Tones change the word
妈 mā is mother, 麻 má is hemp, 马 mǎ is horse and 骂 mà is to scold. Talvo marks the tone on every word, and you can replay any line the tutor says.
Chinese course · 27 languages in one app
Learn Chinese by speaking it
Mandarin has no verb endings, no genders and no plurals to memorize. What takes practice is the tones. Talvo shows every word in characters with pinyin and tone marks, and gives you a tutor to say them to, out loud.
First lesson free · iPhone and Mac, one subscription
Chinese · First phrases你好
nǐ hǎo
Hello
Barista你好，要喝点什么？Hi, what would you like to drink?
Your first Chinese phrases
Twelve Mandarin phrases for cafés, shops and meeting people, in simplified characters with pinyin.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | Hello |
| 谢谢 | xièxie | Thank you |
| 不客气 | bú kèqi | You're welcome |
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | Sorry |
| 请问… | qǐngwèn… | Excuse me, may I ask…To start a question politely |
| 我叫Sam | wǒ jiào Sam | My name is Sam |
| 很高兴认识你 | hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ | Nice to meet you |
| 这个多少钱？ | zhège duōshao qián? | How much is this? |
| 我要这个 | wǒ yào zhège | I'd like this one |
| 洗手间在哪里？ | xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? | Where's the restroom? |
| 我听不懂 | wǒ tīng bu dǒng | I don't understandLiterally “I hear but don't understand” |
| 请说慢一点 | qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn | Please speak more slowly |
The marks over the vowels are tones: ā high and flat, á rising, ǎ dipping, à falling. When two dipping tones meet, the first one rises, so 你好 is said ní hǎo.
A conversation you'll practice
Ordering at a café in Shanghai. The tutor plays the barista, and you answer out loud with the right tones.
Barista你好，要喝点什么？nǐ hǎo, yào hē diǎn shénme?Hi, what would you like to drink?
You我要一杯拿铁。wǒ yào yì bēi nátiě.I'd like a latte.
Barista热的还是冰的？rè de háishi bīng de?Hot or iced?
You冰的，谢谢。bīng de, xièxie.Iced, thanks.
Barista好的，一共二十八块。hǎo de, yígòng èrshíbā kuài.OK, that's 28 yuan altogether.
Mistakes Talvo helps you fix
Measure words
A number needs a measure word before the noun: 一杯咖啡 (yì bēi kāfēi, a cup of coffee), 一个人 (yí ge rén, one person). When in doubt, 个 (ge) is the all-purpose one.
Simplified or traditional
Mainland China writes 学习 and Taiwan writes 學習 for the same word, to study. Talvo has Chinese (Mandarin) in simplified characters and Chinese (Taiwan) in traditional, both with pinyin.
No tenses to conjugate
Verbs never change: 我去 (wǒ qù) is I go, 我去了 (wǒ qù le) is I went, and 我明天去 (wǒ míngtiān qù) is I'll go tomorrow.
How Talvo teaches Chinese
- Pick Chinese (Mandarin) with simplified characters or Chinese (Taiwan) with traditional characters
- Every word in characters with pinyin and tone marks, and pinyin answers are accepted while you learn the characters
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning Chinese
Mandarin from China or Taiwan?
Both. Chinese (Mandarin) uses simplified characters and mainland pronunciation; Chinese (Taiwan) uses traditional characters and Taiwanese Mandarin. Both show pinyin with tone marks.
Do I need to learn characters first?
No. Every phrase shows pinyin alongside the characters, so you can start speaking on day one and learn to recognize characters as you go.
Can I learn Chinese with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
More language guides
Say your first Chinese sentence today.
The first lesson is free. It takes about five minutes.