China's Harmonious Society

There's no reason not to tell people what you think. Unless they're holding a weapon or have a crazy look in their eyes like the girl we met last week who insisted on asking us for our thoughts on the territorial integrity of the motherland before promising to swim across the Taiwanese straits with a knife in her teeth to ensure it before we even opened our mouth to answer. "So you like swimming," we tried to redirect the conversation. "What other hobbies do you have?"

Some topics are too sensitive for other podcasts. But not Popup Chinese, which is why in today's lesson we stare down the rabid dog of media censorship and use it as an excuse to talk about our feelings. Our goal here is teaching you how to respond the next time someone puts you in a tough situation. And our suggestion? Tell them how you feel on pretty much every other subject under the sun until they get the point. We've tried this and can confirm that it actually works. And it doesn't take much Chinese to pull off either! Listen in and you'll be ready in no time.