Find a Chinese tutor near you in Irlam

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:

• Take 你好: written nǐ hǎo, but spoken as ní hǎo because of this rule.
• This also affects 小姐 (xiǎojiě), which sounds like "xiáojiě" in conversation.
• Mastering this rule helps your Mandarin sound more fluent and less robotic.

A third tone dips low then rises slightly, but when followed by another third tone, the first one simply rises.

In Irlam, private Chinese tutoring runs about £30/h per session.

Prices differ depending on:

• Your proficiency level, whether you are starting from scratch or refining fluency
• Whether the tutor is a native Mandarin speaker with formal credentials
• How lessons are delivered, such as video calls, home visits, or classroom settings
• Lesson length and frequency, with discounts often available for regular bookings

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:

• One is 一 (yī), two is 二 (èr), three is 三 (sān)
• 4-6: 四 sì, 五 wǔ, 六 liù
• Seven is 七 (qī), eight is 八 (bā), nine is 九 (jiǔ), ten is 十 (shí)

Pay attention to the tones: 一 and 七 use first tone (high flat), while 四 uses fourth tone (sharp falling).

Practise saying these aloud daily until the tones become automatic.

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