Find a Chinese tutor near you in Cranfield

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:

• When you say "hello" in Chinese, 你好 shifts from 3-3 to 2-3 automatically.
• Words like 可以 (kěyǐ) also shift: the first tone rises to make pronunciation smoother.
• Mastering this rule helps your Mandarin sound more fluent and less robotic.

This phonetic shortcut makes Mandarin flow better and is essential for sounding natural.

In Cranfield, private Chinese tutoring runs about £16/h per session.

Prices differ depending on:

• Beginner, intermediate, or advanced courses each have different pricing
• Your teacher's background, including certifications and years of experience
• How lessons are delivered, such as video calls, home visits, or classroom settings
• Booking multiple lessons upfront often lowers the per-hour cost

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:

• 1-3: 一 yī, 二 èr, 三 sān
• Four is 四 (sì), five is 五 (wǔ), six is 六 (liù)
• Seven is 七 (qī), eight is 八 (bā), nine is 九 (jiǔ), ten is 十 (shí)

Once you know 1-10, larger numbers follow a logical pattern: 11 is 十一 (shí yī), 20 is 二十 (èr shí).

Practise saying these aloud daily until the tones become automatic.

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

This score comes from 6 authentic student reviews.

Reviewers frequently mention improved confidence in speaking Mandarin and personalised learning paths.