When you learn Mandarin for better communication with Chinese-speaking clients, having clear Mandarin pronunciation is essential. For many non-native speakers, however, pronunciation and tones are the hardest parts of learning Mandarin. These Mandarin pronunciation tips will help Chinese pronunciation beginners avoid common mistakes, improve clarity, and build confidence faster in real workplace conversations

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Mastering Mandarin pronunciation can vary from understanding each syllable to Mandarin tones. As the building blocks of the Chinese language, learning proper Mandarin Pinyin is utterly important. Understanding this foundation will help you in increasing your fluency and understanding more Chinese words. In Chinese Pinyin, words are often built with 3 different components as the following. 

Initials

Initials refer to the consonant that appears at the start of a syllable. Although not every syllable starts with an initial, this component is still commonly used as part of Mandarin’s building blocks. In total, there are 21 different initials that can be used in front of each syllable. 

Finals 

As its name suggests, finals refer to the end part of a syllable. This component often refers to the core of the syllable as it is always present in every Chinese word. Most finals in Chinese are represented by a vowel, though there are variants that also include finals ending with n or ng. In total, there are 6 main finals which later develop into 31 different finals in Mandarin. These 6 main finals include a, o, e, i, u, ü.

Mandarin Tones

Understanding Mandarin tones is another important skill that non-native staff members need to master smooth communications with other parties. This part often becomes a big challenge for non-native speakers as they are not familiar with the tone differences. To help understand better about the differences between each tone, here is a quick guide to help you distinguish them.

1. The first tone often sounds monotone with a natural prolonging. 
2. The second tone has a rising intonation, beginning from a low tone to a higher one. Some might say that this tone is similar to how people ask a question.
3. The third tone is known for being a rather long tone, which begins with the syllable falling down before rising up. 
4. The fourth tone begins with a high tone but has a sharp drop toward the bottom of the tonal range. This tone is similar to an angry command. 
5. The neutral tone doesn’t have any symbol to indicate it. This tone is pronounced quickly and without any tone changes at all. 

Many non-native staff members may make mistakes upon learning business Chinese for the first time. These mistakes are usually common since Chinese pronunciation differs greatly from English and other languages. If you’re a non-native staff member, here are some common Mandarin pronunciation mistakes to avoid while learning. 

Initial z, c, s

This set of initials should be pronounced by spreading your lips horizontally and keeping your tongue flat. To help produce better pronunciation, press your tongue against the back of your upper middle teeth while pushing out air from your mouth. The initial z is often pronounced without strong air, while the initial c should be pronounced with a strong puff of air. 

Initial zh, ch, sh

This set of initials is often difficult to distinguish with z, c, s. The fundamental difference between these two sets can be observed by your tongue’s position. Producing the right pronunciation for zh, ch, sh requires your tongue to curl backward and touch the upper part of your gum. 

Initial j, q, x

This set of initials is known as the voiceless initials, which can only be combined with i and ü. To pronounce these initials correctly, you need to press your tongue against your lower front teeth. Furthermore, your lips should be slightly parted as if you’re smiling. 

Finals u and ü

For non-native speakers, the final ‘ü’ might be something unfamiliar. This final is another unique feature in Chinese that makes this language seem challenging at first. To pronounce this final correctly, you need to stretch your lips widely before slowly rounding it. While shifting your lips position, you need to make sure that your tongue remains in the same position. 

Improving your pronunciation is a journey that requires consistent learning to succeed. If you’re a non-native speaker who needs to learn Mandarin pronunciation fast for business purposes, here are some practical tips that you can implement starting today. 

Practice Daily

Building a habit is an important part of getting used to speaking Mandarin daily. Practicing everyday will not only help you get used to how to pronounce each word, but also build confidence in speaking Chinese. If you’re struggling with practicing daily, try to dedicate around 10-15 minutes everyday and stick to the schedule. You can increase the duration once you have more time to practice. 

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Try Shadowing from Videos

This method is often used if you’re aiming to achieve fluency similar to native speakers. Even though it may take time for non-native staff members to sound natural in Chinese, consistent learning can help you understand how native speakers communicate. To do this, you can try finding videos or audios from native Chinese speakers and try to mimic their tone as closely as possible. Make sure to take notes on which part may be difficult for you and focus on fixing these mistakes while learning. 

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Find Learning Partners 

If you’re looking for a quick and fun way to help yourself understand Chinese, finding a learning partner can be a great solution. This method is often encouraged since you will be having real-time conversations with people, letting you have a more natural interaction with others. Other than acting as someone to speak with, learning partners can also help motivate you to get better in Chinese together.