Quick Sound Cards

Easy Chinese Tongue Twisters

Start here. These are short, rhythmic, and useful for building confidence before the longer monsters arrive.

No.	Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning / Focus	English Translation
1	四是四，十是十。	sì shì sì, shí shì shí.	s vs sh	Four is four, ten is ten.
2	十四是十四，四十是四十。	shí sì shì shí sì, sì shí shì sì shí.	s vs sh	Fourteen is fourteen, forty is forty.
3	四十不是十四，十四不是四十。	sì shí bú shì shí sì, shí sì bú shì sì shí.	s vs sh	Forty is not fourteen, and fourteen is not forty.
4	吃葡萄不吐葡萄皮。	chī pútao bú tǔ pútao pí.	ch / p / t rhythm	Eat grapes without spitting out the grape skins.
5	不吃葡萄倒吐葡萄皮。	bù chī pútao dào tǔ pútao pí.	switching rhythm	Without eating grapes, you instead spit out grape skins.
6	白石塔，白石搭。	bái shí tǎ, bái shí dā.	b / sh contrast	A white stone tower, stacked with white stones.
7	红凤凰，黄凤凰。	hóng fènghuáng, huáng fènghuáng.	h / f / huang	Red phoenix, yellow phoenix.
8	黑化肥发灰，灰化肥发黑。	hēi huàféi fā huī, huī huàféi fā hēi.	h / f / huī	Black fertilizer turns gray; gray fertilizer turns black.
9	牛郎恋刘娘，刘娘念牛郎。	niúláng liàn Liúniáng, Liúniáng niàn Niúláng.	n / l	Niulang loves Liu Niang; Liu Niang thinks of Niulang.
10	山上有寺，寺里有狮。	shān shàng yǒu sì, sì lǐ yǒu shī.	sh / s	On the mountain there is a temple, and in the temple there is a lion.
11	墙上挂面鼓，鼓上画老虎。	qiáng shàng guà miàn gǔ, gǔ shàng huà lǎohǔ.	g / h	A drum hangs on the wall, and a tiger is painted on the drum.
12	一平盆面，烙一平盆饼。	yì píng pén miàn, lào yì píng pén bǐng.	p / b / n	A flat basin of dough makes a flat basin of cakes.
13	鹅过河，河过鹅。	é guò hé, hé guò é.	é / hé	The goose crosses the river, the river passes the goose.
14	猫闹鸟，鸟闹猫。	māo nào niǎo, niǎo nào māo.	m / n	The cat annoys the bird, the bird annoys the cat.
15	粉红墙上画凤凰。	fěnhóng qiáng shàng huà fènghuáng.	f / h / huang	A phoenix is painted on the pink wall.
16	七巷一个漆匠，西巷一个锡匠。	qī xiàng yí gè qījiàng, xī xiàng yí gè xījiàng.	q / x	In Seventh Lane lives a lacquer craftsman; in West Lane lives a tin craftsman.
17	鸡吃稀饭，七七嘻嘻。	jī chī xīfàn, qī qī xī xī.	j / q / x	The chicken eats porridge, chirping and giggling.
18	知之为知之。	zhī zhī wéi zhī zhī.	zh sound warm-up	To know it is to know it.
19	纸上画狮子。	zhǐ shàng huà shīzi.	zh / sh	Draw a lion on the paper.
20	石狮子咬死涩柿子。	shí shīzi yǎo sǐ sè shìzi.	sh / s	The stone lion bites astringent persimmons to pieces.
21	小柳树，摇绿柳。	xiǎo liǔshù, yáo lǜ liǔ.	l / y / ü	A small willow tree shakes its green willows.
22	蓝布棉门帘。	lán bù mián ménlián.	l / m / n	A blue cloth cotton door curtain.
23	老罗拉骆驼。	Lǎo Luó lā luòtuo.	l sound	Old Luo pulls a camel.
24	南南有个篮篮。	Nánnan yǒu gè lánlan.	n / l	Nannan has a little basket.
25	门口有六棵柳树。	ménkǒu yǒu liù kē liǔshù.	l / liu	There are six willow trees at the door.
26	哥哥过沟，狗咬哥哥。	gēge guò gōu, gǒu yǎo gēge.	g / gou	Older brother crosses the ditch, and the dog bites him.
27	八百标兵奔北坡。	bā bǎi biāobīng bēn běi pō.	b / p	Eight hundred soldiers rush toward the north slope.
28	炮兵并排北边跑。	pàobīng bìngpái běibiān pǎo.	b / p	The artillery soldiers run in formation to the north side.
29	妈妈骂马，马慢妈妈骂。	māma mà mǎ, mǎ màn māma mà.	m tones	Mom scolds the horse; the slow horse gets scolded by Mom.
30	白猫叼白帽。	bái māo diāo bái mào.	m / b / d	The white cat holds a white hat in its mouth.

Medium Chinese Tongue Twisters

Now the sounds start colliding. Keep your tones clear and do not swallow the finals just because the line gets busier.

No.	Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning / Focus	English Translation
31	白猫叼白帽，黑猫叼黑帽。	bái māo diāo bái mào, hēi māo diāo hēi mào.	b / h / m	The white cat carries a white hat; the black cat carries a black hat.
32	白猫叼走白帽，黑猫叼走黑帽。	bái māo diāo zǒu bái mào, hēi māo diāo zǒu hēi mào.	repeated rhythm	The white cat takes away the white hat; the black cat takes away the black hat.
33	山前有四十四棵死涩柿子树。	shān qián yǒu sì shí sì kē sǐ sè shìzi shù.	s / sh overload	In front of the mountain are forty-four dead astringent persimmon trees.
34	山后有四十四只石狮子。	shān hòu yǒu sì shí sì zhī shí shīzi.	sh sound chain	Behind the mountain are forty-four stone lions.
35	山前四十四棵死涩柿子树，山后四十四只石狮子。	shān qián sì shí sì kē sǐ sè shìzi shù, shān hòu sì shí sì zhī shí shīzi.	long s / sh chain	In front of the mountain are forty-four dead persimmon trees; behind it are forty-four stone lions.
36	石狮子撞死涩柿子树。	shí shīzi zhuàng sǐ sè shìzi shù.	zh / sh / s	The stone lions crash into the astringent persimmon trees.
37	涩柿子树塞石狮子嘴。	sè shìzi shù sāi shí shīzi zuǐ.	s / sh / z	The persimmon tree stuffs the stone lion’s mouth.
38	六叔和六舅借六斗六升绿绿豆。	Liù shū hé Liù jiù jiè liù dǒu liù shēng lǜ lǜdòu.	l / ü / sh	Uncle Liu and Sixth Uncle borrow six dou and six sheng of green mung beans.
39	六叔炖六斗六升绿绿豆。	Liù shū dùn liù dǒu liù shēng lǜ lǜdòu.	l / ü	Uncle Liu stews six dou and six sheng of green mung beans.
40	刘郎恋刘娘，刘娘念刘郎。	Liú láng liàn Liú niáng, Liú niáng niàn Liú láng.	l / n	Liu Lang loves Liu Niang, and Liu Niang longs for Liu Lang.
41	牛郎年年念刘娘。	Niú láng niánnián niàn Liú niáng.	n / l	Niulang thinks of Liu Niang year after year.
42	刘娘年年恋牛郎。	Liú niáng niánnián liàn Niú láng.	n / l switching	Liu Niang loves Niulang year after year.
43	七巷漆匠用了西巷锡匠的锡。	qī xiàng qījiàng yòng le xī xiàng xījiàng de xī.	q / x	The lacquer craftsman in Seventh Lane used the tin from the tinker in West Lane.
44	西巷锡匠拿了七巷漆匠的漆。	xī xiàng xījiàng ná le qī xiàng qījiàng de qī.	x / q	The tinker in West Lane took the lacquer from the craftsman in Seventh Lane.
45	七巷漆匠气西巷锡匠。	qī xiàng qījiàng qì xī xiàng xījiàng.	q / x quick switch	The lacquer craftsman in Seventh Lane gets angry with the tinker in West Lane.
46	西关有个细席匠。	xīguān yǒu gè xì xíjiàng.	x sound	At West Gate there is a fine mat weaver.
47	细席匠会织细席。	xì xíjiàng huì zhī xì xí.	x / zh	The fine mat weaver can weave fine mats.
48	细席匠织细席细又细。	xì xíjiàng zhī xì xí, xì yòu xì.	x / zh with tones	The mat weaver weaves fine mats, fine and even finer.
49	东洞庭，西洞庭，洞庭山上一根藤。	dōng Dòngtíng, xī Dòngtíng, Dòngtíng shān shàng yì gēn téng.	d / t / ng	East Dongting, West Dongting, and on Dongting Mountain there is one vine.
50	藤上挂铜铃。	téng shàng guà tóng líng.	t / l / ng	A copper bell hangs on the vine.
51	风吹藤动铜铃动。	fēng chuī téng dòng tóng líng dòng.	d / t / ng	The wind blows, the vine moves, and the copper bell moves.
52	风停藤停铜铃停。	fēng tíng téng tíng tóng líng tíng.	tíng / téng	The wind stops, the vine stops, and the copper bell stops.
53	八百标兵奔北坡，炮兵并排北边跑。	bā bǎi biāobīng bēn běi pō, pàobīng bìngpái běibiān pǎo.	b / p classic	Eight hundred soldiers rush up the north slope, while artillery soldiers run in formation to the north.
54	炮兵怕把标兵碰。	pàobīng pà bǎ biāobīng pèng.	b / p tones	The artillery soldiers fear bumping into the soldiers.
55	标兵怕碰炮兵炮。	biāobīng pà pèng pàobīng pào.	b / p loop	The soldiers fear bumping into the artillery cannon.
56	河边两只鹅，一起过小河。	hébiān liǎng zhī é, yìqǐ guò xiǎo hé.	é / hé	Two geese by the river cross the little river together.
57	白鹅过河，灰鹅也过河。	bái é guò hé, huī é yě guò hé.	b / h / é	The white goose crosses the river, and the gray goose crosses too.
58	白鹅白，灰鹅灰。	bái é bái, huī é huī.	color contrast	The white goose is white; the gray goose is gray.
59	老龙恼怒闹老农。	lǎo lóng nǎonù nào lǎo nóng.	l / n	The old dragon angrily bothers the old farmer.
60	老农恼怒闹老龙。	lǎo nóng nǎonù nào lǎo lóng.	n / l reversal	The old farmer angrily bothers the old dragon.

Hard Chinese Tongue Twisters

These are longer, tighter, and much less polite about exposing weak pronunciation. Breathe, chunk the line, and keep the tones alive.

No.	Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning / Focus	English Translation
61	黑化肥挥发发灰会花飞。	hēi huàféi huīfā fā huī huì huā fēi.	h / f / huī	Black fertilizer volatilizes, turns gray, and gray dust flies around.
62	灰化肥挥发发黑会飞花。	huī huàféi huīfā fā hēi huì fēi huā.	huī / hēi	Gray fertilizer volatilizes, turns black, and flying dust blooms around.
63	黑化肥发灰，灰化肥发黑，黑灰化肥会发飞花。	hēi huàféi fā huī, huī huàféi fā hēi, hēi huī huàféi huì fā fēihuā.	classic hard mode	Black fertilizer turns gray, gray fertilizer turns black, and black-gray fertilizer sends dust flying.
64	红凤凰粉凤凰，红粉凤凰花凤凰。	hóng fènghuáng, fěn fènghuáng, hóngfěn fènghuáng huā fènghuáng.	f / h / huang	Red phoenix, pink phoenix, red-and-pink flowery phoenix.
65	粉红墙上画凤凰，凤凰画在粉红墙。	fěnhóng qiáng shàng huà fènghuáng, fènghuáng huà zài fěnhóng qiáng.	f / h / q	A phoenix is painted on the pink wall, and the phoenix painting sits on the pink wall.
66	黄凤凰，红凤凰，粉红凤凰花凤凰。	huáng fènghuáng, hóng fènghuáng, fěnhóng fènghuáng huā fènghuáng.	huang / hong / feng	Yellow phoenix, red phoenix, pink flowered phoenix.
67	东门童家门东董家懂种冬瓜。	dōngmén Tóngjiā mén dōng Dǒngjiā dǒng zhòng dōngguā.	d / t / dong	East of the Tong family gate, the Dong family knows how to grow winter melons.
68	童家知道董家懂种冬瓜。	Tóngjiā zhīdào Dǒngjiā dǒng zhòng dōngguā.	zh / d / dong	The Tong family knows that the Dong family knows how to grow winter melons.
69	董家也知道童家会种冬瓜。	Dǒngjiā yě zhīdào Tóngjiā huì zhòng dōngguā.	d / zh / tong	The Dong family also knows that the Tong family can grow winter melons.
70	哥哥弟弟坡前坐，坡上卧着一只鹅。	gēge dìdi pō qián zuò, pō shàng wòzhe yì zhī é.	g / d / o	Older brother and younger brother sit before the slope, and a goose lies on the slope.
71	坡下流着一条河，河里游着一只鹅。	pō xià liúzhe yì tiáo hé, hé lǐ yóuzhe yì zhī é.	é / hé	Below the slope runs a river, and in the river swims a goose.
72	坡上鹅，坡下河，哥哥说鹅要过河。	pō shàng é, pō xià hé, gēge shuō é yào guò hé.	g / é / hé	Goose on the slope, river below the slope; older brother says the goose wants to cross the river.
73	弟弟说河宽鹅难过。	dìdi shuō hé kuān é nán guò.	é / hé / guò	Younger brother says the river is wide and hard for the goose to cross.
74	隔着窗户撕字纸。	gézhe chuānghu sī zìzhǐ.	z / zh / ch	Tear character paper through the window.
75	一次撕下四十四张湿字纸。	yí cì sī xià sì shí sì zhāng shī zìzhǐ.	s / sh / zh	In one go, tear down forty-four wet sheets of character paper.
76	不是字纸湿，是字纸四十四。	bú shì zìzhǐ shī, shì zìzhǐ sì shí sì.	s / sh packed tight	It is not that the character paper is wet; it is that there are forty-four sheets.
77	石室诗士施氏，嗜狮，誓食十狮。	Shíshì shīshì Shī Shì, shì shī, shì shí shí shī.	legendary shi challenge	Poet Shi of the stone den loved lions and swore to eat ten lions.
78	氏时时适市视狮。	shì shíshí shì shì shì shī.	all shi syllables	He often went to the market to look for lions.
79	十时，适十狮适市。	shí shí, shì shí shī shì shì.	all shi syllables	At ten o’clock, it happened that ten lions arrived at the market.
80	是时，适施氏适市。	shì shí, shì Shī Shì shì shì.	all shi syllables	At that moment, Shi also happened to be at the market.
81	氏视是十狮，恃矢势，使是十狮逝世。	shì shì shì shí shī, shì shǐ shì, shǐ shì shí shī shìshì.	all shi syllables, tones	Seeing those ten lions, he relied on his arrows to make the ten lions die.
82	氏拾是十狮尸，适石室。	shì shí shì shí shī shī, shì shíshì.	shi sequence	He picked up the ten lion corpses and went to the stone den.
83	石室湿，氏使侍拭石室。	shíshì shī, shì shǐ shì shì shíshì.	shi tones again	The stone den was wet, so he ordered a servant to wipe it.
84	石室拭，氏始试食是十狮尸。	shíshì shì, shì shǐ shì shí shì shí shī shī.	maximum shi	Once the den was wiped, he began trying to eat the ten lion corpses.
85	食时，始识是十狮尸，实十石狮尸。	shí shí, shǐ shí shì shí shī shī, shí shí shí shī shī.	tone survival test	While eating, he realized they were in fact ten stone lion corpses.
86	试释是事。	shì shì shì shì.	tiny shi finale	Try explaining this matter.
87	长虫围着砖堆转，转完砖堆钻砖堆。	chángchóng wéizhe zhuānduī zhuàn, zhuàn wán zhuānduī zuān zhuānduī.	zh / z / ch	The long bug circles the pile of bricks, then burrows into it.
88	嘴里有舌，舌上有齿，齿里有纸。	zuǐ lǐ yǒu shé, shé shàng yǒu chǐ, chǐ lǐ yǒu zhǐ.	zh / ch / sh	In the mouth there is a tongue, on the tongue there are teeth, and among the teeth there is paper.
89	纸裹细银丝，细银丝缠紫瓷狮子。	zhǐ guǒ xì yínsī, xì yínsī chán zǐ cí shīzi.	z / zh / c / s	Paper wraps fine silver thread, and the silver thread winds around a purple porcelain lion.
90	枝上栖着几只知了。	zhī shàng qīzhe jǐ zhī zhīliǎo.	zh / j / q	Several cicadas are perched on the branch.

Bonus Chinese Tongue Twisters To Reach 100+

Because one hundred would have been too neat, here are eighteen more.

No.	Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning / Focus	English Translation
91	枝上知了吱吱叫。	zhī shàng zhīliǎo zīzī jiào.	zh / z / j	The cicadas on the branch chirp noisily.
92	几只知了挤在枝头叫。	jǐ zhī zhīliǎo jǐ zài zhītóu jiào.	j / zh	Several cicadas squeeze together on the branch and chirp.
93	紫瓷盘里盛鱼翅。	zǐ cípán lǐ chéng yúchì.	z / c / ch	A purple porcelain plate holds shark fin.
94	鱼翅上面撒紫丝。	yúchì shàngmiàn sǎ zǐ sī.	s / z / ch	Purple threads are sprinkled over the shark fin.
95	小池养小鱼，小鱼跳小池。	xiǎo chí yǎng xiǎo yú, xiǎo yú tiào xiǎo chí.	x / ch / y	A small pond raises little fish, and the little fish jump in the pond.
96	李姥姥端笊篱捞鲤鱼。	Lǐ lǎolao duān zhàolí lāo lǐyú.	l / zh / ao	Grandma Li holds a strainer and scoops carp.
97	捞起鲤鱼给老李。	lāo qǐ lǐyú gěi Lǎo Lǐ.	l / li	She scoops up the carp for Old Li.
98	老李拿梨去换鲤。	Lǎo Lǐ ná lí qù huàn lǐ.	l tones	Old Li takes pears to trade for carp.
99	你拿铅笔描白猫，我拿毛笔描黑猫。	nǐ ná qiānbǐ miáo bái māo, wǒ ná máobǐ miáo hēi māo.	m / n / b	You use a pencil to draw a white cat, and I use a brush to draw a black cat.
100	黑猫白猫比描毛。	hēi māo bái māo bǐ miáo máo.	m / b / ao	The black cat and white cat compare whose fur is better drawn.
101	桌上四个盒子，盒里十把尺子。	zhuō shàng sì gè hézi, hé lǐ shí bǎ chǐzi.	zh / sh / ch	There are four boxes on the table, and ten rulers inside them.
102	拿出尺子试着折纸。	ná chū chǐzi shìzhe zhé zhǐ.	ch / zh / sh	Take out the rulers and try folding paper.
103	孙先生送酸杏，宋先生送蒜香饼。	Sūn xiānsheng sòng suān xìng, Sòng xiānsheng sòng suànxiāng bǐng.	s / x / song	Mr. Sun brings sour apricots, and Mr. Song brings garlic-flavored cakes.
104	孙先生算蒜香饼比酸杏香。	Sūn xiānsheng suàn suànxiāng bǐng bǐ suān xìng xiāng.	s / suan / xiang	Mr. Sun thinks the garlic cakes smell better than the sour apricots.
105	朱叔叔种竹子，竹子长在朱家庄。	Zhū shūshu zhòng zhúzi, zhúzi zhǎng zài Zhūjiāzhuāng.	zh / zhu	Uncle Zhu grows bamboo, and the bamboo grows in Zhu Village.
106	庄里竹子遮住朱叔叔的猪圈。	zhuāng lǐ zhúzi zhēzhù Zhū shūshu de zhūjuàn.	zh / zhu tight cluster	The bamboo in the village shades Uncle Zhu’s pigpen.
107	王婆卖瓜，夸瓜大。	Wáng pó mài guā, kuā guā dà.	gua / kua	Old Madam Wang sells melons and boasts that her melons are big.
108	瓜大不夸大，夸大不像话。	guā dà bù kuādà, kuādà bù xiànghuà.	gua / kua / da	Big melons are not exaggerated; exaggeration is ridiculous.

Useful Words You Will Meet In These Tongue Twisters

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
绕口令	ràokǒulìng	tongue twister	这个绕口令很难。	zhège ràokǒulìng hěn nán.	This tongue twister is very hard.
狮子	shīzi	lion	石狮子在门口。	shí shīzi zài ménkǒu.	The stone lion is at the door.
柿子	shìzi	persimmon	我不爱吃涩柿子。	wǒ bú ài chī sè shìzi.	I do not like eating astringent persimmons.
凤凰	fènghuáng	phoenix	墙上画着凤凰。	qiáng shàng huàzhe fènghuáng.	A phoenix is painted on the wall.
化肥	huàféi	fertilizer	农民买了化肥。	nóngmín mǎi le huàféi.	The farmer bought fertilizer.
标兵	biāobīng	model soldier	标兵跑得很快。	biāobīng pǎo de hěn kuài.	The model soldier runs quickly.
炮兵	pàobīng	artillery soldier	炮兵站在北边。	pàobīng zhàn zài běibiān.	The artillery soldier stands to the north.
藤	téng	vine	藤上挂着铜铃。	téng shàng guàzhe tónglíng.	A copper bell hangs on the vine.
铜铃	tónglíng	copper bell	铜铃响了。	tónglíng xiǎng le.	The copper bell rang.
知了	zhīliǎo	cicada	夏天知了叫个不停。	xiàtiān zhīliǎo jiào gè bù tíng.	Cicadas keep chirping in summer.
鲤鱼	lǐyú	carp	河里有一条鲤鱼。	hé lǐ yǒu yì tiáo lǐyú.	There is a carp in the river.
冬瓜	dōngguā	winter melon	他家种了很多冬瓜。	tā jiā zhòng le hěn duō dōngguā.	His family grew many winter melons.

Common Pronunciation Traps

A Simple 5-Minute Practice Routine

• Read 5 easy lines once with pinyin.
• Read the same 5 lines again using hanzi first.
• Pick 2 medium lines and say them three times each.
• Try 1 hard line slowly, then once faster.
• Repeat the line that exposed your worst sound. Very rude of it, but useful.

Which tongue twister should beginners start with?

Start with 四是四，十是十。sì shì sì, shí shì shí. It is short, famous, and excellent for learning the difference between s and sh.

Do I need to memorize all 108 tongue twisters?

No. Pick 5 to 10 that target your weak sounds. A focused mouth beats an ambitious mouth.

Should I practice with pinyin or hanzi first?

Use pinyin first if the sounds are new, then switch to hanzi. The goal is accurate pronunciation, not heroic guessing.

Why are so many Chinese tongue twisters about lions, persimmons, and weird objects?

Because they pack similar sounds together in a memorable way. Mandarin teaching materials have never been afraid of a slightly bizarre sentence.

Pick a handful of these Chinese tongue twisters, practice them every day, and your Mandarin will sound cleaner, clearer, and much less accidental.