Fun Mandarin Episode 5

Welcome back to Fun Mandering with Andres. Well, learning mandering is fun. I'm Anders G from Taiwan ICDF. Today we'll be talking about convenience stores in Taiwan, specifically teaching you some useful phrases when you're shopping for drinks and snacks. Convenience stores in Taiwan are everywhere and they offer all sorts of services from paying bills to grabbing a quick meal. Today, we'll listen to a conversation where two friends stop by a convenience store to get drinks. Where am I? That was a simple but very useful conversation. You can use it to buy something at convenience store and order drinks at the tea shop. Let's break down the vocabulary to help you understand it better. Today means present or current and means day. Together specifically refers to today. The day we are currently in. For example, means today is so hot. How plus adjective. Very plus adjective. The word how is commonly used to intensify adjectives in mandaring. When placed before an adjective, how increases the degree of the description. How plus an adjective is a versatile way to say very plus quality with an indication of exclamation. How very hot. R means hot referring to temperature and when combined with how very it becomes meaning very hot. This expression is often used when talking about the weather, especially during Taiwan's humid summers. How very thirsty. C means thirsty and ha means very thirsty. This phrase is commonly used when you feel an intense need to drink something, especially after being in the heat or after physical activity. Let's go to the convenience store means we means to go. Means convenience store. The word refers to convenience or handedness and means store. together. It refers to the ubiquitous convenience stores in Taiwan which offer a wide range of good and services from snacks to utility bills payments. Ba is a suggestion particle that soften the tone and makes the sentence a friendly suggestion like let's go. I want to buy water. Means I or me. Yao means to want or need. My means to buy. And means water. Together translates to I want to buy water, which is a basic but useful phrase for shopping in Taiwan. I want to buy a cup of bubble tea. Means I want my means to buy. Means one cup is pearl milk tea. Means pearls which refers to the chewy tapioca balls in the drink. And na means milk tea. How? Okay. How is a polite and common way to say okay or sure in Mandarin. It can be used in many contexts from casual conversations to customer service interactions. Would you like regular or full sugar means may I ask or excuse me which is a polite way to begin a question. And means full sugar. Ch means full or complete. And T means sugar. Ma is a question particle that turns the sentence into a yes no question. This phrase is often used when ordering drinks in Taiwan where sugar levels can be customized. Half sugar. means half. Tang means sugar. Is used when you want a drink with half of the usual amount of sugar. A common request in Taiwanese drink shops. Also want means still or also. Yao means to want. is used to express wanting something in addition to what's already been mentioned. For example, means also want less ice. Less ice means less or a small amount. Bing means ice. When ordering a cold drink, is used to ask for less ice than the usual amount. No ice. Ch means to remove. Bing means ice. Ching is used to request no ice at all in your drink. It's especially useful in Taiwan string shops where the ice level can greatly affect the drink's volume and temperature. How much does it cost? Means excuse me or may I ask means how much or how many means money. This phrase is a polite way to ask for the price of something. 50 anti means 50, means five, and shu means 10. Refers to the currency unit new Taiwan dollar. So delicious. When we are talking about drinks, h means delicious or tasty. When describing drinks, H means drink. How uses the double how to intensify the expression meaning so delicious or very tasty. This phrase is often used when people are enjoying the drink, especially something popular like bubble tea. Today in the getting to know Taiwan session, we are going to explore two very prominent Taiwanese symbols, convenience stores and bubble tea. Taiwanese convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Family Mart are more than just places to grab snacks. They offer all sorts of services like sending packages, paying bills, and even buying train tickets. You can pay for utility like water and electricity bills, parking fees, and even school tuition at convenience stores. Plus, you can purchase tickets for trains, highspeed rail, and buses. Their density is unbelievable and you can find one on almost every corner in cities and towns. It say that there's a convenience store for every 2,300 people making them a core part of daily life. They are open 24/7 and have everything you need from fresh food to the insessional items like medicine and then commened products. Some store even over seating area where customers can enjoy their meals or take a rest. This sitting area sometimes come equipped with power outlet for charging your phone making them perfect spot to recharge both for you and your devices. And don't forget many convenience store offer free restaurant for customer use which is super helpful when you are out and about. You can also find a wide variety of fresh food from benon boxes the meal boxes in Taiwan to sandwiches and salad. They even provide microwaves so you can heat up your meals on the spot. It's amazing how much you can do at a convenience store. If you visit Taiwan, be sure to check one out. Is an experience you won't want to miss. >> And speaking of must try experience, let's talk about one of Taiwan's most famous creation, as known as bubble tea. The delicious drinks was born in Taiong in the 1980s and has since become a global sensation. Taiwan is home to countless tea shop offering a wide range of flavors and customization. In fact, there are thousand of different tea shop brands throughout the island from small independent stand to the big ch. >> Taiwan's obsession with bubble tea is on another level. Handshake drinks or showya in leo are daily staple for many people. You can get anything from classic milk tea with chewy tapioca pearls or larger boba to fruies latte and more. The variety of flavors and ingredient is endless and the level of customization is incredible. You can choose your sweetness level. regular sugar, half sugar, less sugar, or no sugar at all, which is as well as how much ice you want. Full eyes, less ice, slight ice, or no ice. It's all up to you. There are also so many popular handshaking tea jings for the people love in Taiwan. For example, or green tea is a refreshing green tea topped with a frothy layer. Warm black tea is another favorite or black tea lovers who enjoy a light forming touch. Then there is pang na born sugar milk tea which has a rich carinal flavor thanks to the sweet slow cook brown sugar. Let's not forget which is a milk tea with larger tapioca pearls offering a chewy and satisfying texture. Another unique option is coconut jelly milk tea. Well, the coconut jelly adds a fruity chewy twist. And if you want something extra indulgent, try milk tea, where smooth, creamy booting cubes compliment the rich milk tea flavor for ulong tea. One of the most favorite team among Taiwanese is perfect for ulong tea lovers who want a bit of froth on top. And here's a fun fact. Taiwan sells around 1 billion cups of bubble tea every year. That's enough to stock several Taipei 101 buildings on top of each other. So, when you are in Taiwan, don't miss out on trying a cup of this iconic drink. It's a great way to beat the heat and taste a piece of Taiwanese culture. That's all for today's episode. Remember to check out the convenience store and tea shops when you visit Taiwan. And don't forget to practice the manding phrases we learned today. Thanks for tuning in and we'll see you next time on Found Mandering with Andreas. Bye.