How to say common words in Chinese
The first words most learners need, each with a native speaker's recording, pinyin and 注音 (Zhuyin). Each page also compares the slow standard pronunciation with how the word sounds at normal speed.
All pages use Traditional characters and Taiwan Mandarin.
What each page has
- The word in Traditional characters, pinyin with tone marks, and 注音.
- Two recordings by our native speaker: standard (slow and clear) and spoken (normal speed), drawn side by side so you can see what changes.
- Tone changes that the spelling hides, like 你好 said ní hǎo or 不客氣 said bú kèqì.
- Common mistakes, everyday replies, and Taiwan usage.
Why the recordings sound different from the pinyin
Pinyin writes each syllable's own tone. In real speech, tones change next to each other: two third tones in a row become a rise and a dip, 不 rises before a fourth tone, and many second syllables go light. The spoken recordings are also shorter and their pitch moves less. Hearing both versions helps you understand people at normal speed, not just in a classroom.
New to tones? Start with the four Mandarin tones, explained, or try your own voice in the free tone visualizer. Can you hear the tones? Take the Chinese tones test.