银三百两”比喻想要用自认为是聪明的手法隐瞒真相，结果反而暴露得更明显。

In ancient times, there was a man named Zhang San. He spent a lot of effort to save 300 taels of silver. He was very happy. But he was always afraid that others would steal the money, so he found a box, nailed the money in the box, and buried it under the ground behind the house.
However, he was still worried that others would come here to dig, so he thought of a "clever" idea. He took out a piece of paper and wrote in seven big characters: "there is no silver here, three hundred taels". He stuck it on the corner of the wall, and then he left with confidence.
Well, what he did, was seen by Wang Er next door. At midnight, while Zhang San was asleep, Wang Er stole all three hundred taels of silver. In order not to let Zhang San know, he also wrote seven big characters on a piece of paper: "Wang Er next door never stole it", which was also pasted on the wall.
Zhang San got up the next morning and went to the back of the house to see the silver. The silver was gone. When he saw the note, he suddenly realized. 

This idiom is a metaphor for trying to hide the truth with a clever trick, but the result is more obvious, a clumsy denial resulting in self-exposure.

HSK5 Vocab Based - Short Story Podcast

02. 成语--此地无银三百两Idiom--cǐ dì wú yín sān bǎi liǎng No 300 taels of silver buried here

In this episode we will talk about 【Eating spicy】, you will learn how to say 【mildly spicy,medium spicy,have acne】 ect. The material helps you get used to different voice and accent. 
----------------------------------------
It is recommended that you study in the following ways:
Step 1: Gist listening. Listen to get the main idea. (more times if necessary)
Step 2: Read the text to find out words you didn't get, then look up the dictionary. 
Step 3: Listen and imitate as much as you can without looking at the text.
Step 4: Write down what you hear if you want to practise writing.
-----------------------------------------
大家好，我是Yuli。欢迎收听我的播客。
上期我们聊了吃辣可以降低得肿瘤的风险，那么所有人都能吃辣吗？我们来听听专家怎么说？
主持人：您是四川人啊，可能那个地区的朋友特别爱吃辣。但其实现在全国好像都爱吃辣，大家都无辣不欢。不过啊，相对来说像我们北方人可能吃辣的能力稍微弱一点。所以有的时候咱们去饭店吃饭的时候，有时候厨师会问您说：您是要微辣呀？是要中辣呀？还是要一种特别辣呀？所以这个也是有不同的分歧的。那您能不能跟我们说说就是如果从抵抗口腔癌症的这种角度来分析的话，那么吃什么样的程度的辣可能更适合一些？是稍微吃一点儿还是要吃得比较辣？是经常吃还是适当地吃？
左医生：唉，你这个问题得特别好。这个答案到底是，唉吃多少辣椒合适，就有人会问我。其实这个我们只能说大概中度，但吃多少到底什么是这样，每人感觉是不一样的。因为如果您特别辣的话，你实在承受不了，对你的胃有烧灼，这个不值当的啊。因为有的人吃完以后的话，呃，这个辣度虽然说我们没有说明确的提示，就吃得你比较舒服。你没有说辣得你胃疼，那这个辣度是比较适合你的。但是中等辣度是不是就适合所有人呢，那也不一定。比方说，我刚才说你本来就胃肠道可能就有不太好，有溃疡，有什么。你在溃疡上你再放点辣椒面，那可能就不适合了。还有有的人呢，他的体质不太一样。因为这个体质不一样，有的人吃了以后真的就容易长痘啊，上火的那些。还有呢，我觉得跟我们国家的这个地理环境（有关系）。因为我们西南三省那边还有包括南方是很潮湿的，辣椒是有一定的祛湿作用的。但是如果在北方你还是吃得这么辣，天天这么吃的话，有可能真的就会上火呀，等等。还有呢，比方说您便秘了，然后你眼睛又红肿了，这个时候呢也是不推荐的，就包括这中度辣轻度辣也是不推荐吃的。但是普通人如果你觉得它对你没什么危害的话，我们适当地吃点中辣的，我觉得还是挺好的。
你觉得你适合吃辣吗？留言告诉我吧。我们下期来听听吃辣的时候要注意什么。
--------------------------------------------------
无辣不欢	/	wú là bù huān	/	No fun without spice
微辣	/	wēi là	/	mildly spicy
中辣	/	zhōng là	/	medium spicy
分歧	/	fēn qí	/	divergence
抵抗	/	dǐ kàng	/	Resist
承受	/	chéng shòu	/	bear
灼烧	/	zhuó shāo	/	Burning
值当	/	zhí dàng	/	worthy
胃肠道	/	wèi cháng dào	/	Gastrointestinal tract
溃疡	/	kuì yáng	/	ulcer
辣椒面	/	là jiāo miàn	/	chilli powder
体质	/	tǐ zhì	/	corporeity status
长痘	/	zhǎng dòu	/	have acne
上火	/	shàng huǒ	/	inner heat/fever
祛湿	/	qū shī	/	dispel dampness
便秘	/	biàn mì	/	Constipation
红肿	/	hóng zhǒng	/	Redness and swelling

Yuli's Chinese Channel

每个人都能吃辣吗? Can everyone eat spicy food? （Advanced level）

TRANSCRIPTION (explanation included)
These expressions of happiness and contentment span a spectrum of formality and tone. In everyday conversation, one might simply say they are "happy," "content," or even use the term "pleased" to express satisfaction. When the feeling is particularly strong, phrases like "I am genuinely happy" and "I am overjoyed" convey the depth of joy. In informal settings, a more relaxed approach may be taken with expressions like "on cloud nine" or "over the moon," indicating extreme happiness. For matters necessitating decorum, a formal approach may involve phrases like "I am pleased to inform you" or "I am delighted to announce," emphasizing the importance of the news. Politeness tempers the happiness in expressions such as "I'm really happy for you" or "That's wonderful news," demonstrating a genuine celebration of someone else's success. A touch of wit adds a layer of playfulness to the joy, as seen in expressions like "doing the happy dance" or "grinning from ear to ear." In more refined circles, the upper class might communicate their contentment with statements like "I'm quite content" or "I find myself in high spirits," maintaining an air of sophistication. For royalty, joy is conveyed with grace and dignity, as in "It brings me great joy" or "I am genuinely pleased," underscoring the formal nature of the response. Ultimately, the choice of expression hinges on the context and the level of decorum required for the situation at hand.

LEARN BY LISTENING

How to say happy in various registers of English

“Ai qua phố cổ Hội An
Ghé thăm Phúc Kiến mà ăn Cao Lầu”
Chưa ăn Cao Lầu xem như chưa đi du lịch Hội An, Cao Lầu Hội An không đơn thuần là món ăn đặc trưng, lạ miệng mà còn là niềm tự hào của người dân xứ Hội về những tinh túy văn hóa ẩm thực trong từng hương vị dòn giai làm say lòng thực khách,…
Theo lời của người dân gốc Hoa sống lâu năm ở Hội An, Cao Lầu xuất hiện ở Hội An từ khoảng thế kỷ 17, thời kỳ thương cảng Hội An mới được khai thông, các thương nhân thuyền buôn từ các nước phương Tây và phương Đông, trong đó có Nhật Bản, Trung Hoa vào đây giao thương hàng hóa. 
Cao Lầu là sự kết hợp hài hòa giữa các sợi mì vàng ươm, xen lẫn những miếng thịt xíu, với chút da heo chiên giòn, rau sống thơm thơm và miếng bánh tráng nướng giòn tan.
Có thể nói Cao Lầu là món ăn hòa trộn giữa món bún và món phở, chỉ xuất hiện ở Hội An, Đà Nẵng và Huế. Cao Lầu thường được bày bán trong các quán ăn hai tầng, trên có treo đèn lồng xanh đỏ, thực khách ngồi ăn, vừa thưởng thức cái thơm đậm đà tinh tế của món ăn đất cổ, vừa có dịp thưởng ngoạn cái không khí du lịch cổ kính của một góc phố nơi đây. Cái tên cao lầu luôn là một dấu hỏi cho những khách du lịch xa gần mỗi khi trải nghiệm nét cổ kính của phố Hội.
Một số người cho rằng Cao Lầu bắt nguồn từ Trung Hoa vì có thịt xá xíu, số khác lại cho rằng Cao Lầu bắt nguồn từ Nhật Bản vì có sợi mì giống mì Udon của đất nước này. Tuy nhiên, Cao Lầu có lẽ là một món ăn được tổng hợp từ nhiều dân tộc. Cái tên lạ tai này có lẽ bắt nguồn từ tiếng Hoa, chỉ những món cao lương mĩ vị. Những người giàu có xưa khi đi đến các tiệm ăn ở Hội An thường ngồi trên lầu, món cao lương mĩ vị này quen được xướng mang "lên lầu", dần quen rút lại chỉ còn "cao lầu".
Nếu như có dịp ghé thăm Hội An, bạn nhất định bạn phải thưởng thức món ăn trứ danh này.


Trinh Vo

Nguồn gốc của cái tên Cao lầu - một món ăn đặc sản tại Hội An, Việt Nam

Feeling stuck with English? You’re not alone! In this episode of English Learners Boost, Teacher Ian, a licensed science teacher and English tutor, shares common struggles every learner faces—from pronunciation and grammar to speaking fears—and practical tips to overcome them. Hear an inspiring story, get actionable advice, and discover how you can boost your confidence and skills. Plus, learn how to book a personalized English lesson with Teacher Ian on iTalki!

English Learner's Boost

You’re Not Alone: The English Struggles Every Learner Shares

In this episode, you will learn the French sound /ə/, also called the silent or muted ‘e’.

We start with a simple, everyday situation where the sound naturally appears – when someone hesitates and says “euh…”, just like in French conversation. Then, you’ll practice the sound in common French words and simple sentences.
--------------------
Transcription

Bonjour !
Aujourd’hui, on va apprendre un petit son très courant en français : le /ə/

Vous l’avez sûrement déjà entendu. 
Par exemple, quand quelqu’un hésite et dit : 
- Tu veux venir au parc ?
- Euh… je veux bien.

Vous entendez ce “euh…” ? 
Et le “je” ? 
C’est exactement le son que nous allons pratiquer. 
Il est léger, discret, mais très fréquent. 

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Le son E muet dans d’autres langues
Pour vous aider à le reconnaître, écoutez comment ce son existe ailleurs.
En anglais, on l’entend dans about 
En allemand, on l’entend dans bitte ou Tasche
Vous voyez ? 
C’est un petit son très léger, presque comme un souffle. [pause]

------
Le son E muet dans des mots français
Répétez après moi : 
je 
le 
de 
joyeux 
mercredi 
cerise 
leçon 
Ouvrez légèrement la bouche et laissez le son sortir doucement. 
Répétez lentement, puis un peu plus vite. 

------
Mini exercice 
Maintenant, essayons des phrases simples. 
Répétez après moi.
"Je suis joyeux."
"Le bébé est joyeux."
"Le chat est sur la table."
"Je mange une cerise."
"Mercredi, le chat dort sur le canapé."
Répétez plusieurs fois. 
Faites attention au E muet /ə dans chaque mot. 

------
Conclusion
Bravo ! 
Aujourd’hui, vous avez pratiqué le E muet en français. 
Vous l’avez entendu dans des mots simples et dans des phrases naturelles. 
Répétez-les tous les jours, et ce son deviendra naturel. 

À bientôt ! 

French pronounciation

How to Pronounce the French sound ‘E’ - /ə/

🗣️ Is something holding you back in your language learning—something deeper than motivation or time?

What if the real barrier isn’t the subjunctive mood—but your subconscious?

In Episode 98 of 111 Tips for Learning a Language, we explore how psychodynamic therapy principles can help you uncover the hidden emotional patterns, fears, and unconscious stories that shape your journey.

Episode 98 delves into how psychodynamic therapy principles can reveal and resolve the unconscious barriers—like resistance, transference, and hidden fears—that impact language learning. By exploring the inner world of emotions, memories, and self-protective patterns, you can transform language learning from a struggle into a deeply personal and freeing journey of growth.

This isn’t a lesson in grammar—it’s an invitation to understand yourself.

You’ll learn:

How to recognize and work with resistance, not against it

Why you might transfer old feelings onto tutors, languages, or even yourself

What your dreams and free associations reveal about your relationship to learning

How to turn language learning into a meaningful journey of self-discovery

If you’ve ever felt stuck, repetitive, or emotionally triggered while learning, this episode offers a compassionate and curious path forward.

Ready to explore the language within?