OneDotDot Chinese · Pronunciation Training Tongue Twisters, out loud Practicing tongue twisters is one way to train your pronunciation and tones. The speed is not that important while you read it. You should pay more attention to each word. Make sure you have perfect pronunciation and tone before you go to the next sentence. After…
Author: tiffany
What is Chinese language
A field guide for learners So, which “Chinese” do you mean? English flattens it into a single word. Mandarin speakers reach for five — and each one quietly reveals where the speaker is from, or who they’re speaking to. 中文中文zhōngwén 漢語汉语hànyǔ 普通話普通话pǔtōnghuà 國語国语guóyǔ 華語华语huáyǔ Quick reference Five names, five contexts Term Literally means What it…
Tone Pairs
OneDotDot Chinese · Tone Pairs Tone pairs, out loud This isn’t just two-character words like the last page — some of these combinations stretch to full phrases and even proverbs, six, eight, sometimes eleven syllables long. Real words, real recordings. Tap ▶ next to any word and say it back — tones live in your…
Medusa’s Annoyance Part 1
Story · HSK 7+ · Part 1 美 Medusa’s Annoyance 美杜莎（一）美杜莎（一） Posted June 22, 2022 Author Tiffany Reading time 8 mins “Medusa’s annoyance” is a story for HSK7+ learners. Stories I share are some Chinese folk tales, and some are my own creations. Listen to the Complete Story Story Story Part 1 Story Part 2…
Story – The bird that likes to travel 1
Story · HSK 4+ · Part 1 鳥鸟 The Taiwan Barbet That Likes To Travel 愛旅行的五色鳥爱旅行的五色鸟 Posted June 22, 2022 Author Tiffany Reading time 6 mins “The Taiwan barbet that likes to travel” is a story for HSK4 learners. Stories I share are some Chinese folk tales, and some are my own creations. Listen to…
Family and Pronoun Words in Chinese
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Family and Pronoun Words in Chinese 家庭與代名詞詞彙家庭与代名词词汇 jiātíng yǔ dàimíngcí cíhuì Before we get into the vocabulary, a bit of context: traditional Chinese culture puts a lot of weight on respect and harmony within the family, a mindset that traces back to Confucian values. These days, younger generations are drifting away…
Nature and Animal Words in Chinese
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Nature and Animal Words in Chinese 自然與動物詞彙自然与动物词汇 zìrán yǔ dòngwù cíhuì Before we get to the vocab, let me tell you about the weirdest family in Chinese mythology: the weather family. There’s 雷公雷公 (léigōng, Thunder Father), 電母电母 (diànmǔ, Lightning Mother), 風伯风伯 (fēngbó, Uncle Wind), 雲童云童 (yúntóng, Cloud Child) — and then,…
Mandarin Tones
OneDotDot Chinese · Tones Tones aren’t hard,they’re just shapes Mandarin tones aren’t a memory test — they’re pitch curves, measured against your own voice, not your teacher’s. Tap a syllable and watch the shape. 媽妈mā 麻麻má 馬马mǎ 罵骂mà 嗎吗ma tap a tile to hear its pitch First Tone — the level tone 陰平阴平 Hold the…
Currency exchange
我wǒ要yào把bǎ__A__ 換huàn成chéng__B__ 我wǒ要yào把bǎ__A__ 换huàn成chéng__B__ I’d like to exchange some ____A____ to ____B____ Dialogue 我wǒ： 你好nǐhǎo， 我wǒ要yào把bǎ美金měijīn換huàn成chéng台幣táibì我wǒ： 你好nǐhǎo， 我wǒ要yào把bǎ美金měijīn换huàn成chéng台币táibìI: Hi! I’d like to exchange some US Dollars to Taiwan Dollars. 銀行yínháng員yuán： 好的hǎode， 請qǐng給gěi我wǒ你的nǐde護照hùzhào银行yínháng员yuán： 请qǐng出示chūshì您的nínde护照hùzhàoBank Clerk: Sure. Can I see your passport, please? 我wǒ： 這個zhège請qǐng幫bāng我wǒ換huàn成chéng零錢língqián我wǒ： 这个zhèige请qǐng帮bāng我wǒ换huàn成chéng零钱língqiánI: I’d like to get some change for this. 銀行yínháng員yuán： 好的hǎode， 請qǐng在zài這裡zhèlǐ簽名qiānmíng银行yínháng员yuán： 好的hǎode， 请qǐng在zài这儿zhèr签名qiānmíngBank Clerk: Ok, please sign your name here. Simplified (China) Traditional (Taiwan)…
Tones of 一 yī and 不 bù
Grammar Point:The tones of 一 yi and 不 bù can be very confusing for beginners learning Chinese. Let’s explore them together!” 一 yī When counting numbers less than 99 or when 一 yī is the last character in a word, it should always be pronounced with the first tone. 1yī, 2èr, 3sān, 4sì1yī, 2èr, 3sān,…