Find a Chinese tutor near you in Potters Bar

Mandarin has four main tones, and when two third tones appear in a row, the first one shifts to a second tone.

The rule applies like this:

• The classic example is 你好 (nǐ hǎo), which becomes "ní hǎo" in natural speech.
• Other common words follow the same pattern: 很好 (hěn hǎo) becomes "hén hǎo".
• Native speakers apply this rule without thinking, so it sounds unnatural if you keep both third tones flat.

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

The average price for a Chinese lesson in Potters Bar is around £11/h per hour.

What affects the cost:

• The student's level, from complete beginner to advanced or business Chinese
• The tutor's qualifications, native speaker status, and teaching experience
• Lesson format: online sessions, in-person at home, or at the tutor's location
• 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.

Chinese numbers 1-10 each have a single character and a distinct tone, making them straightforward to memorise.

Each number, character, and pronunciation:

• 一 (yī) = 1, 二 (èr) = 2, 三 (sān) = 3
• 四 (sì) = 4, 五 (wǔ) = 5, 六 (liù) = 6
• 七 (qī) = 7, 八 (bā) = 8, 九 (jiǔ) = 9, 十 (shí) = 10

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.

Chinese tutors in Potters Bar receive an average rating of 5⭐ out of 5, reflecting strong student satisfaction.

A total of 6 genuine reviews support this average.

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