Learn How to Speak Mandarin
The Chinese language is a complicated communication system that has numerous written characters as well as a number of different dialects. If you are interested in learning how to speak Mandarin, you will first need to understand the basics of this Chinese dialect.
Mandarin was originally defines as a group of dialects that was spoken by the people of Beijing as well as the area of northern China. The term is now used to describe the standard Chinese language, in which case it is the type that is spoken by the largest amount of Chinese people. This language is spoken in the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and is one of four official languages that are spoken in Singapore. This factor means that your knowledge of this language will allow for easier communication with the greatest number of Chinese-speaking countries, making your decision to learn to speak Mandarin a good one.
The mandarin language utilizes the Pinyin alphabet, which is Latin based and uses four different tones. There are many Web sites that allow you to hear these tones as you learn to speak Mandarin. The following are a few basic phrases that you can learn to help you to become acquainted with the Mandarin pronunciation.
1. Ni Hao - Pronounced like "Nee How." Translates into "You Good" and
can be used as a greeting.
2. Xie Xie - Pronounced like "Shi-e Shi-e" or "Zhi-Zhi." It means "Thank
you" in Mandarin.
3. Bu Ke Qi - Pronounced like "Boo Ker Chi" with the "r" in "Ker" being
pronounced with a British accent. It means "You’re Welcome."
4. Tai Hao Le - Pronounced like "Thai Hao Lah." It means "Wonderful."
5. Na Li Na Li - Pronounced "Nah Lee Nah Lee." This phrase is the proper
Chinese response when someone compliments you or your spouse.
You should not use the term "Xie Xie" as this is not the way the
Chinese respond to compliments.
6. Wo Jiao - Pronounced "Wah Jee Ow." It means "My Name is…" and
you should fill in your name.
7. Wu de ming je shi - Pronounced "Wuu Duh Meeng Jee Shi". It also
means "My name is…"
8. Da Jia Hao - Pronounced as "Dah Jee Ah How." Loosely translated, it
means "Hello, everyone," Good day, everyone," or "wish everyone
well." This is a good opening if you are planning on making a speech
to a Mandarin-speaking audience.
9. Zao Shang - Pronounced like "Zow Shahng." It means "Good Morning."
10. Xia Shang - Pronounced like "Shee ah Shahng." It means "Good Afternoon."
11. Wan Shang - Pronounced like "Wahn Shahng." It means "Good Evening."
12. Zai Jian - Pronounced like "Zigh Jee In." It means "Goodbye."
13. Wo Hui Yi Dianr Zhong Wen - Pronounced like "Waw Hway Ee Dee In A Zah Hoong Wun" It Means: "I speak a little Chinese."
These are just a few basic conversational phrases that you can use when you learn to speak Mandarin. There are a few helpful tips that you may want to keep in mind when using these phrases. You should always repeat them as this is the way the Chinese conduct themselves during a conversation. You should smile as this is part of the Chinese etiquette system and avoid shrugging, as this has no meaning in the Chinese culture.
When you want to learn to speak Mandarin, you must also be sure to have the proper tone in your speech as well as maintaining Chinese etiquette, so that you can be clearly understood while giving no offense.
Author: Shun Minh
The 4 ultimate tips for learning Chinese
You should follow these tips on how to learn to speak Chinese, whether your goal is just to learn more and to be able to carry out a conversations.
Learning Mandarin: A Few Tips
Mandarin is one of the most useful languages to learn, with a large part of the world able to speak it.
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Beating second-place English by a 2 to 1 ratio, but don’t let that lull you into thinking that Mandarin is easy to learn.
China has probably already surpassed the US in Internet usage. One estimation says that around 200 million people in China are on the ‘net (that’s more surfers than the US, but still only 1/6 of the Chinese population). Many of these Chinese Internet surfers are curious about the outside world, and eager to make friends with foreigners. All you need is a place to meet online.


The Pinyin system is an alphabet that may help you to learn how to speak Chinese. This writing system is Latin based and was developed in the 1950 to replace the Wade-Giles system, which did not represent the sounds very accurately. The government has begun using this method in educational programs so that the natives can learn to write in Chinese using this form of alphabet. The Pinyin system is based on the Putonghua dialect, using this dialect’s sounds to orally represent Chinese written characters.
First things first: Which Chinese to Learn?
Chinese tutors are available to teach children and even the entire family to speak Chinese. Check online or newspaper ads for available tutors.
Learn-Chinese Materials
1. Price- If you were to take a local class, you may end up spending over ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. That is your hard-earned money quickly being wasted for a mediocre class. With an online program, you will get a much better program, and SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.
3. Lifetime supply of education- Once your local class ends, your education goes with it. But, with an online course you will have the same information for the rest of your life. If you need to look over something, you can simply log onto your computer and re-read.
5. Teacher accents- In the first class that I attended, my teacher could barely even speak English. This created a huge set-back in my quest to learn to speak Mandarin Chinese. On the online course that I used, all of the video tutorials were in plain English, and everything was written for everyone to understand.