Chinese tongue twisters are called 绕口令 (ràokǒulìng).
They are short, fun phrases that play with similar sounds. They help learners practice pronunciation, especially sounds that are easy to mix up in Mandarin.
Today, let’s practice one of the simplest and most useful Chinese tongue twisters:
🌟 Tongue Twister of the Day
四是四，十是十，十四是十四，四十是四十。
Pinyin:
Sì shì sì, shí shì shí, shísì shì shísì, sìshí shì sìshí.
English:
Four is four, ten is ten, fourteen is fourteen, forty is forty.
🎯 Why Is This Tongue Twister Useful?
This tongue twister helps you practice the difference between:
sì 四
“four”
and
shí 十
“ten”
For many Chinese learners, the sounds s and sh can be confusing.
But don’t worry — the more you practice, the more natural your pronunciation will become!
👄 Practice Slowly First
Try saying it step by step:
四是四
Four is four.
十是十
Ten is ten.
十四是十四
Fourteen is fourteen.
四十是四十
Forty is forty.
🔥 Now Try It Faster!
Can you say the whole sentence clearly?
四是四，十是十，十四是十四，四十是四十。
Don’t just say it fast — say it clearly.
Good pronunciation is not about speed.
It is about accuracy, rhythm, and confidence.
💬 Your Turn!
Try recording yourself and practicing this sentence:
四是四，十是十，十四是十四，四十是四十。
The first time may be difficult, but after a few tries, you will feel the difference.
Keep practicing, and your Mandarin pronunciation will become clearer and more natural!