Course in Modern Mandarin Chinese

16 Routledge Course in Modern Mandarin Chinese Level 1

2.5. Finals and tones

Listen to the recording and complete each syllable by writing in the final and tone. Be
careful to put the tone mark over the appropriate vowel.

a. d ____ d. f ____ g. p ____

b. b ____ e. l ____ h. t ____

c. l ____ f. p ____ i. m ____

3.  Pronunciation challenges

3.1. Tongue twisters

Listen and repeat these tongue twisters until you can say them quickly three times in a row
without making any errors.

a. Mèimei ài mGi. Younger sister loves getting herself all dolled up.

b. The Old Man, the Soup, and the Tower

LFotóu duAn tAng shàng tF. An old man, holding (a bowl of) soup, climbed a tower.

TAng tàng, The soup was hot.

TF huá, The tower (steps) slippery;

TAng sF, The soup got spilt.

TAng tàng tF. The soup scalded the tower (steps).

3.2. Names of countries

Column A lists the names of countries as they are pronounced in Mandarin. Listen to the
names and repeat them aloud, and then match them with their English names in Column B.

Column A Column B

a. Zhìlì A. Norway

b. ShAtè 1 lAbó B. Italy

c. Yuènán C. Turkey

d. 1 ijí D. Saudi Arabia

e. BDlán E. Vietnam

f. TJ’Grqí F. Chile

g. NuówBi G. Egypt

h. Yìndù H. Mexico

i. Yìdàlì I. Poland

j. MòxCgB J. India