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How to Pronounce d, t, n, l in Mandarin
Four tongue-tip sounds made just behind the top teeth.
Quick answer
d, t, n and l are made with the tongue tip behind the upper teeth — much like English.
d
t
n
l
Hear each sound, then repeat it aloud.
When to use it
Use the same tongue-tip position for all four. What changes is the air: d has no puff, t has a strong puff, n goes through the nose, and l flows around the sides of the tongue.
Common mistake
Keep d soft — it should not carry the strong puff of air that t does.
Practise aloud
大 big
天 sky
你 you
来 to come
You’ve got this!
These four are close to English. Say each sound on its own, then hear it inside a common word like nǐ (you) or dà (big).
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