In this lesson you'll learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and say goodbye — your first steps into real Mandarin conversation.
🔊 8 Words💬 1 Dialogue⏱ ~10 min
📘 Quick Guide
The 4 Tones of Mandarin
💡 Why tones matter — same sound, totally different meaning!
→
mā
Tone 1 — High & Flat
"Mom" (妈) 🔊
↗
má
Tone 2 — Rising
"Hemp" (麻) 🔊
↘↗
mǎ
Tone 3 — Dip
"Horse" (马) 🔊
↘
mà
Tone 4 — Falling
"Scold" (骂) 🔊
🗣 Vocabulary
Today's 8 Key Phrases
💡
Pro Tip: When you say nǐ hǎo (你好), you literally say "you good." It's the most universal greeting — use it anytime, with anyone, formal or casual. Click each card above to hear the pronunciation, then try saying it out loud yourself!