Beginner Chinese Listening：闰年  Leap Year

Beginner Chinese Listening

The difference between 以前(yǐ qián) and 以后(yǐ hòu) is very clear from last episode, 以前 means before, so we often see it in a past tense sentence, and 以后 is the opposite, but have you ever wondered that does 以前 always refer to the past, and does 以后 always refer to the future?

Learn Chinese with Jen

以前、以后

New words 08-3
 
1. 服务员 (fú wù yuán) n. attendant, waiter/waitress
服务 (fú wù) v. to serve, to wait on
2. 秘书 (mì shū) n. secretary
3. 厨师 (chú shī) n. chef
4. 累 (lèi) adj. tired, weary
5. 律师 (lǜ shī) n. lawyer
6. 辛苦 (xīn kǔ) adj. toilsome, laborious
7. 运动员 (yùn dòng yuán) n. athlete
运动 (yùn dòng) v. to do sports
8. 学生 (xué shēng) n. student
9. 快乐 (kuài lè) adj. happy, glad


中文每日一练

每日听汉语

Hi everyone, in this episode I talk about how I like to take time off of work, vacation or staycation. Which do you prefer? Let me know in the comments :)

What's Your Opinion?

What's Your Opinion? Vacation or Staycation

If you see someone sitting alone in a restaurant, you might assume they're waiting for someone, or perhaps they're grabbing a quick lunch on their break.

But more and more people around the world are purposely dining alone.

Japan has a special word for this: ohitorisama, which refers to people confidently doing things alone without worrying about what others think.

A recent survey found that 23% of Japanese people eat out alone, up from 18% in 2018. And in the US, solo dining reservations have risen 29% over the last two years, according to restaurant reservation site OpenTable.

OpenTable CEO Debby Soo thinks remote work is one reason for the increase, with people looking for a break from their home offices.

The increasing popularity in solo dining comes as more people are living alone. In 2019, the Pew Research Center found that 38% of US adults ages 25 to 54 were living without a partner, up from 29% in 1990. In Japan, single households now make up one-third of the total; that’s expected to increase to 40% by 2040, according to government data.

Growing interest in solo travel — particularly among travelers ages 55 and over — is also leading to more meals alone.

But Soo thinks there could be more to it than that.

"I think there's a broader movement of self-love and self-care and really … enjoying your own company," Soo said.

As a result, many restaurants are redoing their seating, changing their menus and adding other special touches to appeal to solo diners.

But some aren't always happy to seat one diner. A Michelin-starred London restaurant caused a stir last year when it started charging solo diners the same price as two customers. The restaurant, which has 34 seats, offers an eight-course menu costing about $280 per person.

Other restaurants say it's worth seating one person because solo diners will often come back and eat there again.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Party of One: Solo Dining Increasing in Popularity

En este episodio hablamos de las últimas noticias sobre este genial músico a quien le agradezco sus gestos por la difusión del español y por la valoración de la cultura latina

Porteña

Bad Bunny 

Today we're looking at the phrase "in lieu" which is a French word, often used in English workplaces. I hope you find it useful!

DAILY Business English VOCABULARY builder

I'm sorry, you can't have that. Can I give you this instead?

Feeling nervous about networking? You’re not alone! Today, we’re sharing practical tips to help you build confidence, speak with clarity, and make a strong first impression. Whether you’re connecting online or in person, discover how to turn simple chats into powerful opportunities.