Quick Mandarin Words and Tutorial

Pronunciation

Most letters will be pronounced as in English with the exception of a few:

a: as in ‘father’
ai: as in ‘high’
ao: as in the ‘ow’ in ‘cow’
e: as in the ‘u’ in ‘fur’
ei: as in the ‘ei’ in ‘weigh’
i: as in the ‘ee’ in ‘meet’ or like ‘oo’ in ‘book’ if after c, ch, r, s, sh, z, or zh.
ian: as in ‘yen’
ie: like the word ‘yeah’
o: as in ‘or’
ou: as the ‘oa’ in ‘boat’
u: as in ‘flute’
ui: as in the word ‘way’
uo: like a ‘w’ followed by a ‘o’
yu: as in the German ‘ü’
ü: as above
c: like the ‘ts’ in ‘bits’
ch: as in ‘chop’
h: as in ‘hay’
q: like the ‘ch’ in ‘cheese’
r: like the ‘s’ in ‘pleasure’
sh: as in ‘ship’
x: as in the ‘sh’ in ‘ship’
z: like the ‘dz’ in thuds’
zh: like to ‘j’ in judge

Basics

Hello: Ni hao
Good bye: zaijian

Thank you: Xiexie
You're welcome: Bukeqi

I'm sorry: Duibuqi
What's your name?: Nin guixing?

Where are you from? Ni shi cong nar laide?

No (don't have): Mei you
No (not so): Bushi

I don't understand: Wo fingbudong
Do you understand?: Dong ma?

Numbers 1-10

1: yi, yao
2: er, liang
3: san
4: si
5: wu
6: liu
7: qi
8: ba
9: jiu
10: shi