Find a Chinese tutor near you in Charlton Kings

Chinese tones interact, and the 3-3 rule means the first of two third tones is pronounced as a rising tone instead.

This is the pattern:

• The classic example is 你好 (nǐ hǎo), which becomes "ní hǎo" in natural speech.
• Words like 可以 (kěyǐ) also shift: the first tone rises to make pronunciation smoother.
• Native speakers apply this rule without thinking, so it sounds unnatural if you keep both third tones flat.

The reason: two dipping tones in sequence are awkward to pronounce, so the language naturally adjusts.

In Charlton Kings, private Chinese tutoring runs about £17/h per session.

Prices differ depending on:

• The student's level, from complete beginner to advanced or business Chinese
• Your teacher's background, including certifications and years of experience
• Lesson format: online sessions, in-person at home, or at the tutor's location
• Session duration and how often you meet, with packages typically reducing the hourly rate

Many tutors offer the first lesson free, so you can test their teaching style before committing.

The foundation of Chinese numeracy is mastering these ten basic numerals and their tones.

The complete list from one to ten:

• 一 (yī) = 1, 二 (èr) = 2, 三 (sān) = 3
• Four is 四 (sì), five is 五 (wǔ), six is 六 (liù)
• 七 (qī) = 7, 八 (bā) = 8, 九 (jiǔ) = 9, 十 (shí) = 10

Tones matter here: mixing up sì (four) and shí (ten) changes meaning entirely.

Practise saying these aloud daily until the tones become automatic.

Students in Charlton Kings rate their Chinese tutors 5⭐ out of 5, highlighting the quality of lessons available.

This score comes from 6 authentic student reviews.

Students often praise tutors for clear explanations of tones and characters, patience with beginners, and structured lesson plans.