| Friends and people from other countries will often | | | | the four tones of the Chinese language as |
| be amazed when I tell them that I can speak and | | | | below.a) The first tone is a (Flat or High Level |
| write fluently in a few languages and dialects. I | | | | Tone) with the symbol e.g. dā;b) The |
| have to thank Malaysia for its multiracial population | | | | second tone is a (Rising or High-Rising Tone) with |
| consisting of the Malays, Chinese, Indians and | | | | the symbol e.g. dá;c) The third tone is a |
| other minority races. As a Chinese school student | | | | (Falling-Rising or Low Tone) with the symbol e.g. |
| in Malaysia, we're taught three languages from | | | | dǎ;d) The fourth tone is a (Falling or |
| primary education - Malay, English and Chinese, | | | | High-Falling Tone) with the symbol e.g. dà. |
| hence giving us the solid foundation and | | | | The examples above show words with the same |
| knowledge about the languages. Although Malay is | | | | pinyin but with four different tones. They have |
| the official language, English and Chinese are | | | | very different meanings respectively, as below.a) |
| widely used and spoken in every day's life. Thus | | | | Use something as a means of transport. E.g. take |
| we have the privilege of being able to | | | | the bus, train, plane, taxi, boat, etc;b) Answer;c) |
| communicate fluently and with ease in all of them. | | | | Beat;d) Big, huge or large. |
| Mandarin or Chinese is fast becoming the language | | | | That's the reason why correct pronunciation is so |
| of business. It is spoken in countries like China, | | | | important in the Chinese language. A slight |
| Taiwan Singapore, and Malaysia. An estimated 1.3 | | | | mispronunciation will mean a very different |
| billion people worldwide speak the language, which | | | | meaning in what we want to convey. Taking the |
| are equivalent to one-fifth of the world's | | | | above example, for instance we want to say "I |
| population. As China's economic power grows and | | | | can answer you", but a slightly lower tone would |
| the increasingly important role that it plays in the | | | | mean "I can beat you"! See that? |
| world's economic system, learning and knowing | | | | Once you have a good grasp of the basics of the |
| the Chinese language can be rewarding in many | | | | Hanyu Pinyin, with the help of a good English |
| ways. | | | | Chinese dictionary with pinyin, you would be able |
| Knowing it means opening up of more | | | | to read any Chinese character marked with Pinyin! |
| opportunities. Any person who wants to do | | | | 2) Listen and watch |
| business with China will certainly have more | | | | Listen to Chinese songs and radio station, watch |
| advantage if he or she is fluent in the Chinese | | | | Chinese movies with subtitles. Sing along and |
| language. It also means enhanced career growth | | | | repeat after the lines of dialogues by the actors |
| opportunity as you will have an edge over others | | | | and actresses, and try to repeat them as exactly |
| who don't know the language. And if you want to | | | | as possible. Practice and memorize common |
| travel to Asia, particularly China and Taiwan, your | | | | Chinese vocabulary and simple sentences. Review |
| trip will definitely be more rewarding and | | | | vocabulary from time to time to refresh your |
| enjoyable if you speak and understand the local | | | | memory and you can use post-it notes to write |
| language. | | | | down the pinyin and stick them on the objects |
| If you're determined to learn the Chinese | | | | you want to learn and remember. |
| language, here are three tips that I would like to | | | | 3) Speak and practice |
| share with you: | | | | Practice, practise and practise. The more you |
| 1) Learn the Chinese pronunciation with the help | | | | practise, the easier it will be for you and the more |
| of Hanyu Pinyin | | | | fluent you will become. Of course you will learn |
| Hanyu means the "Chinese language" and pinyin | | | | even faster if you can practise with someone |
| means "spell" and "sound". Basically it means "the | | | | who can correct you when you make mistakes. |
| spelling and sound of the Chinese language". Or to | | | | Practice makes perfect! |
| make it simpler, it is the "pronunciations of the | | | | I hope the above sharing are helpful and can |
| Chinese language using Roman letters according to | | | | make your learning process easier and more |
| pinyin system". It is also known as the scheme of | | | | enjoyable. Remember, learn the pronunciation with |
| the Chinese phonetic alphabet. It's easier for a | | | | the help of hanyu pinyin, listen to Chinese songs |
| non-Chinese speaker to remember the | | | | and watch Chinese movies, and speak and |
| pronunciation of the Chinese characters using the | | | | practise as much as you can! |
| pinyin system. The pinyin system will also illustrate | | | | |