Relevant Content
We'll always make sure you know exactly what the lesson is about. You will easily understand whether it is relevant for you.

Calling in Sick

Great Hosts
Here at ChinesePod, all our lessons are presented in an entertaining manner by our great hosts. You'll find language learners, teachers, and even professors sharing their insights, ideas, and teaching methods in our video and audio lessons.
Brief Lesson Summaries
A brief introduction of the lesson will always tell you what this lesson is about and what language level is the intended target. If you're interested in the subject, but might not be able to understand it in full, fear not; we have transcripts of lesson dialogues vocabulary so you can follow along.
IN THIS LESSON
ID: 0111 Elementary
So, we actually tried to buy you a keyboard (with the “sick” sound effects) from “Ferris Buller’s Day Off” and send it to you to make your phone call to the boss sound more believable, but instead got you the next best thing: a lesson on “Calling in Sick”. In this podcast you’ll learn how to use Mandarin Chinese to tell your boss you can’t come to work today because you have the flu. (Excuses for why the boss saw you at happy hour the same day to follow).
Awesome Materials
Our lessons contain natural communication in Chinese in video and audio format. We have have lessons focused on video or a podcast format and our lessons have transcripts of Lesson Dialogues, Important Vocabulary, Expanded Materials for a deep dive into the lesson topic and Exercises focused on testing your retention.
Detailed Vocabulary
Each lesson has it's unique vocabulary and will provide you with definitions and recordings so you can practice the pronunciation. You will also be able to grasp the core material of a lesson at a glance. Here we're showing you the Simplified Chinese version.
SIMPLIFIED PINYIN ENGLISH  
néng to be able
上班 shàngbān to go to work
不舒服 bù shūfu uncomfortable
感冒 gǎnmào to catch the flu; to catch a cold
老板,对不起。我今天不能来上班了。
lǎobǎn ,duìbuqǐ 。wǒ jīntiān bùnéng lái shàngbān le 。
I'm sorry, boss. I can't come to work today.
为什么?你不舒服吗?
wèishénme ?nǐ bù shūfu ma ?
Why? Are you sick?
对。我感冒了。
duì 。wǒ gǎnmào le 。
Yes. I have the flu.
好,那你好好照顾自己。明天见。
hǎo ,nà nǐ hǎohāo zhàogùzìjǐ 。míngtiānjiàn 。
OK. Then take good care of yourself. See you tomorrow.
Natural Dialogues
Each lesson is centered around a natural dialogue with key vocabulary directly prepared and translated for your use. You can also listen to each sentence as an individual recording to improve your listening and comprehension skills.
Try It For Free
ChinesePod is 100% Free to Try. Create an account today and get started!