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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".
• Mastering this rule helps your Mandarin sound more fluent and less robotic.

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

The average price for a Chinese lesson in Whickham is around £18/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
• How lessons are delivered, such as video calls, home visits, or classroom settings
• 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.

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
• Seven is 七 (qī), eight is 八 (bā), nine is 九 (jiǔ), ten is 十 (shí)

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

Practise saying these aloud daily until the tones become automatic.

Chinese tutors in Whickham 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.