Mandarin Chinese Tones and Initials

Tonemarks

• There are 4 tonemarks in the language
• 1st tone: aaa
• 2nd tone: a aa
• 3rd tone: aa aaa
• 4th tone: aa

Initials

• b p m f are initials
• Bö pö mö fö are their corresponding uppercase forms
• d t n l are initials
• dö tö nö lö are their corresponding uppercase forms
• g k h are initials
• gö kö hö are their corresponding uppercase forms
• Difficult initials: j q x
• Ji chi xi are their corresponding uppercase forms
• zh ch sh r are initials
• Zhhh chhh shhh rrrr are their corresponding uppercase forms (using undertongue)
• z c s are initials
• Tszii tsi ssii are their corresponding uppercase forms

Introductions and Basics

Greetings

• Hello: Nǐ hǎo ()
• What's your name?: Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì? (?)
• My name is...(answer): Wǒ jiào...()
• Thank you: Xièxiè ()
• See you: Zàijiàn ()

Nationalities

• Where are you from?: Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén (Which country are you from?)
• I'm from...(answer): Wǒ shì … rén
• Country names:
  • Germany: Déguó ()
  • France: Fàguó ()
  • USA: Měiguó ()
  • Japan: Rìběn ()
  • Spain: Xībānyá ()
  • India: Yìndù ()
  • UK: Yīngguó ()

Occupation

• Are you a student?: Nǐ shì xuéshēng ma (?)
• Right, I'm a student: Duì, Wǒ shì xuéshēng ()
• No, I'm not a student: Bù, wǒ bù shì xuéshēng ()
• I'm a teacher: Wǒ shì lǎoshī ()