Underlying logic of Chinese pronunciation

In Chinese pronunciation,the  single-character tone is the foundation of Chinese pronunciation, then the one syllable words with the  first tone is the most fundandamental part of pronouncing single-syllable tones.

• 1，Practice one-syllalbe words with the first tone 八(eight) and 多（many, much） 2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the easily-confused  b and d seperately.3 Show you the incorrect demonstration

• 1.Practice one-syllable word with the first tone 喝 （drink）2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the easily-confused Initial consonant h and Final vowel e . 3 learn friction sound  4 Show you the incorrect demonstration.

1.Practice one-syllable word with the first tone 家（home,family ）2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the easily-confused Initial consonant j and Final vowel ia. 3 learn the pronunciation of dorsal consonants  4 Show you the incorrect demonstration.

1.Practice one-syllable word with the first tone 他（he ）2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the Initial consonant t . 3 learn the pronunciation of  alveolar consonant

1.Practice one-syllable word with the first tone 开(open,turn on) 2. Pay attention to the pronunciation of  initial k and the final ai  3. differentiate between English and Chinese sounds.

1.Practice one-syllable word with the first tone 吃（eat ）2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the easily-confused Initial consonant ch and the sound of the combination chi.   3 Show you the incorrect demonstration.

Tips:

1. I can't say the second group of pronunciations is completely wrong, but it easily sound like the third tone. This is because the tone isn't raised in time, making them come across as the third tone. I want to remind you of this here.

2.Another thing to note is that If you don't raise the tone in time, it will sound unnatural and forced when you pronounce it.

3. According to the  practice below, find the technique of pronouncing the second tone.

1.Practice one-syllable word with the second tone 读（read）2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the Initial consonant d and the combination of du .   3 Show you the incorrect demonstration.

1 Practice one-syllable word with the second tone 来 （come）2  Pay attention to the subtle difference between  English sound "lie" and the Chinese  sound 来 ,For the Chinese word 来，the final "i" sound is short ,crisp, and ends abruptly with relaxed lip muscles,for the English sound "ai",your lips is wider,and glides smoothly without a sharp end.

1 Practice one-syllable word with the second tone 能（can,cound,be able to ）2  Pay attention to the nasal sound n

and final eng.

1.Practice one-syllable word with the second tone钱（money ）2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the easily-confused Initial consonant q .   3 Show you the incorrect demonstration.

1.Practice one-syllable word with the second tone人（people,person ）2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the easily-confused Initial consonant r .   3 Show you the incorrect demonstration.

1.Practice one-syllable word with the second tone 谁（who ）2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the easily-confused Initial consonant sh   .   3 Show you the incorrect demonstration.

1. Practice the one-syllable word with the second tone 十 （ten）and the combination of sh + i  2.Show you the incorrect demonstration.

1.To explain the third tone from the perspective of comparing it with the second tone.Because the starting point of pronunciation for the second tone and third tone is basically the same,only their contours are different.

2.Pronouncing the second tone is like climbing a mountain, and going up all the way; while pronouncing the third tone is like going down the mountain first and then up again.

1.Practice one-syllable word with the third tone 本（notebook,measureword for notebook ）2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the easily-confused final en(compare with the English sound en) .   3 Show you the incorrect demonstration.

1.Practice one-syllable word with the third tone 几（how many,how much ）2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the easily-confused initial j  3. Compare the pronunciation j and q  

1.Practice one-syllable word with the third tone 九（nine）2 Pay attention to the pronunciations of the fina iu , Differentiate the English sound You and iu   3. Show you the wrong demonstration

1.Practice one-syllable word with the third tone 买（buy）2 Pay attention to the  mouth shape of  ai

1. Practice one-syllable word with the third tone 我 （ I,me）2.Pay attention to the Semi-vowel sound w.

1. Practice one-syllable word with the third tone 想 （ want,miss,would like ）2.Pay attention to the sound of initial x

The fourth tone is  simply called falling tone.

Only figuring out the starting point  of the fourth tone , can you pronounce  it better and fall down smoothly.And this is the common problem.

1. Practice the one-syllable word with the fourth tone 爱 （love) 2. Pay attention to the mouth shape of ai 2. Differenciate the English sound "I "and the pinyin ai

1.Practice the one-syllable word with the fourth tone 二 （two , second ）2. Show you the tips for pronouncing "er" sound 3. er can not combine with the initial letter,it forms a syllable on its own. 4. When pronouncing 二 (èr)，The oral cavity opening is a little wider than pronouncing 儿 （ér ）and 耳（ěr）,this is a habitual pronunciation in Mandarin.

1. Practice the one-syllable word with the fourth tone 个 (measure word) 2. Pay attention to the difference between english "g"sound and pinyin "g" sound.3. Show you the wrong demonstration of "g" and "e" sound.

1. Pracitce the one-syllable word with the fourth tone 号 （number）2. Pay attention to the difference between english sound "[haʊ]" and the pinyin"hao" 

1.Practice the one-syllable word with the fourth tone 去 （to go）2. Pay attention to the dorsal sound "q" 3. Tell you the tips of pronouncing ü sound.

1.Practice the one-syllable word with the fourth tone 住（live ）2. The difference between "zh" and "ch" lies in their aspiration  3.Show you the wrong demonstration of the syllable "zhu"

1.Practice the one-syllalble word with the fourth tone 在 （in on at）2. Pay attention to the voiceless consonant "z" in Mandarin 3.Show you the wrong demonstration

1.The rising and falling of the four tones gives Chinese speech a melodic rythm, just like the ups and downs of a song's melody.

2.Four tones form four major groups,each pairing four makes sixteen.

The first tone + The first tone=Two steady level notes in a row.

Combine two single words with the first tone to form a two-syllable word.

飞机 fēijī, airplane ; 分钟 fēnzhōng, minute; 星期 xīngqī , week; 医生  yīshēng ,doctor;  开车 kāichē ,drive (car)

The first tone+ The second tone ;

The key problem is the starting point of the second tone sound.

It maybe a little abstract for you to find the starting point of the second tone sound, but try to use the diagrammatic thinking.

1. Example: 新年 xīn nián ( New Year)

中国 zhōngguó , China; 今年 jīnnián , this year; 非常 fēicháng, very; 欢迎 huānyíng， welcome; 经常 jīngcháng,often

1.The first tone+The third tone.

2.Rarely pronounce the complete third tone in daily conversations and pay attention to the ending point of the third tone.

3.Pay attention : The starting point of the third tone is lower than the ending point of the first tone, and trying to use the diagrammatic thinking .

Example 喝水 hēshuǐ drink water.

中午 zhōngwǔ , noon;  身体 shēntǐ , body ; 机场 jī chǎng , airport ; 宾馆 bīnguǎn , hotel ; 开始 kāishǐ , begin; 铅笔 qiānbǐ , pencil

The first tone+ The fourth tone

2.The key point is  finding the ending point of the first tone  and the starting point of the fourth tone in terms of diagrammatic thinking .

Example: 高兴 gāoxìng happy,glad

工作 gōngzuò, work;  商店 shāngdiàn , shop; 医院 yīyuàn , hospital; 吃饭 chīfàn , have meal; 书店 shūdiàn,bookshop

The secon tone + The first tone

The key point is  that the second tone ends and the the first tone starts  at almost the same pitch.

Example: 茶杯 chábēi teacup

Show you the wrong demonstration of 茶杯 chábēi

明天 míngtiān, tomorrow ; 昨天 zuótiān , yesterday; 旁边 pángbiān , beside next to; 时间 shíjiān , time ;房间 fángjiān , room

The second tone + The second tone

The stress is usually  on the second syllable when pronounce the two-syllable words with double second tone.BUT this is not a strict rule,it's more flexible.

Example:学习 xuéxí study learn

同学 tóngxué, classmate; 明年 míngnián, next year ; 银行 yínháng , bank ; 篮球 lánqiú , basketball; 足球 zúqiú ,football

The second tone+The third tone

The second tone ends at a high pitch ,and the third tone starts at a low pitch.

Example: 苹果 pínguǒ apple

Show you the wrong demonstration of 苹果 pínguǒ

啤酒 píjiǔ , beer ; 苹果 píngguǒ,apple ; 词典 cídiǎn , dictionary ; 牛奶 niúnǎi , milk; 游泳 yóuyǒng,swim

The second tone + The fourth tone

The key point is that the second tone stars and the fourth tone ends at the same pitch in terms of diagrammatic thinking,

Example: 学校 xué xiào school

Show you the wrong demonstration of 学校 xué xiào

前面 qiánmiàn, in front of; 羊肉 yángròu , mutton; 颜色 yánsè,color; 不错 búcuò,not bad; 红色 hóngsè , red;白色 báisè,white

The third tone+The first tone

The key point is that when the third tone is on the first syllable, the third tone is pronounced shorter in comparison with the third tone is on the last syllable of one word.

Example:饼干 bǐnggān biscuit,cookie VS干饼 gān bǐng crispy cake

老师 lǎoshī , teacher;好吃 hǎochī , delicious tasty; 打车 dǎchē , take a taxi; 手机 shǒujī , cellphone; 火车 huǒchē,train

The third tone + The second tone

In terms of diagrammatic thinking, try to find the natural connection between the end of the third tone and the start of the second tone.

Avoid  pronouncing the third tone too long,otherwise it sounds not coherent.

Example: 美国 měiguó Ameirca

Show you the wrong demonstration

美国 měiguó, Ameirca; 可能 kěnéng, possible,posibility; 旅游 lǚyóu, travel ; 起床 qǐchuáng, get up; 奶茶 nǎichá , milk tea

The third tone + The third tone

The key point is that the first third tone will be changed to the second tone.This sound is identical to the pronunciation of the second tone followed by the third tone.

Example: 你好 nǐhǎo hello

可以 kěyǐ , ok  could show the permission; 旅馆 lǚguǎn,hotel; 洗手 xǐshǒu ,wash hand; 手表 shǒubiǎo,watch; 所以 suǒyǐ, so,therefore

The third tone + The fourth tone

The natural connection between the end of the third tone and the start of the fourth tone

Avoid pronouncing the third tone too long, otherwise it sounds not coherent.

Example:米饭 mǐfàn, rice

考试 kǎoshì, exam; 准备 zhǔnbèi,prepare ; 粉色 fěnsè,pink color; 以后 yǐhòu , later;

Tell you the secret way of pronouncing the fourth tone in two syllalble words.

The fouth tone + The first tone

The key point is to shorten the fourth tone ,which means the end of the fourth tone can not be pronounced too low and the start can not be pronounced too high in terms of diagrammatic thinking.

Pay attention to the difference beween the one syllalble word with the fourth tone and two syllalble word with fourt tone

Example:唱歌 chànggē sing

这些 zhèxiē , these; 第一 dìyī , the first ; 必须 bìxū , must ; 菜单 càidān,menu; 蛋糕 dàngāo,cake;电梯 diàntī , elevator

The fourth tone + The second tone

The key point is that how to make the end of the fourth tone slide to the start of the second tone smoothly.

Example: 大学 dàxué,university

面条 miàntiáo, noodle; 一直 yìzhí,still go straight; 睡着 shuìzháo,asleep;数学 shùxué,math

The fourth tone+ The third tone

How to make the end of the fourth tone slide to the start of the third tone is the key point,otherwise it makes the pronunciation not coherent.

Example:汉语 hànyǔ,Mandarin.

电脑 diànnǎo,computer; 电影 diànyǐng,movie ; 上午 shàngwǔ late morning; 不少 bùshǎo , not few;

The fourth tone + The fourth tone

Both the fourth tone can not be pronounced in the same way.

Example: 再见 zài jiàn Goodbye

汉字 hànzì Chinese ,characters;  睡觉 shuìjiào, sleep; 再见 zài jiàn,goodbye; 现在 xinzài,now;看见 kànjiàn,see

The point is that the neutral tone is really important in Chinese natrual pronunciation.

Example: 杯子 bēi zi cup 

Please think about how to pronounce this word,especially 子 sound, and say seven times.

桌子 zhuōzi,table; 多少 duōshao,how many; 东西 dōngxi ,things stuff;妈妈 māma,mother mum; 先生 xiānsheng,Mr;

衣服 yīfu,clothes

Think about what's the meaning of these words, and practice the each word pronunciation seven times after class.

Mandarin takes  Beijing pronunciation as the standard sound, northern dialects as the basic dialect,so learning

the right "er"sound can help you speak Mandarin more natrually and fluently.

Example:小孩儿  xiǎoháir,  kid

What's the meaning of this word, think about how to pronounce it,and say seven times.

饭馆儿 fànguǎnr, restaurant;  画画儿 huàhuàr,painting; 有点儿 yǒudiǎnr,a little ; 后边儿 hòubiānr,behind;

一块儿 yíkuàir, together;