Master Mandarin Pronunciation
Everything you need to master Mandarin pronunciation — the tones, pinyin and the sounds that trip learners up — explained simply, with native audio and free interactive tools.
The four tones (plus the neutral)
Mandarin is a tonal language — the same syllable means different things at different pitches. Tap each one to hear it.
Train your ear with the Tone Trainer
Now put it into practice — hit play, listen, and tap the tone you hear.
Real native audio — MS Xiaoxiao, the same voice as the rest of the site.
Your pronunciation toolkit
Interactive, audio-rich and free — the references our students keep open while they practise.
The Complete Pinyin Chart
Every Mandarin sound in one interactive grid — tap any syllable across all four tones to hear native audio. The fastest way to nail initials, finals and the tricky ones (x/sh, j/q, ü).
Open the Pinyin ChartThe Mandarin Tones Cheatsheet
A printable one-pager on the four tones and the neutral tone — pitch contours, examples and native audio. Stick it on the wall and stop second-guessing your tones.
Get the Tones CheatsheetExplainers that make it click
Short, audio-rich guides to the parts of Mandarin pronunciation that learners ask about most.
Tone Sandhi: the tone change rules
Why 你好 becomes ní hǎo, the 不 and 一 rules, and the half-third tone — with audio for every example.
Read the guideThe neutral tone (轻声)
The short, light fifth tone — where it appears, how its pitch shifts, and why 东西 isn’t always dōngxī. With audio.
Read the guideThe hardest Mandarin sounds
x vs sh, j/q/zh/ch, the ü, and the Mandarin r — the sounds English speakers find toughest, fixed.
Read the guideMandarin pronunciation — FAQs
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