拼音
The phonetic system of Mandarin Chinese. Master tones, initials, and finals to pronounce any Chinese word correctly.
High and level — like singing a sustained note
Example: māo (猫) — cat
Rising — like asking a question in English
Example: máng (忙) — busy
Dipping — falls then rises
Example: nǐ (你) — you
Falling sharply — like giving a command
Example: shì (是) — to be
Short and unstressed — light and quick
Example: ma (吗) — question particle
Tone Change Rule (变调)
When two 3rd tone syllables appear together, the first one changes to 2nd tone. Example: 你好 (nǐ hǎo) is pronounced as (ní hǎo) in natural speech.
Practice Tip
Listen to native speakers and repeat aloud. The four tones are the biggest challenge for English speakers — consistent daily practice for 10–15 minutes will build muscle memory faster than longer, infrequent sessions.