Tone sandhi (tone changes) has been shown to help beginners with pronunciation. For example nǐ hǎo => ní hǎo, and nǎli => náli (original tones separately are nǎ + lǐ). See tone sandhi.
The characters shown are Simplified Characters which are used throughout China and Singapore.
More Mandarin Chinese words and phrases to help smooth your way and make new friends. Have fun learning Mandarin Chinese!
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Home
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Nǐ shì cóng nǎr lái de? (C) Nǐ shì cóng náli* lái de? (T,S) Where are you from? Wǒ shì cóng Jiānádà lái de. I am from Canada. Wǒ shì cóng Yīnggélán lái de. I am from England. Wǒ shì cóng Xīnxīlán lái de. (C) Wǒ shì cóng Niǔxīlán lái de. (T) I am from New Zealand. Wǒ shì cóng Àodàlìyà lái de. I am from Australia. Nǐ zài nǎr zhù? (C) Nǐ zài náli zhù? (T,S) Where do you live? Wǒ zài Xīní zhù. (C) Wǒ zài Xuělí zhù. (T) I live in Sydney. |
Àodàlìyà Àozhōu Australia Jiānádà Canada Měiguó USA Rìběn Japan Táiwān Taiwan Xiānggǎng Hong Kong Xīnjiāpō Singapore Xīnxīlán (C) Niǔxīlán (T) New Zealand Yīnggélán England Yīngguó Britain Zhōngguó China |
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Say What?
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Wǒ bù dǒng. Wǒ bù míngbai. I don't understand. Wǒ bù zhīdào. I don't know. Wǒ huì jiǎng Zhōngwén;. Wǒ huì jiǎng Pǔtōnghuà. Wǒ huì jiǎng Hànyǔ. (C) Wǒ huì jiǎng Guóyǔ. (T) Wǒ huì jiǎng Huáyǔ. (S) I speak Chinese. Yì diǎnr. (C) Yì diǎn. (T) A little bit. Nǐ huì jiǎng Zhōngwén ma? Nǐ huì jiǎng Pǔtōnghuà ma? Nǐ huì jiǎng Hànyǔ ma? (C) Nǐ huì jiǎng Guóyǔ ma? (T) Nǐ huì jiǎng Huáyǔ ma? (S) Do you speak Chinese? Nǐ huì jiǎng Yīngyǔ ma? Do you speak English? Nǐ huì jiǎng Fáyǔ ma? Do you speak French? Nǐ huì jiǎng Déyǔ ma? Do you speak German? |
Wó dǒng. Wǒ míngbai. I understand. Wǒ zhīdào. I know. Hǎo a. Hǎo de. Xíng. All right. OK. Méi wèntí. No problem. Méi guānxi. Nevermind. Bié dānxīn. Fàngxīn ba. Don't worry. Duì. Shì. Yes. Bú shì. No. |
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Where is ...
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... zài nǎr? (C) ... zài náli*? (T,S) Where is the ...? Cèsuǒ zài nǎr? (C) Cèsuǒ zài náli*? (T,S) Where is the toilet? Zuì jìn de kāfēiguǎn Nearest café Fànguǎn Cānguǎn Restaurant Yàodiàn Chemist Fàndiàn (big) Lǘguǎn (small) Hotel Yínháng Bank Chāo shì Chāo jí shì chǎng Supermarket |
Wó xiǎng yào ... I would like ... Nín yào shénme? What would you like? Duì. Yes. Bú duì. No. Wǒ yào mǎi zhèige. I'll take it. Duōshǎo qián? How much is it? Néng piányi yìdiǎnr ma? Can you lower the price? Jiù zhèyàng. That's all. |
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Miànbāodiàn Bakery Zuì jìn de wǎngbā (C) Zuì jìn de wǎngkā (T) The nearest internet café Xìnyòngkǎ shōu bù shōu? Do you accept credit cards? Qǐng jiézhàng. Qíng mǎidān. The bill, please? | |||||||||||||
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Drink
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Wǒ yào hē yìbēi píjiǔ. I'd like a beer. Qǐng géi wǒ ... I'll have ... Hóng pútáojiǔ. Red wine. Bái pútáojiǔ. White wine. Liǎng bēi bái pútáojiǔ. Two glasses of white wine. Yì bēi shuǐ. Glass of water. Liǎng bēi shuǐ. Two glasses of water. Guǒzhī. Fruit juice. Chéngzhī. Júzhī. Orange juice. Kékóukělè. Coca cola. Jiànyí kělè. Diet coke. |
Jiā bīng kuài. With ice. Bù jiā bīng kuài. Without ice. Niúnǎi. Milk. Yì bēi kāfēi jiā niúnǎi. Cup of white coffee. Yì bēi hēi kāfēi. Cup of black coffee. Liǎng bēi ... Two cups of ... Lǜ chá. Green tea. Hóng chá. Black tea. Mò lì huā chá. Jasmine tea. Bù hán kāfēiyīn de kāfēi. Decaffeinated coffee. Jiā táng. With sugar. Bù jiā táng. Without sugar. |
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Food
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Wǒ yào chī chǎomiàn. I'd like fried rice. Qǐng lái yíge chǎofàn. I'll have fried rice. Shǔtiáo. Chips. Mǐfàn. (C) Báifàn. (T) Rice. Yì wán mǐfàn. (C) Yì wǎn báifàn. (T) A bowl of plain rice. Miàntiáo. Noodles. Miànbāo. Bread. Nǎilào. (C) Rǔlào. (T) Cheese. Shūcài. Qīngcài. Vegetables. Shālā. Sèlā. Salad. Tiánshí. Dessert. Qiǎokèlì. Chocolate. Dàngāo. Cake. |
Tāng. Soup. Jīdàn. Egg / eggs. Yú. Fish. Jīròu. Chicken. Zhūròu. Pork. Niúròu. Beef. Shuíguǒ. Fruit. Píngguǒ. Apple. Chéngzi. Orange. Júzi. Tangerine. Shùméi. Raspberries. Wǒ chī sù. Wǒ shì sù shí zhǔ yì zhě. I am vegetarian. Wǒ bù chī ròu. I don't eat meat. |
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Weather
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Jīntiān hěn mēnrè. It's humid today. Jīntiān hěn rè. It's hot. Jīntiān hén lěng. It's cold today. Jīntiān guāfēng. It's windy today. Jīntiān yǒu wù. It's foggy today. |
Jīntiān xiàyǔ. It's raining today. Jīntiān xiàxuě. It's snowing today. Míngtiān huì xiàyǔ ma? Will it rain tomorrow? Míngtiān huì xiàxuě ma? Will it snow tomorrow? |
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Small Talk
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Wǒ xǐhuān ... I like ... Wǒ bù xǐhuān ... I don't like ... Nǐ xǐhuān ... ma? Do you like ...? Xǐhuān. Yes (I like). Bù xǐhuān. No (I don't like). |
Guò lái! Dào zhèr lái! (C) Dào zhèli lái! (T,S) Come here! Wǒmen zǒu ba! Let's go! Hǎo jíle! Great! Zhèr. (C) Zhèli. (T,S) Here. Nàr. (C) Nàli. (T,S) There. |
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Wǒ mílù le. I'm lost. Wǒmen mílù le. We're lost. Xiǎoxīn! Be careful! |
Jiùmìng! Help! Zǒu kāi! Go away! |
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Days of the Week
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Xīngqīyī Monday Xīngqī'èr Tuesday Xīngqīsān Wednesday Xīngqīsì Thursday Xīngqīwǔ Friday Xīngqīliù Saturday Xīngqītiān Xīngqīrì Sunday |
zuótiān yesterday jīntiān today míngtiān tomorrow shàngge xīngqī last week zhèige xīngqī this week xiàge xīngqī next week |
Alternative forms for Xīngqī In Taiwan, the form Xīngqí is used. In Southern China and Singapore, the form Lǐbài is often used. Another alternative, the form Zhōu is also heard.
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Gānbēi! Cheers! Zhù ní hǎo yùn! Good luck! Shèngdàn kuài lè! Merry Christmas! Xīnnián kuài lè! Happy New Year! |
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Tone Guide:
There are 4 tones:
1st tone: mā = level tone, high level tone
2nd tone: má = rising tone, mid level to high level
3rd tone: mǎ = low falling or falling-rising tone. Usually mid-low to low, or simply low. A third tone at the end of a sentence or before a pause is a full falling-rising tone: mid-low to low, then rising up to mid-high, also see Tone Sandhi
4th tone: mà = falling tone, high level to low level, a sharp fall
(5th tone: ma = neutral tone)
Vowels:
ao is pronounced as ow as in now (IPA au)
e is pronounced as e as in brother (ə)
e after c, ch, r, s, z and zh is pronounced as ur as in burn with the lips unrounded (ɤ)
ei is pronounced as ay as in day (IPA ei)
en is pronounced ən
eng is pronounced as ur as in burn with the lips unrounded (ɤ and ɤŋ)
i after c, ch, r, s, z and zh is pronounced as ɨ (a high schwa ə or New Zealand i)
i after j, q and x is pronounced as i
ian is pronouned as yen (IPA jɛn)
ie is pronounced as ye as in yet (IPA jɛ)
o is pronounced as o as in pot (ɔ)
o after b, m and p is pronounced as wo (wɔ)
ong is pronounced as ung (ʊŋ)
ou is pronounced as o as in note (IPA o)
uan is pronounced as ü + en (ɥɛn)
u after j, q and x is pronounced as ü
ue is pronounced as ü + ur as in burn (ɥœ)
ui is pronounced as way (IPA wei)
un is pronounced as wən, ie. hun = xwən
ü is pronounced as German ü, ie. an i with rounded lips (IPA y)
Consonants:
b is pronounced as p as in spin, without a puff of breath (IPA p)
c is pronunced as ts as in cats, with a puff of breath (tsʰ)
ch is pronounced as a retroflex ch as in church (tʂʰ)
d is pronounced as t as in stun, without a puff of breath (IPA t)
g is pronounced as k as in skin, without a puff of breath (IPA k)
h is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
j is pronounced as a palatalised ch, like ch + y (tɕ)
k is pronounced as k as in kite (kʰ)
n at the end of a word is a uvular nasal (ɴ)
ng is pronounced as ng as in singer (ŋ)
p is pronounced as p as in pin, with a puff of breath (pʰ)
q is pronounced as a palatalised ch plus a puff of breath, like ch + y (tɕʰ)
r is pronounced as retroflex zh as in pleasure (ʐ)
r at the end of a word is pronounced as er with the tongue curled back (ɻ), eg. diǎnr = diǎɻ
final r nasalises the vowel before if an n or ng lies between the vowel and final r, the n or ng then disappears
sh is pronounced as a retroflex sh as in shop (ʂ)
t is pronounced as t as in tin, with a puff of breath (IPA tʰ)
x is pronounced as a palatalised sh, like sh + y (ɕ)
z is pronunced as ts as in cats, without a puff of breath (ts)
zh is pronounced as a retroflex ch as in church (tʂ)
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)
Please note:
the word er is pronounced as ɑɻ
the word e is pronounced as ɤ
Differences with pronunciation in the South:
retroflex consonants are changed to non-retroflex, ie. sh -> x or s, ch -> q or c, zh -> j or z
eng after b, f and p is pronounced as ʊŋ, feng = fong
More notes on Tone Sandhi:
Third tone sandhi: When a 3rd tone tone is followed by a 1st, 2nd or 4th tone it usually becomes a half-3rd tone (low falling only).
Second tone sandhi: When a 2nd tone tone is followed by another 2nd tone and it is preceded by a 1st or a 2nd tone, it changes to a 1st tone. For example, Yīnggélán is pronounced as Yīnggēlán.
Yī (one): On its own pronounced yī, before 1st, 2nd and 3rd tones pronounced yì, before 4th tone pronounced yí. In telephone numbers, use the pronunciation yāo.
Bù (not): Before 1st, 2nd and 3rd tones pronounced bù, before 4th tone pronounced bú.
There are 4 tones:
1st tone: mā = level tone, high level tone
2nd tone: má = rising tone, mid level to high level
3rd tone: mǎ = low falling or falling-rising tone. Usually mid-low to low, or simply low. A third tone at the end of a sentence or before a pause is a full falling-rising tone: mid-low to low, then rising up to mid-high, also see Tone Sandhi
4th tone: mà = falling tone, high level to low level, a sharp fall
(5th tone: ma = neutral tone)
Vowels:
ao is pronounced as ow as in now (IPA au)
e is pronounced as e as in brother (ə)
e after c, ch, r, s, z and zh is pronounced as ur as in burn with the lips unrounded (ɤ)
ei is pronounced as ay as in day (IPA ei)
en is pronounced ən
eng is pronounced as ur as in burn with the lips unrounded (ɤ and ɤŋ)
i after c, ch, r, s, z and zh is pronounced as ɨ (a high schwa ə or New Zealand i)
i after j, q and x is pronounced as i
ian is pronouned as yen (IPA jɛn)
ie is pronounced as ye as in yet (IPA jɛ)
o is pronounced as o as in pot (ɔ)
o after b, m and p is pronounced as wo (wɔ)
ong is pronounced as ung (ʊŋ)
ou is pronounced as o as in note (IPA o)
uan is pronounced as ü + en (ɥɛn)
u after j, q and x is pronounced as ü
ue is pronounced as ü + ur as in burn (ɥœ)
ui is pronounced as way (IPA wei)
un is pronounced as wən, ie. hun = xwən
ü is pronounced as German ü, ie. an i with rounded lips (IPA y)
Consonants:
b is pronounced as p as in spin, without a puff of breath (IPA p)
c is pronunced as ts as in cats, with a puff of breath (tsʰ)
ch is pronounced as a retroflex ch as in church (tʂʰ)
d is pronounced as t as in stun, without a puff of breath (IPA t)
g is pronounced as k as in skin, without a puff of breath (IPA k)
h is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
j is pronounced as a palatalised ch, like ch + y (tɕ)
k is pronounced as k as in kite (kʰ)
n at the end of a word is a uvular nasal (ɴ)
ng is pronounced as ng as in singer (ŋ)
p is pronounced as p as in pin, with a puff of breath (pʰ)
q is pronounced as a palatalised ch plus a puff of breath, like ch + y (tɕʰ)
r is pronounced as retroflex zh as in pleasure (ʐ)
r at the end of a word is pronounced as er with the tongue curled back (ɻ), eg. diǎnr = diǎɻ
final r nasalises the vowel before if an n or ng lies between the vowel and final r, the n or ng then disappears
sh is pronounced as a retroflex sh as in shop (ʂ)
t is pronounced as t as in tin, with a puff of breath (IPA tʰ)
x is pronounced as a palatalised sh, like sh + y (ɕ)
z is pronunced as ts as in cats, without a puff of breath (ts)
zh is pronounced as a retroflex ch as in church (tʂ)
(Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.)
Please note:
the word er is pronounced as ɑɻ
the word e is pronounced as ɤ
Differences with pronunciation in the South:
retroflex consonants are changed to non-retroflex, ie. sh -> x or s, ch -> q or c, zh -> j or z
eng after b, f and p is pronounced as ʊŋ, feng = fong
More notes on Tone Sandhi:
Third tone sandhi: When a 3rd tone tone is followed by a 1st, 2nd or 4th tone it usually becomes a half-3rd tone (low falling only).
Second tone sandhi: When a 2nd tone tone is followed by another 2nd tone and it is preceded by a 1st or a 2nd tone, it changes to a 1st tone. For example, Yīnggélán is pronounced as Yīnggēlán.
Yī (one): On its own pronounced yī, before 1st, 2nd and 3rd tones pronounced yì, before 4th tone pronounced yí. In telephone numbers, use the pronunciation yāo.
Bù (not): Before 1st, 2nd and 3rd tones pronounced bù, before 4th tone pronounced bú.