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Hong Zhu (FROGLANG)

Tongue twisters are ideal for pronunciation practice

In Chinese, tongue twisters (绕口令 ràokǒulìng) repeat similar consonants and vowels that are easy to mix up to make them difficult to say. "Raokouling" have a distinctive rhythm that make them fun to read out loud, motivating you to keep practicing until you can say them.

If you've grown bored of pronunciation practice or if you're having trouble pronouncing certain sounds, try including "raokouling" in your practice. And if you get the chance, show off the "raokouling" you've learned for your Chinese friends.

Read more

Tongue twisters are ideal for pronunciation practice

In Chinese, tongue twisters (绕口令 ràokǒulìng) repeat similar consonants and vowels that are easy to mix up to make them difficult to say. "Raokouling" have a distinctive rhythm that make them fun to read out loud, motivating you to keep practicing until you can say them.

If you've grown bored of pronunciation practice or if you're having trouble pronouncing certain sounds, try including "raokouling" in your practice. And if you get the chance, show off the "raokouling" you've learned for your Chinese friends.

Beautiful pronunciation by a professional narrator

All voice was recorded by a professional narrator.

Includes slow and fast versions

A slow version and a fast version of the tongue twister are included in each movie, one after the other.

The subtitles change color in time with the voice, allowing you to follow along and pick up the natural places to pause that aren't obvious from the punctuation as well as practice by imitating the narrator's inflection.

Start with the slow version to pay attention to each individual sound, and practice carefully to get as close as possible to the narrator. The more correct your pronunciation, the faster you will get without even trying.

Practice different consonants and vowels

The 76 "raokouling" in the course are divided by consonant and vowel types. You can practice them in any order, so listen to them first and choose what you'd like to start with.

Review at your own pace with a PDF textbook

The course also comes with a textbook in PDF format, so you can review each “raokouling” at your own pace.

No hanzi required

Don't know Chinese characters? No problem.

Each “raokouling” is accompanied by voice and pinyin, so you can practice even if you don't know hanzi.

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What's inside

Learning objective

Practicing tongue twisters will improve the accuracy and smoothness of your chinese pronunciation

Syllabus

How to proceed in your studies
Practice for Consonants (1): b p m f

Please download the PDF textbook before beginning your studies. In addition to the Chinese text, this PDF text lists the English translation and footnotes as well. Please use it as a way of review.

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R001-葡萄皮儿 (Grape skin)
R002-八百标兵 (800 Parade Guards)
R003-烙饼 (Baking a cake)
R004-白庙和白猫 (White Temple and White Cat)
R005-画凤凰 (Draw a Phoenix)
Practice for Consonants (2): d t n l
R006-大兔子和大肚子 (The Big Bunny and the Big Belly)
R007-梨和泥 (Pear and Mud)
R008-四辆四轮大马车 (Four Four-Wheeled Big Carriages)
R009-牛顶柳 (Cattle Headbutts Willow)
R010-扁担长板凳寛 (Shoulder Pole is Long, Stool is Wide)
Practice for Consonants (3): g k h
R015-真稀奇 (Really Bizarre)
R011-哥哥捉鸽 (Big Brother Captures a Dove)
R012-哥挎瓜筐过寛沟 (Big Brother Carries Melon Basket Across a Wide Ditch)
R013-风吹灰飞 (Wind blows, Dust flies)
Practice for Consonants (4): j q x
R014-七加一 (Seven Plus One)
R016-漆匠和锡匠 (The Lacquerer and the Tinsmith)
Practice for Consonants (5): zh ch sh r
R017-学时事 (Studying Current Events)
R018-晒人肉 (Tanned Skin)
R019-焼香要焼萧山香 (When Burning Incense, Burn Xiaoshan Incense)
Practice for Consonants (6): z c s
R020-做早操 (Do Morning Exercises)
R021-崔粗腿和崔腿粗 (Cui Thickleg and Cui Legthick)
R022-司机买雌鸡 (A Driver Buys Chickens)
R023-桑山 (Mulberry Tree Mountain)
R024-丝缠蚕 (A Silkworm Swathed in Silk)
R025-蚕和蝉 (Silkworm and Cicada)
R026-登山 (Mountain Climbing)
R027-三山撑四水 (Three Mountains Fill Four Rivers)
R028-紫丝线织紫狮子 (Weave Purple Silk Strands Into a Purple Lion)
Practice for Vowels (1): a o e i u ü
R029-白石塔 (White Stone Tower)
R030-瓦打马 (Tile Hits Horse)
R031-墨与馍 (Ink and Steamed Bun)
R032-买饽饽 (Buying Pastries)
R033-阁上一窝鸽 (In the Attic There’s a Nest of Doves)
R034-鹅过河 (Goose Crosses the River)
R035-吃荸荠 (Eat Water Chestnuts)
R036-鼓上画只虎 (The Tiger Drawn on Top of the Drum)
R037-苏州有个苏胡子 (In Suzhou There's a Su Huzi)
R038-醋布兔 (Vinegar, Cloth, Rabbit)
R039-芜湖徐如玉 (Xu Ruyu of Wuhu)
R040-女小吕和女老李 (The Woman Young Lu and the Woman Old Li)
Practice for Vowels (2): ai ei ao ou
R041-白菜和海帯 (Cabbage and Kelp)
R042-贝贝和菲菲 (Beibei and Feifei)
R043-毛毛和涛涛 (Maomao and Taotao)
R044-兜装豆 (Beans Held in a Bag)
Practice for Vowels (3): iao iou uai uei
R045-鸟看表 (Bird Sees Watch)
R046-猫闹鸟 (Cat Pesters Bird)
R047-酒换油 (Trade Wine for Oil)
R048-铜勺和鉄勺 (Copper Spoon and Iron Spoon)
R049-槐树槐 (Locust Tree)
R050-嘴和腿 (Lips and Legs)
Practice for Vowels (4): ia ie ua uo üe
R051-花鸭与彩霞 (Multicoloured Duck and Pink Clouds)
R052-切茄子 (Slicing Eggplant)
R053-瓜棚挂瓜 (Melon Shack Hangs Melons)
R054-夸骆驼 (Praising a Camel)
R055-窝和锅 (Nest and Pot)
R056-灰喜鹊和黒喜鹊 (Gray Magpie and Black Magpie)
Practice for Vowels (5): an ian uan üan en uen in ün
R057-帆船 (Sailboat)
R058-水连天 (Water Meets Sky)
R059-蓝布棉门帘
R060-严眼圆 (Yan Eyesround)
R061-小陈和小沈 (Xiao Chen and Xiao Shen)
R062-炖冻豆腐 (Stew Frozen Tofu)
R063-换裙子 (Changing Skirts)
Practice for Vowels (6): ang iang uang eng ueng ong iong ing
R064-小良救羊 (Xiao Liang Saves Sheep)
R065-船和床 (Boat and Bed)
R066-真冷 (Really Cold)
R067-陈和程 (Chen and Cheng)
R068-老翁和老翁 (Old Man and Old Man)
R069-蜻蜓青萍分不清 (The Separation Between Dragonflies and Blue Duckweed is Unclear)
R070-通信不同姓 (Correspondents not Clansmen)
R071-银星和阴云 (Silver Star and Dark Cloud)
R072-盆和瓶 (Pot and Bottle)
R073-风、松、钟、弓 (Wind, Pine, Clock, Bow)
R074-东洞庭西洞庭 (East Dongting, West Dongting)
R075-学游泳 (Learning to Swim)

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters with these activities:
Review Pinyin Charts
Familiarize yourself with the Pinyin system to improve your ability to read and pronounce Chinese words correctly, which is essential for mastering tongue twisters.
Browse courses on Pinyin
Show steps
  • Find a comprehensive Pinyin chart online or in a textbook.
  • Practice pronouncing each initial and final sound.
  • Pay attention to the tones and their corresponding marks.
Read 'Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar'
Gain a better understanding of Chinese sentence structure to improve your comprehension and pronunciation of tongue twisters.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar'.
  • Read the chapters on basic sentence structures and word order.
  • Identify the grammatical patterns used in the tongue twisters.
Practice with a Language Partner
Refine your pronunciation by practicing the tongue twisters with a language partner and providing each other with feedback.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner who is also learning Chinese.
  • Take turns reciting the tongue twisters to each other.
  • Provide constructive feedback on each other's pronunciation.
  • Focus on areas where you both struggle.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Record and Compare Pronunciation
Improve your pronunciation accuracy by recording yourself saying the tongue twisters and comparing it to the narrator's pronunciation.
Show steps
  • Record yourself saying a tongue twister from the course.
  • Listen to the narrator's version of the same tongue twister.
  • Compare your pronunciation with the narrator's, noting any differences.
  • Repeat the process, focusing on correcting the identified errors.
Help Others with Pronunciation
Reinforce your own learning by helping other students who are struggling with Chinese pronunciation.
Show steps
  • Join online forums or communities for Chinese learners.
  • Offer assistance to students who have questions about pronunciation.
  • Share tips and techniques that you have found helpful.
  • Provide encouragement and support to fellow learners.
Create a Tongue Twister Challenge Video
Solidify your pronunciation skills by creating a video where you challenge others to pronounce the tongue twisters.
Show steps
  • Choose a few tongue twisters from the course.
  • Record yourself saying the tongue twisters clearly.
  • Challenge viewers to repeat the tongue twisters.
  • Share the video on social media or with friends.
Explore '500 Common Chinese Idioms'
Expand your knowledge of Chinese idioms to enhance your understanding of the language and culture, which can indirectly improve your pronunciation skills.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of '500 Common Chinese Idioms'.
  • Browse through the idioms and their explanations.
  • Identify any idioms that appear in the tongue twisters.
  • Try to incorporate the idioms into your own speech.

Career center

Learners who complete Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Chinese Language Tutor
A Chinese language tutor helps students of all levels improve their speaking, reading, and writing skills. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course directly supports this role, as the course focuses on improving pronunciation through engaging tongue twisters. As a tutor, mastering accurate pronunciation is essential for effectively teaching students. This course helps tutors refine their own pronunciation skills, making them more effective instructors. The syllabus contains a list of sounds that will improve the smoothness of your pronunciation.
Language Blogger
A language blogger creates content related to language learning, linguistics, or cultural insights. With the 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course, you may improve your understanding of Chinese phonetics and pronunciation. This expertise can be shared through blog posts, pronunciation guides, or cultural explorations of Chinese language nuances. The course's focus on tongue twisters can serve as an engaging and informative topic for your audience. The textbook provided with this course also enhances learning.
Cross-Cultural Trainer
Cross cultural trainers teach individuals and teams how to work effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course may be helpful for those working specifically with Chinese individuals. Trainers who display competence in Mandarin Chinese may gain credibility and build stronger rapport with trainees. The course includes the use of a professional narrator, and the subtitles change color in time with the voice.
Language Exchange Partner
A language exchange partner helps someone learn their native language in exchange for learning another language. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course could be useful for language exchange partners who want to improve the clarity and accuracy of their Chinese pronunciation. By practicing tongue twisters, language partners can become more confident and effective communicators. It can be helpful to compare and learn from the narrator's pronunciation included with this course. The PDF textbook also allows for review at one's own pace.
Cultural Attaché
A cultural attaché promotes cultural exchange and understanding between countries. Fluency in the local language is essential for this role, and the 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course could be useful for improving Mandarin Chinese pronunciation. The course helps a cultural attaché communicate effectively and build relationships with local artists and cultural organizations. The course is divided by consonant and vowel sounds to target areas for improvement.
Interpreter
Interpreters convert spoken language from one language to another in real time. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course could be useful for improving pronunciation accuracy, which is essential for clear communication. This course allows interpreters to refine their Mandarin pronunciation, ensuring accurate and effective communication. The course includes both slow and fast versions of the tongue twisters, helping interpreters develop fluency and clarity at different speeds. The course content is divided by consonant and vowel sounds, offering a targeted approach to pronunciation improvement.
Diplomat
Diplomats represent their country's interests abroad and work to maintain peaceful relations with other nations. Fluency in the local language is essential for effective communication and negotiation. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course may be useful to improve Mandarin Chinese pronunciation, facilitating clearer communication and stronger relationships. The course helps refine pronunciation skills, a crucial asset for successful diplomatic engagement. The course includes a textbook in PDF format, so you can review each “raokouling” at your own pace.
Voice-Over Artist
Voice over artists provide the voice for animations, commercials, audiobooks, and other media. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course may be useful for those looking to expand their repertoire to include Chinese. Clear and accurate pronunciation is crucial in this field, and this course directly addresses this skill by using tongue twisters. The professional narrator included in this course provides a good example for learners to follow. Furthermore, the course provides practice in both slow and fast speaking modes.
Travel Blogger
Travel bloggers document their experiences and offer advice for traveling to different parts of the world. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course may be useful to improve Mandarin Chinese pronunciation, enhancing interactions with locals and enriching travel experiences in China. A travel blogger with good pronunciation can better navigate daily situations, ask for directions, and immerse themselves in local culture. The course includes both slow and fast versions of the tongue twisters, helping you develop fluency at various speeds. This may be helpful when interacting with locals who speak at different paces.
Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Service Officers represent their country's interests abroad, often requiring fluency in one or more foreign languages. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course could be helpful to improve Mandarin Chinese pronunciation, a valuable asset for effective communication and diplomacy. Enhanced pronunciation skills allow for clearer negotiations and relationship building with international partners. This course helps build a strong foundation in Mandarin pronunciation. The course also contains subtitles and changes color in time with the speaker, which allows you to follow along easily.
Global Marketing Manager
Global marketing managers develop and implement marketing strategies for international markets. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course helps to enhance Mandarin Chinese pronunciation, something that may be useful for marketing managers targeting Chinese-speaking audiences. Clear communication and understanding of cultural nuances can significantly improve marketing campaign effectiveness. The course's focus on accurate pronunciation may improve the reception of marketing messages and build stronger brand relationships. You can practice different consonants and vowels within the course.
International Journalist
International journalists report on news and events from around the world. Fluency in the local language, supported by the 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course, is essential for gathering accurate information and conducting interviews. Polished Mandarin Chinese pronunciation may improve their ability to connect with sources and report nuanced stories. The course offers a way to refine pronunciation through engaging tongue twisters. The subtitles included in this course change color in time with the voice, allowing you to follow along and pick up on natural pauses.
International Business Consultant
International business consultants advise companies on strategies for entering and succeeding in foreign markets. Proficiency in the local language may be helpful for building trust and facilitating communication. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course could be useful in honing pronunciation skills for more effective client interactions. Clear and articulate communication may help in negotiations and presentations. This course is accompanied by a PDF textbook to review at your own pace.
Translator
Translators convert written text from one language to another. While translation primarily deals with written text, accurate pronunciation may be helpful for translators, especially for proofreading or consulting with clients. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course may help translators improve their Mandarin pronunciation. This course enhances overall language proficiency, which supports translators when they need to communicate verbally regarding their translations. The inclusion of Pinyin in the course means that no prior knowledge of Hanzi is required.
ESL Teacher
An ESL teacher instructs non-native speakers in English. While this course is focused on Chinese, the methodologies of pronunciation practice can be transferable. The 'Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters' course could be useful for ESL teachers who want to understand the challenges faced by language learners. By experiencing the difficulties of mastering a new language's sounds, ESL teachers can develop empathy and more effective teaching strategies. Understanding and utilizing techniques such as tongue twisters to improve pronunciation may also be useful in the classroom.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Enjoy pronunciation practice with Chinese tongue twisters.
Provides a solid foundation in Chinese grammar, which is helpful for understanding the structure of tongue twisters. While the course focuses on pronunciation, understanding the grammar can aid in memorization and comprehension. This book is best used as additional reading to supplement the course materials. It is commonly used by students learning Chinese.
Introduces common Chinese idioms, which can enrich your understanding of the language and culture. While not directly related to pronunciation, exposure to idioms can improve your overall fluency and comprehension. This book is more valuable as additional reading to broaden your knowledge of Chinese. It useful reference for intermediate to advanced learners.

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