China Myth Podcast
China Myth Podcast
Latest Episodes
The Most Misunderstood Phrase in Chinese | The Art of Maybe Ep. 6: 再说吧
If a Chinese colleague ever tells you 再说吧 ("let's discuss it later"), don't put it back on the agenda. This is the series finale of The Art of Maybe, a 6-part breakdown of the real Mandarin phrases Chinese people use instead of a flat refusal. ...
How to Deflect a Sensitive Question in Chinese | The Art of Maybe Ep. 5: 这个嘛
When someone drops a loaded question into a group conversation in China — pricing, exclusivity, a competitor's name — the room doesn't go silent by accident. This is Episode 5 of The Art of Maybe, a 6-part series decoding the real Mandarin phra...
How to Set Expectations in Chinese | The Art of Maybe Ep. 4: 我尽量
"I'll do my best" means something very different in Chinese than it does in English — and getting that difference wrong is one of the most common ways Westerners misread their Chinese counterparts. This is Episode 4 of The Art of Maybe, a 6-par...
How to Stall & Buy Time in China | The Art of Maybe Ep. 3: 让我考虑一下
Sometimes the most powerful move in a Chinese negotiation is a well-placed compliment followed by silence. This is Episode 3 of The Art of Maybe, a 6-part series decoding the real Mandarin phrases Chinese people use instead of a flat refusal. (...
How to Decline a Request in Chinese | The Art of Maybe Ep. 2: 可能不太方便
In China, "No" is rarely the word that does the rejecting — the situation is. This is Episode 2 of The Art of Maybe, a 6-part series decoding the real Mandarin phrases Chinese people use instead of a flat refusal, and what's really being commun...