Chinese Tongue Twisters

Introduction
Tongue twisters are ideal for pronunciation practice
In Chinese, tongue twisters ( 绕口令 ràokǒulìng ) repeat similar consonants and

vowels that are easy to mix up to make them difficult to say. "Raokouling" have a
distinctive rhythm that make them fun to read out loud, motivating you to keep
practicing until you can say them.
If you've grown bored of pronunciation practice or if you're having trouble

pronouncing certain sounds, try including "raokouling" in your practice. And if
you get the chance, show off the "raokouling" you've learned for your Chinese
friends.
NOTE: At times you may feel that parts of the original text or English translations
sound unnatural, but the reason for this is that these sentences are designed first
and foremost for practicing pronunciation.
How to study with this course
The 76 "raokouling" in the course are divided by consonant and vowel types. You
can practice them in any order, so listen to them first and choose what you'd like
to start with.
(1) Select a movie from the list to play your practice movie.
(2) The subtitles change color in time with the voice, allowing you to follow along
and pick up the natural places to pause that aren't obvious from the punctuation
as well as practice by imitating the narrator's inflection.
(3) The "slow version" plays each character along with subtitles so that you can
properly pronounce them, and you can pass this stage once you have become
able to read them smoothly. Please try the "fast version" once you have gained
enough confidence and skill.
The subtitles change color

in time with the voice
NOTE: Start with the slow version to pay attention to each individual sound, and
practice carefully to get as close as possible to the narrator. The more correct
your pronunciation, the faster you will get without even trying.
About the PDF text in this course
In addition to the Chinese text, the PDF text in this course lists the English
translation and footnotes as well.
Chinese Text and Pinyin Lecture Number
bā bǎi biāobīng R002
八百标兵 Practice: b p
Bā bǎi biāobīng bèn běipō,

⑴
八百标兵奔北坡，
pàobīng bìngpái běibian pǎo.
⑵
炮兵并排北边跑。
Pàobīng pà bǎ biāobīng pèng,
炮兵怕把标兵碰，
biāobīng pà pèng pàobīng pào.
标兵怕碰炮兵炮。
English ⑴ 标兵 [biāobīng] n.
parade guards
800 parade guards running towards slope in the north,
⑵ 并排 [bìngpái] v.
Artillerymen running with them by the north side. be side by side
Artillerymen are afraid of touching the parade guards,
And the parade guards are afraid of touching the
artillerymen's cannons.
English Translation Footnotes

Q¹UBPQ¬S 3
葡萄皮儿 1SBDUJDFCQ
$IÌQ¹UBPÇUéQ¹UBPQ¬S
吃葡萄不吐葡萄皮儿，
ÇDIÌQ¹UBPEPUéQ¹UBPQ¬S
Ρ
不吃葡萄倒吐葡萄皮儿。
&OHMJTI Ρ⦝ <EP>BEW

DPOUSBSZUPFYQFDUBUJPO
&BUHSBQFT CVUEPOUTQJUPVUUIFHSBQFTLJO
%JEOUFBUHSBQFT CVUTPNFIPXTQBUPVUUIFHSBQF
TLJO
CÀCãJCJÀPCÌOH 3
八百标兵 1SBDUJDFCQ
#ÀCãJCJÀPCÌOHC§OCÈJQÒ
Ρ
八百标兵奔北坡，
QPCÌOHC«OHQ JCÈJCJBOQãP
΢
炮兵并排北边跑。
1PCÌOHQCãCJÀPCÌOHQ§OH
炮兵怕把标兵碰，
CJÀPCÌOHQQ§OHQPCÌOHQP
标兵怕碰炮兵炮。
&OHMJTI Ρ叻Ⱕ <CJÀPCÌOH>O

QBSBEFHVBSET
QBSBEFHVBSETSVOOJOHUPXBSETTMPQFJOUIF
΢䎇䱗 <C«OHQ J>W
OPSUI CFTJEFCZTJEF
"SUJMMFSZNFOSVOOJOHXJUIUIFNCZUIFOPSUITJEF
"SUJMMFSZNFOBSFBGSBJEPGUPVDIJOHUIFQBSBEF
HVBSET
"OEUIFQBSBEFHVBSETBSFBGSBJEPGUPVDIJOHUIF
BSUJMMFSZNFOTDBOOPOT
MPCåOH 3
烙饼 1SBDUJDFCQN
:«Q¬OHQÖNJO
Ρ
一平盆面，
MPZ«Q¬OHQÖCåOH
΢ Σ
烙一平盆饼，
CåOHQ§OHQÖ
饼碰盆，
QÖQ§OHCåOH
盆碰饼。
&OHMJTI Ρ꬗<NJO>O
XIFBU
PVS
0OFMFWFMQBOPGPVS
΢捺 <MP>W
#BLFTPOFMFWFMQBOPGDBLF CBLFJOBQBO
$BLFNFFUTQBO Σ껝 <CåOH>O
1BONFFUTDBLF SPVOEBUDBLF
C JNJPI¨C JNP 3
白庙和白猫 1SBDUJDFCN
# JNJPXJEÚO[IFZ«[IÌC JNÀP
Ρ
白庙外蹲着一只白猫，
C JNJPMJZçVZ«EåOHC JNP
白庙里有一顶白帽。
# JNJPXJEFC JNÀPLOKJOMFC JNP
白庙外的白猫看见了白帽，
EJÀP[IFC JNJPMJEFC JNPQãPDIÚMFC JNJP
΢
叼着白庙里的白帽跑出了白庙。
&OHMJTI Ρ髸 <EÚO>W

DSPVDI TRVBU
"XIJUFDBUDSPVDIFTPVUTJEFBXIJUFUFNQMF
΢ぇ <EJÀP>W
*OTJEFUIFXIJUFUFNQMFJTBXIJUFDBQ IPMEJOUIFNPVUI
5IFXIJUFDBUPVUTJEFUIFXIJUFUFNQMFTBXUIF
XIJUFDBQ
$MBNQJOHJUTKBXTPOUIFXIJUFUFNQMFTXIJUFDBQ JU
TLFEBEEMFTGSPNUIFXIJUFUFNQMF
IVG§OHIV OH 3
画凤凰 1SBDUJDFG
'ÈOI²OHRJ OHTIBOHIVG§OHIV OH
粉红墙上画凤凰，
G§OHIV OHIV[JGÈOI²OHRJ OH
凤凰画在粉红墙，
I²OHG§OHIV OH GÈOG§OHIV OH
红凤凰，粉凤凰，
I²OHGÈOG§OHIV OH IVÀG§OHIV OH
Ρ
红粉凤凰，花凤凰。
&OHMJTI Ρ蔄 <IVÀ>BEK

NVMUJDPMPVSFE
%SBXBQIPFOJYPOUIFQJOLXBMM
5IFQIPFOJYESBXJOHJTPOUIFQJOLXBMM
3FEQIPFOJY QJOLQIPFOJY
3PTFQJOLQIPFOJY NVMUJDPMPVSFEQIPFOJY
dà tùzi hé dà dùzi R006
大兔子和大肚子 Practice: d t
Dà tùzi, dà dùzi,
大兔子，大肚子，
dà dùzi de dà tùzi,
大肚子的大兔子，
yào yǎo dà tùzi de dà dùzi.
要咬大兔子的大肚子。
English
Big bunny, big belly,

The big-bellied big bunny,
Braces to bite the big bunny's big belly.
lí hé ní R007
梨和泥 Practice: n l
Shù shang yǒu lí,

树上有梨,
dì shang yǒu ní.
地上有泥。
Fēng guā lí,
风刮梨,
lí luò dì,
梨落地,
lí gǔn ní,
⑴
梨滚泥,
ní zhān lí.
⑵
泥沾梨。
English ⑴ 滚 [gǔn] v.
roll
There's a pear on top of the tree,
⑵ 沾 [zhān] v.
There's mud on the ground. stain
Wind blows the pear,
Pear drops to the ground,
Pear rolls in the mud,
Mud stains the pear.
sì liàng sì lún dà mǎchē R008
四辆四轮大马车 Practice: n l
Ménkǒu yǒu sì liàng sì lún dà mǎchē,

门口有四辆四轮大马车，
nǐ ài lā nǎ liǎng liàng lái lā nǎ liǎng liàng.
你爱拉哪两辆来拉哪两辆。
English
Before the gate are four four-wheeled big carriages,

Come carry whichever two carriages you care to carry.
niú dǐng liǔ R009
牛顶柳 Practice: n l
Hébiān yǒu kē liǔ,

河边有棵柳 ,
liǔ xià yì tóu niú.
柳下一头牛。
Niú yào qù dǐng liǔ,
⑴
牛要去顶柳,
liǔtiáo chán niútóu.
柳条缠牛头。
English ⑴ 顶 [dǐng] v.
butt
On the riverbank is a willow,
Under the willow is a head of cattle.
The cattle wants to headbutt the willow,
The willow's branches wrap around the cattle's
head.
biǎndan cháng bǎndèng kuān R010
扁担长板凳宽 Practice: b d
Biǎndan cháng, bǎndèng kuān,

扁担长，板凳宽，
bǎndèng méiyǒu biǎndan cháng,
板凳没有扁担长，
biǎndan méiyǒu bǎndèng kuān.
扁担没有板凳宽。
Biǎndan bǎng zài bǎndèng shang,
⑴
扁担绑在板凳上，
bǎndèng bú ràng biǎndan bǎng zài bǎndèng shang,
板凳不让扁担绑在板凳上，
biǎndan piān yào bǎng zài bǎndèng shang.
⑵
扁担偏要绑在板凳上。
English ⑴ 绑 [bǎng] v.
tie
The shoulder pole is long, The stool is wide,
⑵ 偏 [piān] adv.
The stool isn't as long as the shoulder pole, willfully
The shoulder pole isn't as wide as the stool.
The shoulder pole is tied on the stool,
The stool doesn't let the shoulder pole tie itself on
the stool,
But the shoulder pole still wants to be tied on the
stool.
gēge zhuō gē R011
哥哥捉鸽 Practice: g k h
Gēge guò hé zhuō ge gē,

哥哥过河捉个鸽 ,
huí jiā gē gē lái qǐng kè,
回家割鸽来请客 ,
kèren chī gē chēng gē ròu,
⑴
客人吃鸽称鸽肉 ,
gēge qǐng kè lèhēhē.
哥哥请客乐呵呵。
English ⑴ 称 [chēng] v.
praise
Big Brother crossed a river and captured a dove,
Returned home, chopped up the dove and invited
guests,
The guests ate the dove and praised the dove
meat,
Big Brother entertained his guests merrily.
gē kuà guākuāng guò kuān gōu R012
哥挎瓜筐过宽沟 Practice: g k
Gē kuà guākuāng guò kuān gōu,

哥挎瓜筐过宽沟，
Gǎnkuài guò gōu kàn guài gǒu,
⑴
赶快过沟看怪狗，
guāng kàn guài gǒu guākuāng kòu,
⑵ ⑶
光看怪狗瓜筐扣，
guā gǔn kuāng kōng gē guài gǒu
⑷
瓜滚筐空哥怪狗。
English ⑴ 怪 [guài] adj.

strange
Big Brother carries a melon basket across a wide
⑵ 光 [guāng] adv.
ditch, merely
He quickly crosses the ditch and sees a strange ⑶ 扣 [kòu] v.
dog, place a cup, bowl, etc. upside
down
He fixates on the strange dog, while the melon
⑷ 怪 [guài] v.
basket flips over,
blame
The melons roll away, the basket's empty, Big
Brother blames the dog
fēng chuī huī fēi R013
风吹灰飞 Practice: f h
Fēng chuī huī fēi,

风吹灰飞,
huī fēi huā shang huā duī huī,
灰飞花上花堆灰,
fēng chuī huā huī huī fēi qù,
风吹花灰灰飞去,
huī zài fēng li fēi yòu fēi.
灰在风里飞又飞。
English
The wind blows, the dust flies,

The dust flies onto the flowers, the flowers are covered in a pile of dust,
The wind blows the flowers and dust, the dust flies away,
The dust in the wind flies and flies again.
qī jiā yī R014
七加一 Practice: j q
Qī jiā yī,
七加一，
qī jiǎn yī,
七减一，
jiā wán jiǎn wán děngyú jǐ?
加完减完等于几？
Qī jiā yī,
七加一，
qī jiǎn yī,
七减一，
jiā wán jiǎn wán háishi qī.
加完减完还是七。
English
Seven plus one,

Seven minus one,
After adding and subtracting equals what?
Seven plus one,
Seven minus one,
After adding and subtracting remains seven.
zhēn xīqí R015
真稀奇 Practice: j q x
Xīqí xīqí zhēn xīqí,

稀奇稀奇真稀奇，
xīshuài cǎi sǐ dà mǔjī,
蟋蟀踩死大母鸡，
qìqiú pèng huài dà jīqì,
气球碰坏大机器，
qiūyǐn shēncháng qī zhàng qī.
⑴
蚯蚓身长七丈七。
English ⑴ 丈 [zhàng] measure word

zhang (unit of length, equal to
Bizarre, bizarre, really bizarre 3.333 metres)
A cricket stomped a big hen to death
A balloon bumped into a big machine and broke it
An earthworm's length is 7.7 zhang.
qījiàng hé xījiàng R016
漆匠和锡匠 Practice: j q x
Qī xiàng yí ge qījiàng,
七巷一个漆匠，
xī xiàng yí ge xījiàng,
西巷一个锡匠，
qī xiàng qījiàng yòngle xī xiàng xījiàng de xī,
七巷漆匠用了西巷锡匠的锡，
xī xiàng xījiàng nále qī xiàng qījiàng de qī.
西巷锡匠拿了七巷漆匠的漆。
Qī xiàng qījiàng qì xī xiàng xījiàng yòngle qī,
七巷漆匠气西巷锡匠用了漆，
xī xiàng xījiàng jī qī xiàng qījiàng nále xī.
⑴
西巷锡匠讥七巷漆匠拿了锡。
English ⑴ 讥 [jī] v.
mock
A lacquerer in alley seven,
A tinsmith in the west alley,
The lacquerer in alley seven used the west alley tinsmith's tin,
The west alley tinsmith took the lacquerer in alley seven's
lacquer.
The lacquerer in alley seven is angry that the west alley tin
smith used his lacquer,
The west alley tinsmith ridicules the lacquerer in alley seven
for taking his tin.
xué shíshì R017
学时事 Practice: zh ch sh
Shǐ lǎoshī, jiǎng shíshì,

史老师，讲时事，
cháng xué shíshì zhǎng zhīshi.
⑴
常学时事长知识。
Shíshì xuéxí kàn bàozhǐ,
时事学习看报纸，
bàozhǐ dēng de shì shíshì.
报纸登的是时事。
Cháng kàn bàozhǐ yào duō sī,
⑵
常看报纸要多思，
xīnli zhuāngzhe tiānxià shì
心里装着天下事。
English ⑴ 长 [zhǎng] v.
grow, increase
The history teacher, lectures on current events,
⑵ 思 [sī] v.
We often study current events and increase our knowledge.
think
To study current events we read the newspaper,
What's published in the newspaper are current events.
We often read the newspaper and want to think more,
Our hearts are wrapped up in the world's affairs.
shài rénròu R018
晒人肉 Practice: sh r
Rìtou rè, shài rénròu,

日头热，晒人肉，
shài de xīnli hǎo nánshòu.
晒得心里好难受。
Shài rénròu, hǎo nánshòu,
晒人肉，好难受，
shài de tóu shang zhí mào yóu.
⑴
晒得头上直冒油。
English ⑴ 直 [zhí] adv.

continuously
Sun is hot, bakes skin tanned,
Skin so tanned the heart can't stand.
Skin is tanned, hard to stand,
So tanned oil shoots from the head.
Shāo xiāng yào shāo Xiāoshān xiāng R019
烧香要烧萧山香 Practice: sh x
Shāo xiāng yào shāo Xiāoshān xiāng,

烧香要烧萧山香 ,
xiāoshān làzhú Xiāoshān xiāng,
萧山蜡烛萧山香 ,
zǒu dào Xiāoshān qù shāo xiāng.
走到萧山去烧香。
English
When burning incense, burn Xiaoshan incense,

Xiaoshan candle, Xiaoshan incense,
Walk to Xiaoshan and burn incense.
zuò zǎocāo R020
做早操 Practice: z c
Zǎochen zǎozǎo qǐ,

早晨早早起 ,
zǎo qǐ zuò zǎocāo.
早起做早操。
Rénrén zuò zǎocāo,
人人做早操 ,
zuò cāo shēntǐ hǎo.
做操身体好。
English
Wake up very early in the early morning,

Wake up early and do morning exercises.
Everyone does the morning exercise,
Exercise and you'll be in good shape.
Cuī Cūtuǐ hé Cuī Tuǐcū R021
崔粗腿和崔腿粗 Practice: c t
Shān qián yǒu ge Cuī Cūtuǐ,

山前有个崔粗腿 ,
shān hòu yǒu ge Cuī Tuǐcū,
山后有个崔腿粗，
èr rén shān qián lái bǐ tuǐ.
二人山前来比腿。
Bù zhī shì Cuī Cūtuǐ bǐ Cuī Tuǐcū de tuǐ cū,
⑴
不知是崔粗腿比崔腿粗的腿粗 ,
háishi Cuī Tuǐcū bǐ Cuī Cūtuǐ de tuǐ cū.
还是崔腿粗比崔粗腿的腿粗。
English ⑴ 不知
don't know
In front of the mountain there's a Cui Thickleg,
Behind the mountain there's a Cui Legthick,
The two met in front of the mountain to compare
legs.
No one knows if Cui Thickleg's legs are thicker
than Cui Legthick's,
Or if Cui Legthick's legs are thicker than Cui
Thickleg's.
sījī mǎi cíjī R022
司机买雌鸡 Practice: z c s j x
Sījī mǎi cíjī,

司机买雌鸡 ,
zǐxì kàn cíjī,
仔细看雌鸡 ,
sì zhī xiǎo cíjī,
四只小雌鸡 ,
jījī hǎo huānxǐ,
⑴ ⑵
叽叽好欢喜 ,
sījī xiàoxīxī.
司机笑嘻嘻。
English ⑴ 好 [hǎo] adv.

very, quite
A driver buys some chickens,
⑵ 欢喜 [huānxǐ] adj.
He conscientiously checks the chickens, delighted
A quartet of small chickens,
They cheep cheep so cheerfully,
The driver chortles cheerily.
sāngshān R023
桑山 Practice: s sh
Shàng sāngshān,
上桑山 ,
kǎn shān sāng,
砍山桑,
bēizhe shān sāng xià sāngshān.
背着山桑下桑山。
English
Climb mulberry tree mountain,

Cut down the mountain's mulberry trees,
Carry the mountain's mulberry trees on your back down mulberry tree mountain.
sī chán cán R024
丝缠蚕 Practice: s c ch
Sāngcán tǔ sī sī chán cán,

⑴ ⑵
桑蚕吐丝丝缠蚕，
cánsī chán cán cán tǔ sī.
蚕丝缠蚕蚕吐丝。
English ⑴ 桑蚕 [sāngcán] n.
silkworm
Silkworms spit silk, silk swathes silkworm,
⑵ 缠 [chán] v.
Silkworm silk swathes silkworm, silkworm spits silk. wind, swathe
cán hé chán R025
蚕和蝉 Practice: c ch
Zhè shì cán, nà shì chán,

⑴
这是蚕，那是蝉，
cán cháng zài yè li cáng,
蚕常在叶里藏,
chán cháng zài lín li chàng.
蝉常在林里唱。
English ⑴ 蝉 [chán] n.
cicada
This is a silkworm, that's a cicada,
The silkworm is usually concealed in the leaves,
The cicada is usually singing in the forest.
dēng shān R026
登山 Practice: s sh
Sān yuè sān, xiǎo Sān qù dēng shān.

三月三，小三去登山。
Shàng shān yòu xià shān, xià shān yòu shàng shān.
上山又下山，下山又上山。
Dēngle sān cì shān, pǎole sān lǐ sān.
⑴
登了三次山，跑了三里三。
Chūle yì shēn hàn, shīle sān jiàn shān.
出了一身汗，湿了三件衫。
Xiǎo Sān zhàn zài shān shang dàshēng hǎn:
小三站在山上大声喊：
“Zhèli lí tiān zhǐ yǒu sān chǐ sān.”
⑵
“这里离天只有三尺三。”
English ⑴ 里 [lǐ] measure word

li (unit of length, equal
On the third day of the third month, Little Three went to 500 metres or a half
mountain climbing. kilometer)
Up the mountain then down the mountain, down the ⑵ 尺 [chǐ] measure word
mountain then up the mountain. chi (unit of length, equal
to 0.333 meter)
He climbed the mountain three times, running 3.3 li.
His whole body broke into sweat, soaking three shirts.
Little Three stopped on the mountain top and yelled
in a loud voice,“This place is only 3.3 chi away from
the heavens"
- 35 -
sān shān chēng sì shuǐ R027
三山撑四水 Practice: s sh ch
Sān shān chēng sì shuǐ,

⑴
三山撑四水，
sì shuǐ rào sān shān,
四水绕三山，
sān shān sì shuǐ chūn cháng zài,
三山四水春常在，
sì shuǐ sān shān sì shí chūn.
⑵
四水三山四时春。
English ⑴ 撑 [chēng] v.
prop up, support
Three mountains fill four rivers,
⑵ 四时
Four rivers coil around three mountains, four seasons = 四季 [sìjì]
Three mountains and four rivers, it is often spring,
Four rivers and three mountains, four seasons like
spring.
zǐ sīxiàn zhī zǐ shīzi R028
紫丝线织紫狮子 Practice: z s zh ch sh j q x
Shì jiāng sìshiqī zhī jí xì jí xì de zǐ sīxiàn,

⑴
试将四十七支极细极细的紫丝线，
shì zhī sìshiqī zhī jí xì jí xì de zǐ shīzi.
试织四十七只极细极细的紫狮子。
Ràng xì zǐ sīxiàn shì zhī xì zǐ shīzi,
让细紫丝线试织细紫狮子，
xì zǐ sīxiàn què zhī chéng le sǐ zǐ shīzi.
细紫丝线却织成了死紫狮子。
Zǐ shīzi zhī bu chéng,
紫狮子织不成，
chě duàn le xì zǐ sīxiàn.
⑵
扯断了细紫丝线。
English ⑴ 将 [jiāng] prep.

(used in the same way as
Try to take 47 very, very fine purple silk strands, 把)
Try to weave 47 very, very fine purple lions. ⑵ 扯 [chě] v.
Take fine purple silk strands and try to weave a fine rip
purple lion,
Fine purple silk strands indeed wove a dead purple lion.
The purple lions couldn't be woven,
I yanked apart the fine purple silk strands.
báishí tǎ R029
白石塔 Practice: a
Báishí tǎ
白石塔 ,
báishí dā,
⑴
白石搭 ,
báishí dā bái tǎ,
白石搭白塔 ,
bái tǎ báishí dā,
白塔白石搭 ,
dā hǎo báishí tǎ,
搭好白石塔 ,
bái tǎ bái yòu dà.
白塔白又大。
English ⑴ 搭 [dā] v.
put up, build
White stone tower,
White stones build,
White stones build white tower
White tower white stones build,
Finish building white stone tower,
White tower is white and big.
wǎ dǎ mǎ R030
瓦打马 Practice: a ua
Lùshang pǎo lái mǎ,

路上跑来马 ,
zhuàng shàng lùbiān wǎ.
撞上路边瓦。
Wǎ dǎ huài mǎ,
⑴
瓦打坏马,
mǎ tà suì wǎ.
马踏碎瓦。
Wǎ yào mǎ péi wǎ,
⑵ ⑶
瓦要马赔瓦,
mǎ yào wǎ péi mǎ.
马要瓦赔马。
English ⑴ 打坏
break, damage
A horse running on the road,
⑵ 要 [yào] v.
Runs into the tile on the roadside. ask
The tile injures the horse, ⑶ 赔 [péi] v.
The horse crushes the tile. compensate
The tile wants the horse to compensate the tile,

The horse wants the tile to compensate the horse.
mò yǔ mó R031
墨与馍 Practice: o
Lǎobóbo mài mò,

老伯伯卖墨，
lǎopópo mài mó,
⑴
老婆婆卖馍，
lǎopópo mài mó mǎi mò,
老婆婆卖馍买墨，
lǎobóbo mài mò mǎi mó.
老伯伯卖墨买馍。
Mò huàn mó lǎobóbo yǒu mó,
墨换馍老伯伯有馍，
mó huàn mò lǎopópo yǒu mò.
馍换墨老婆婆有墨。
English ⑴ 馍 [mó] n.
mantou (steamed
Grandfather sells ink, bun made of wheat
Grandmother sells steamed bun, flour)
Grandmother sells steamed bun and buys ink,

Grandfather sells ink and buys steamed bun.
Trade ink for steamed bun, Grandfather has steamed bun,
Trade steamed bun for ink, Grandmother has ink.
mǎi bōbo R032
买饽饽 Practice: o
Bái bóbo, Péng bóbo,

白伯伯，彭伯伯，
bōbopù li mǎi bōbo.
⑴
饽饽铺里买饽饽。
Bái bóbo mǎi de bōbo dà,
白伯伯买的饽饽大，
Péng bóbo mǎi de dà bōbo.
彭伯伯买的大饽饽。
Ná dào jiāli wèi pópo,
⑵
拿到家里喂婆婆，
pópo yòu qù bǐ bōbo.
婆婆又去比饽饽。
Bù zhī Bái bóbo mǎi de bōbo dà,
不知白伯伯买的饽饽大，
háishi Péng bóbo mǎi de bōbo dà?
还是彭伯伯买的饽饽大 ?
English ⑴ 饽饽 [bōbo] n.
pastry, cake
Uncle Bai, Uncle Peng,
⑵ 喂 [wèi] v.
Buy pastries from the pastry shop. feed
The pastry Uncle Bai buys is big,
A big pastry is what Uncle Peng buys.
They take them home to feed Grandma,
Grandma also goes to compare the pastries.
I don't know if the pastry Uncle Bai bought was bigger,
Or if the pastry Uncle Peng bought was bigger?
gé shang yì wō gē R033
阁上一窝鸽 Practice: e
Gé shang yì wō gē,
⑴
阁上一窝鸽,
gē kě jiào gēgē.
鸽渴叫咯咯。
Gēge dēng gé gē shuǐ gěi gē hē,
⑵
哥哥登阁搁水给鸽喝 ,
gēzi hē shuǐ bù kě bù gēgē.
鸽子喝水不渴不咯咯。
English ⑴ 窝 [wō] measure word

(for animals) litter
In the attic there's a nest of doves,
⑵ 搁 [gē] v.
The doves were thirsty and clucked loudly. put
Big Brother scaled the attic and left water for the
doves to drink,
The doves drank the water, now they're not thirsty
and don't cluck.
é guò hé R034
鹅过河 Practice: e
Pō shang lìzhe yì zhī é,

坡上立着一只鹅，
pō xia jiù shì yì tiáo hé.
坡下就是一条河。
Kuānkuān de hé, féiféi de é,
宽宽的河，肥肥的鹅，
é yào guò hé, hé yào dù é.
鹅要过河，河要渡鹅。
Bù zhī shì é guò hé, háishi hé dù é?
不知是鹅过河，还是河渡鹅 ?
English
A goose is standing on a slope,

At the bottom of the slope is a river.
A wide, wide river, a fat, fat goose,
The goose wants to cross the river, the river wants to ferry the goose.
I don't know if the the goose crosses the river, or if the river ferries the goose?
chī bíqí R035
吃荸荠 Practice: i
Bíqí yǒu pí,

荸荠有皮 ,
pí shang yǒu ní.
皮上有泥。
Xǐ diào bíqí pí shang de ní,
洗掉荸荠皮上的泥 ,
xiāo qù bíqí wàimian de pí,
⑴
削去荸荠外面的皮 ,
xiǎo Lì, xiǎo Yì hé xiǎo Qí,
小丽、小艺和小奇 ,
huānhuānxǐxǐ chī bíqí.
⑵
欢欢喜喜吃荸荠。
English ⑴ 削 [xiāo] v.
peel with a knife
Water chestnuts have skin,
⑵ 欢欢喜喜
On the skin is mud. delighted = 欢喜 [huānxǐ]
Wash away the mud on the water chestnuts' skin,
Remove the skin on the outside of the water
chestnut,
Xiao Li, Xiao Yi and Xiao Qi,
Joyfully eat the water chestnuts.
Gǔ shang huà zhī hǔ R036
鼓上画只虎 Practice: u
Gǔ shang huà zhī hǔ,

鼓上画只虎，
pòle ná bù bǔ.
破了拿布补。
Bù zhī bù bǔ gǔ,
不知布补鼓，
háishi bù bǔ hǔ.
还是布补虎。
English
The tiger drawn on top of the drum,

It's broken, take cloth and patch it.
I don't know if the cloth patches the drum,
Or if the cloth patches the tiger.
Sūzhōu yǒu ge Sū Húzi R037
苏州有个苏胡子 Practice: u
Sūzhōu yǒu ge Sū Húzi,

苏州有个苏胡子，
Húzhōu yǒu ge Hú Fūzi,
湖州有个胡夫子，
Sū Húzi wèn Hú Fūzi jiè shūzi shū húzi.
⑴
苏胡子问胡夫子借梳子梳胡子。
English ⑴ 问 [wèn] prep.

ask (sb.) for sth
In Suzhou there's a Su Huzi,
In Huzhou there's a Hu Fuzi,
Su Huzi asks Hu Fuzi to lend him a comb to comb his beard.
cù bù tù R038
醋布兔 Practice: u
Jiān bēi yì pǐ bù,

⑴
肩背一匹布，
shǒu tí yì píng cù,
手提一瓶醋，
zǒule yì lǐ lù,
⑵
走了一里路，
kànjiàn yì zhī tù,
看见一只兔，
xièxià bù, fàngxià cù, qù zhuō tù.
⑶
卸下布，放下醋，去捉兔。
Pǎole tù, diūle bù, sǎle cù.
⑷
跑了兔，丢了布，洒了醋。
English ⑴ 匹 [pǐ] measure word

for rolls of cloth or silk
On my back a bolt of cloth,
⑵ 里 [lǐ] measure word
In my hand a bottle of vinegar, li (unit of length, equal to 500
I walk down a 1 li road, meters or a half kilometer)
I spot a rabbit, ⑶ 卸下 [xièxià] v.

unload, disassemble
I unload the cloth, put down the bottle, go catch
⑷ 洒 [sǎ] v.
the rabbit.
spill
The rabbit escapes, I lose the cloth, I spill the
vinegar.
Wúhú Xú Rúyù R039
芜湖徐如玉 Practice: u ü
Wúhú Xú Rúyù,
芜湖徐如玉 ,
chūqu lǚcì yù dàwù.
⑴
出去屡次遇大雾。
Qūfù Sū Yúlú,
曲阜苏渔卢 ,
Shàng lù wǔ huí yù dàyǔ.
⑵
上路五回遇大雨。
English ⑴ 屡次 [lǚcì] adv.

repeatedly
Xu Ruyu of Wuhu,
⑵ 上路 [shàng lù] v.
Goes out again and again and encounters thick fog. set out
Su Yulu of Qufu,
Sets out five times and encounters heavy rain.
nǚ xiǎo Lǚ hé nǚ lǎo Lǐ R040
女小吕和女老李 Practice: i ü
Zhè tiān tiān xià yǔ,

这天天下雨，
tǐyùjú chuān lǜ yǔyī de nǚ xiǎo Lǚ,
体育局穿绿雨衣的女小吕，
qù zhǎo chuān lǜ yùndòngyī de nǚ lǎo Lǐ.
去找穿绿运动衣的女老李。
Chuān lǜ yǔyī de nǚ xiǎo Lǚ,
穿绿雨衣的女小吕，
méi zhǎo dào chuān lǜ yùndòngyī de nǚ lǎo Lǐ,
没找到穿绿运动衣的女老李，
chuān lǜ yùndòngyī de nǚ lǎo Lǐ,
穿绿运动衣的女老李，
yě méi jiàn zháo chuān lǜ yǔyī de nǚ xiǎo Lǚ.
⑴
也没见着穿绿雨衣的女小吕。
English ⑴ 着 [zháo] v.
succeed in doing
On this day, rain fell from the sky, sth.
The woman Young Lu, wearing green rain clothes from the physical
education office,
Went looking for the woman Old Li, who was wearing green sports
clothes.
The woman Young Lu wearing the green rain clothes,
Didn't find the woman Old Li wearing the green sports clothes,
The woman Old Li wearing the green sports clothes,
Also didn't see the woman Young Lu the wearing green rain clothes.
bā bǎi biāobīng R041
白菜和海带 Practice: ai
Mǎi báicài, dā hǎidài,

⑴
买白菜，搭海带，
bù mǎi hǎidài jiù bié mǎi dà báicài.
不买海带就别买大白菜。
Mǎimai gǎi, bù dā mài,
⑵
买卖改，不搭卖，
bù mǎi hǎidài yě néng mǎi dào dà báicài.
不买海带也能买到大白菜。
English ⑴ 搭 [dā] v.
combine, add to
Buy cabbage, together with kelp,
⑵ 买卖 [mǎimai] n.
If you don't buy kelp, then don't buy cabbage. business
Revise the deal, don't sell them together,
If you don't buy kelp you can still buy cabbage.
Bèibei hé Fēifei R042
贝贝和菲菲 Practice: ei
Bèibei fēi zhǐ fēijī,

贝贝飞纸飞机，
Fēifei yào Bèibei de zhǐ fēijī,
菲菲要贝贝的纸飞机，
Bèibei bù gěi Fēifei zìjǐ de zhǐ fēijī,
贝贝不给菲菲自己的纸飞机，
Bèibei jiāo Fēifei zìjǐ zuò néng fēi de zhǐ fēijī.
贝贝教菲菲自己做能飞的纸飞机。
English
Beibei flies a paper airplane,

Feifei wants Beibei's paper airplane,
Beibei doesn't give Feifei his paper airplane,
Beibei teaches Feifei how to make his own flyable paper airplane.
Máomao hé Tāotao R043
毛毛和涛涛 Practice: ao
Máomao hé Tāotao,
毛毛和涛涛，
tiàogāo yòu sàipǎo,
跳高又赛跑，
Máomao tiào bu guò Tāotao,
⑴
毛毛跳不过涛涛，
Tāotao pǎo bu guò Máomao.
涛涛跑不过毛毛。
Máomao qǐ de zǎo, jiāo Tāotao liàn pǎo,
毛毛起得早，教涛涛练跑，
Tāotao qǐ de zǎo, jiāo Máomao tiàogāo.
涛涛起得早，教毛毛跳高。
Máomao xué huì le tiàogāo,
毛毛学会了跳高，
Tāotao xué huì le sàipǎo.
涛涛学会了赛跑。
English ⑴ 过 [guò] v.
surpass
Maomao and Taotao,
Do high jump and foot race,
Maomao can't outjump Taotao,
Taotao can't outrun Maomao.
Maomao gets up early, teaches Taotao how to train at running,
Taotao gets up early, teaches Maomao how to jump high.
Maomao mastered the high jump,
Taotao mastered the foot race.
Dōu zhuāng dòu R044
兜装豆 Practice: ou
Dōu li zhuāng dòu,

兜里装豆,
dòu zhuāng mǎn dōu,
豆装满兜,
dōu pò lòu dòu.
⑴
兜破漏豆。
Dào chū dòu, bǔ pò dōu,
⑵
倒出豆，补破兜 ,
bǔ hǎo dōu, yòu zhuāng dòu,
补好兜，又装豆 ,
zhuāng mǎn dōu, bú lòu dòu.
装满兜，不漏豆。
English ⑴ 漏 [lòu] v.
leak
The inside of a pocket holds beans,
⑵ 补 [bǔ] v.
The beans completely fill the pocket, repair, patch
The pocket gets torn and the beans spill out.
Pour out the beans, patch the torn pocket,
The pocket is patched, it can hold beans again
Stuffed full of beans, doesn't spill beans.
niǎo kàn biǎo R045
鸟看表 Practice: iao
Shuǐ shang piāozhe yì zhī biǎo,

水上漂着一只表，
biǎo shang luòzhe yì zhī niǎo.
表上落着一只鸟。
Niǎo kàn biǎo, biǎo dèng niǎo,
⑴
鸟看表，表瞪鸟，
niǎo bú rènshi biǎo,
鸟不认识表，
biǎo yě bú rènshi niǎo.
表也不认识鸟。
English ⑴ 瞪 [dèng] v.
stare, glare
On the water's surface, floats a watch,
Above the watch, a bird descends.
The bird sees the watch, the watch stares at the bird,
The bird doesn't comprehend the watch,
The watch also doesn't comprehend the bird.
māo mào niǎo R046
猫闹鸟 Practice: ao iao
Dōngbian miào li yǒu ge māo,

东边庙里有个猫 ,
xībian shùshāo yǒu zhī niǎo.
西边树梢有只鸟。
Māo niǎo tiāntiān nào,
猫鸟天天闹 ,
Bù zhī shì māo nào shù shang niǎo,
不知是猫闹树上鸟,
Háishi niǎo nào miào li māo.
还是鸟闹庙里猫。
English
In the eastern temple there's a cat,

In the western treetops there's a bird.
Every day the cat and the bird have a spat,
I don't know if it's the cat pestering the bird on the tree,
Or if it's the bird pestering the cat in the temple.
jiǔ huàn yǒu R047
酒换油 Practice: iou
Yì húlu jiǔ, jiǔ liǎng liù.

⑴
一葫芦酒，九两六。
Yì húlu yóu, liù liǎng jiǔ.
一葫芦油，六两九。
Liù liǎng jiǔ de yóu, yào huàn jiǔ liǎng liù de jiǔ,
六两九的油，要换九两六的酒，
jiǔ liǎng liù de jiǔ, bú huàn liù liǎng jiǔ de yóu.
九两六的酒，不换六两九的油。
English ⑴ 两 [liǎng] measure word

liang (unit of weight, equal
A gourd of wine, 9.6 liang. to 50 grams)
A gourd of oil, 6.9 liang.
Want to trade 6.9 liang of oil for 9.6 liang of wine?
I won't trade 9.6 liang of wine, for 6.9 liang of oil.
Tóng sháo hé tiě sháo R048
铜勺和铁勺 Practice: ao iao iou
Tóng sháo yǎo rè yóu,

⑴
铜勺舀热油,
tiě sháo yǎo liáng yóu.
铁勺舀凉油。
Tóng sháo yǎole rè yóu yǎo liáng yóu,
铜勺舀了热油舀凉油 ,
tiě sháo yǎole liáng yóu yǎo rè yóu.
铁勺舀了凉油舀热油。
Yì sháo rè yóu yì sháo liáng yóu,
一勺热油一勺凉油,
rè yóu liáng yóu dōu shì yóu.
热油凉油都是油。
English ⑴ 舀 [yǎo] v.
ladle out
Copper spoon ladles out hot oil,
Iron spoon ladles out cold oil.
Copper spoon ladled hot oil and ladles cold oil
Iron spoon ladled cold oil and ladles hot oil.
One spoon hot oil, one spoon cold oil,
Hot oil, cold oil, both are oil.
huái shù huái R049
槐树槐 Practice: uai ai
Huái shù huái, huái shù huái,

槐树槐，槐树槐，
huáishù dǐxia dā xìtái,
⑴
槐树底下搭戏台，
rénjia de gūniang dōu lái le,
⑵
人家的姑娘都来了，
wǒ jiā de gūniang hái bù lái.
我家的姑娘还不来。
Shuōzhe shuōzhe jiù lái le,
⑶
说着说着就来了，
qízhe lǘ, dǎzhe sǎn,
骑着驴，打着伞，
wāizhe nǎodai shàng xìtái.
⑷
歪着脑袋上戏台。
English ⑴ 戏台 [xìtái] n.
stage
Locust tree, locust tree,
⑵ 人家 [rénjia] pron.
A stage is erected at the base of the locust tree, everybody else
Young women from all of the houses have come, ⑶ v1 着 + v1 着 + v2
The young women from my house still haven't come. used to indicate that v2
occurs in the process of v1
Just as I say this, they arrive,
⑷ 脑袋 [nǎodai] n.
Riding donkeys, clutching umbrellas,
head
Tilting their heads as they climb up on the stage.
zuǐ hé tuǐ R050
嘴和腿 Practice: uei
Zuǐ shuō tuǐ, tuǐ shuō zuǐ,

⑴
嘴说腿，腿说嘴，
zuǐ shuō tuǐ ài pǎo tuǐ,
⑵
嘴说腿爱跑腿，
tuǐ shuō zuǐ ài mài zuǐ.
⑶
腿说嘴爱卖嘴。
Guāng dòng zuǐ bú dòng tuǐ,
光动嘴不动腿，
guāng dòng tuǐ bú dòng zuǐ,
光动腿不动嘴，
bùrú bù zhǎng tuǐ hé zuǐ.
不如不长腿和嘴。
English ⑴ 说 [shuō] v.
criticize
Lips criticizes legs, legs criticizes lips,
⑵ 跑腿 [pǎo tuǐ] v.
Lips complains legs loves doing legwork, run errands
Legs complains lips loves to give lip. ⑶ 卖嘴 [mài zuǐ] v.
Only moving the lips and not moving the legs, indulge in clever talk
Only moving the legs and not moving the lips,

Is worse than not having legs and lips.
huāyā yǔ cǎixiá R051
花鸭与彩霞 Practice: ia
Shuǐ zhōng yìngzhe cǎixiá,

⑴
水中映着彩霞，
shuǐmiàn yóuzhe huāyā.
水面游着花鸭。
Xiá shì wǔcǎixiá,
霞是五彩霞，
yā shì máhuāyā.
⑵
鸭是麻花鸭。
Máhuāyā yóu jìn wǔcǎixiá,
麻花鸭游进五彩霞，
wǔcǎixiá wǎng zhù máhuāyā.
五彩霞网住麻花鸭。
Lè huài le yā, pāi suì le xiá,
⑶ ⑷
乐坏了鸭，拍碎了霞，
fēn bu qīng shì yā háishi xiá.
⑸
分不清是鸭还是霞。
English ⑴ 映 [yìng] v.
reflect
The pink clouds are reflected in the water,
⑵ 麻花鸭 [máhuāyā]
A multicoloured duck is swimming on the water's surface.
(coined word) = 花鸭
The clouds are five-hued clouds,
⑶ 拍 [pāi] v.
The duck is a multicoloured duck. flap
The multicoloured duck swims into the five-hued clouds,
⑷ 碎 [suì] v.
The five-hued clouds covered the multicoloured duck. smash into pieces
The delighted duck flaps its wings and scatters the clouds, ⑸ 分不清
Making it difficult to distinguish the duck from the clouds. difficult to distinguish
qiē qiézi R052
切茄子 Practice: ie
Jiějie jiè dāo qiē qiézi,

姐姐借刀切茄子，
qù bàr qù yèr xié qiē sī,
去把儿去叶儿斜切丝，
qiē hǎo qiézi shāo qiézi,
⑴
切好茄子烧茄子，
chǎo qiézi, zhēng qiézi,
炒茄子、蒸茄子，
hái yǒu yì wǎn mèn qiézi.
⑵
还有一碗焖茄子。
English ⑴ 烧 [shāo] v.
stew after frying
Big Sister borrowed a knife to slice eggplant,
⑵ 焖 [mèn] v.
Discarded the stem and the leaves and sliced it stew
into shreds,
After slicing the eggplant she stewed the eggplant,
Fried the eggplant, steamed the eggplant,
And also made a bowl of stewed eggplant.
guā péng guà guā R053
瓜棚挂瓜 Practice: ua
Guā péng guà guā,

瓜棚挂瓜,
guā guà guā péng,
瓜挂瓜棚。
Fēng guā guā, guā pèng péng.
风刮瓜，瓜碰棚。
Fēng guā péng, péng pèng guā.
风刮棚，棚碰瓜。
English
The melon shack hangs melons,

Melons hang from the melon shack.
Wind blows the melons, melons bump the shack.
Wind blows the shack, shack bumps the melons.
kuā luòtuo R054
夸骆驼 Practice: uo
Luòtuo tuózhe huò,

⑴
骆驼驮着货 ,
huò yòng luòtuo tuó,
货用骆驼驮 ,
bóbo qiān luòtuo,
⑵
伯伯牵骆驼 ,
yí ge gēn yí ge,
一个跟一个,
bóbo kuā luòtuo,
伯伯夸骆驼 ,
gàn huó zhēn búcuò.
⑶
干活真不错。
English ⑴ 驮 [tuó] v.
carry on the back
Camels transporting goods,
⑵ 牵 [qiān] v.
Goods using camels for transport, pull
Uncle leads the camels, ⑶ 干活 [gàn huó] v.
One camel follows another, work
Uncle praises the camels,

"You're doing a great job!”
wō hé guō R055
窝和锅 Practice: uo
Shù shang yí ge wō,

树上一个窝,
shù xia yì kǒu guō,
树下一口锅,
wō diào xiàlai dǎzháo guō,
⑴
窝掉下来打着锅 ,
wō hé guō dōu pò,
窝和锅都破,
guō yào wō péi guō,
锅要窝赔锅,
wō yào guō péi wō,
窝要锅赔窝,
nàole bàntiān,
⑵
闹了半天 ,
bù zhī gāi guō péi wō, háishi wō péi guō.
不知该锅赔窝 , 还是窝赔锅。
English ⑴ 打着 [dǎzháo] v.
hit
A nest at the top of the tree,
⑵ 闹了半天
A pot at the base of the tree, after all
The nest falls down hitting the pot,
The nest and the pot both break,
The pot wants the nest to compensate the pot,
The nest wants the pot to compensate the nest,
After all,
I don't know if the pot should compensate the nest, or the nest compensate the pot.
huī xǐque hé hēi xǐque R056
灰喜鹊和黑喜鹊 Practice: üe
Yì qún huī xǐque, yì qún hēi xǐque.

一群灰喜鹊，一群黑喜鹊。
Huī xǐque fēi jìn hēi xǐque qún,
灰喜鹊飞进黑喜鹊群，
hēi xǐque qún li yǒu huī xǐque.
黑喜鹊群里有灰喜鹊。
Hēi xǐque fēi jìn huī xǐque qún,
黑喜鹊飞进灰喜鹊群，
huī xǐque qún li yǒu hēi xǐque.
灰喜鹊群里有黑喜鹊。
English
A flock of gray magpie, a flock of black magpie.

Gray magpie fly into the black magpie flock,
The black magpie flock has gray magpie in it.
Black magpie fly into the gray magpie flock,
The gray magpie flock has black magpie in it.
fānchuán R057
帆船 Practice: an uan
Dà fānchuán, xiǎo fānchuán,

大帆船 , 小帆船 ,
shù qǐ wéigān chēng qǐ chuán.
⑴ ⑵
竖起桅杆撑起船。
Fēng chuī fān,
风吹帆,
fān yǐn chuán,
帆引船,
fānchuán shùnfēng zhuǎn hǎiwān.
帆船顺风转海湾。
English ⑴ 竖 [shù] v.
erect
Big sailboat, small sailboat,
⑵ 撑 [chēng] v.
Raise the mast and brace the boat. punt
Wind blows the sail,
Sail pulls the boat,
A tailwind carries the boat to the bay.
shuǐ lián tiān R058
水连天 Practice: ian
Tiān lián shuǐ, shuǐ lián tiān,

天连水,水连天,
shuǐ tiān yísè wàng wúbiān,
⑴
水天一色望无边 ,
lánlán de tiān sì lǜ shuǐ,
蓝蓝的天似绿水 ,
lǜlǜ de shuǐ rú lántiān.
绿绿的水如蓝天。
Dàodǐ shì tiān lián shuǐ,
⑵
到底是天连水 ,
háishi shuǐ lián tiān?
还是水连天 ?
English ⑴ 望无边
stretch as far as the eye can see
Sky meets water, water meets sky, = 一望无边 [yí wàng wúbiān]
Water and sky merge in one color, if you look ⑵ 到底 [dàodǐ] adv.
there's no border, after all
The blue, blue sky seems like green water,

The green, green water is like blue sky.
Is the sky meeting the water,
or is the water meeting the sky?
lánbù mián ménlián R059
蓝布棉门帘 Practice: an ian
Chū qiánmén, wǎng zhèng nán,

出前门，往正南，
yǒu ge miànpù miàn chòng nán,
⑴
有个面铺面冲南，
ménkǒu guàzhe lánbù mián ménlián.
⑵
门口挂着蓝布棉门帘。
Zhāile tā de lánbù mián ménlián,
⑶
摘了它的蓝布棉门帘，
miànpù miàn chòng nán,
面铺面冲南，
gěi tā guà shàng lánbù mián ménlián,
给他挂上蓝布棉门帘，
miànpù háishi miàn chòng nán.
面铺还是面冲南。
English ⑴ 冲 [chòng] prep.
towards
Exit the front gate, go due south,
⑵ 门帘 [ménlián] n.
There's a noodle shop facing south, door curtain
At the entrance hangs a blue cloth cotton door ⑶ 摘 [zhāi] v.
curtain. take off
I took its blue cloth cotton door curtain,

The noodle shop faced south,
I hung up the blue cloth cotton door curtain,
The noodle shop remained facing south.
Yán Yǎnyuán R060
严眼圆 Practice: ian üan
Shān qián yǒu ge Yán Yuányǎn,

山前有个严圆眼，
shān hòu yǒu ge Yán Yǎnyuán,
山后有个严眼圆，
èr rén shān qián lái bǐ yǎn,
二人山前来比眼，
bù zhī shì Yán Yuányǎn de yǎn yuán,
不知是严圆眼的眼圆，
háishi Yán Yǎnyuán bǐ Yán Yuányǎn de yǎn yuán.
还是严眼圆比严圆眼的眼圆。
English
In front of the mountain is a Yan Roundeyes

Behind the mountain is a Yan Eyesround
The two met in front of the mountain to compare eyes,
No one knows if Yan Roundeyes' eyes are round,
Or if Yan Eyesround's eyes are rounder than Yan Roundeyes's.
xiǎo Chén hé xiǎo Shěn R061
小陈和小沈 Practice: en
Xiǎo Chén qù mài zhēn,

小陈去卖针，
xiǎo Shěn qù mài pén.
小沈去卖盆。
Liǎ rén tiāozhe dàn,
⑴
俩人挑着担，
yìqǐ chūle mén.
一起出了门。
Xiǎo Chén hǎn mài zhēn,
小陈喊卖针，
xiǎo Shěn hǎn mài pén.
小沈喊卖盆。
Yě bù zhī shì shuí mài zhēn,
也不知是谁卖针，
yě bù zhī shì shuí mài pén.
也不知是谁卖盆。
English ⑴ 挑担 [tiāo dàn] v.
shoulder the pole
Xiao Chen went to sell needles
Xiao Shen went to sell pots
The two shouldered their poles
And left the gate together
Xiao Chen cried,“Needles for sale!”
Xiao Shen cried,“Pots for sale!”
But no one knew who was selling needles,
And no one knew who was selling pots.
dùn dòng dòufu R062
炖冻豆腐 Practice: uen
Huì dùn wǒ de dùn dòng dòufu,

⑴
会炖我的炖冻豆腐，
lái dùn wǒ de dùn dòng dòufu,
来炖我的炖冻豆腐，
bú huì dùn wǒ de dùn dòng dòufu,
不会炖我的炖冻豆腐，
jiù bié dùn wǒ de dùn dòng dòufu.
就别炖我的炖冻豆腐。
English ⑴ 炖 [dùn] v.
stew
If you can stew my stewed frozen tofu,
Come stew my stewed frozen tofu,
If you can't stew my stewed frozen tofu,
Then don't stew my stewed frozen tofu.
huàn qúnzi R063
换裙子 Practice: ün
Jūnchē yùn lái yì duī qún,

⑴
军车运来一堆裙 ,
yísè jūnyòng lǜsè qún.
一色军用绿色裙。
Jūnxùn nǚshēng yí dà qún,
军训女生一大群 ,
huàn xià huā qún huàn lǜ qún.
换下花裙换绿裙。
English ⑴ 堆 [duī] measure word
pile
An army vehicle came transporting a pile of skirts,
Identical green skirts used by the army.
A big group of female army trainees,
Took off their flowered skirts and exchanged them
for the green skirts.
xiǎo Liáng jiù yáng R064
小良救羊 Practice: ang iang
Xiǎo Liáng gǎnzhe yì qún yáng,

⑴
小良赶着一群羊 ,
lái dào shān shang yù zháo láng.
来到山上遇着狼。
Láng yào chī yáng yáng duǒ láng,
狼要吃羊羊躲狼,
xiǎo Liáng jiù yáng dǎ pǎo láng.
⑵ ⑶
小良救羊打跑狼。
English ⑴ 赶 [gǎn] v.
drive
Xiao Liang drives a flock of sheep,
⑵ 救 [jiù] v.
They come to the mountain and run into a wolf. rescue, save
The wolf wants to eat the sheep and the sheep ⑶ 打跑 [dǎpǎo] v.
hide from the wolf, drive off
Xiao Liang saves the sheep and drives away the

wolf.
chuán hé chuáng R065
船和床 Practice: uan uang
Nà biān huá lái yì sōu chuán,

⑴
那边划来一艘船，
zhè biān piāo qù yì zhāng chuáng,
这边漂去一张床，
chuán chuáng hézhōng hùxiāng zhuàng,
⑵
船床河中互相撞，
bù zhī chuán zhuàng chuáng,
不知船撞床，
háishi chuáng zhuàng chuán.
还是床撞船。
English ⑴ 划 [huá] v.
row
Over there a boat draws nearer,
⑵ 互相 [hùxiāng] adv.
Over here a bed floats away, mutually
The boat and the bed collide with each other on
the river,
Who knows if the boat hit the bed,
or if the bed hit the boat.
zhēn lěng R066
真冷 Practice: en eng
Zhēn lěng, zhēn lěng, zhēnzhèng lěng.

真冷，真冷，真正冷。
Lěngbīngbīng, bīngbīnglěng,
冷冰冰，冰冰冷，
rénrén dōu shuō lěng.
人人都说冷。
Měng de yí zhèn fēng, gèng lěng.
⑴
猛的一阵风，更冷。
English ⑴ 猛 [měng] adv.

abruptly
It's really cold, really cold, really truly cold.
So cold it's freezing, it's freezing cold,
Everyone says it's cold.
A fierce gust of wind, makes it even colder.
Chén hé Chéng R067
陈和程 Practice: en eng
Chén shì Chén,

陈是陈，
Chéng shì Chéng,
程是程，
xìng Chén bù néng shuōchéng xìng Chéng,
姓陈不能说成姓程，
xìng Chéng yě bù néng shuōchéng xìng Chén.
姓程也不能说成姓陈。
Hé páng shì Chéng,
禾旁是程，
ěrduo shì Chén.
耳朵是陈。
Chéng Chén bù fēn,
⑴
程陈不分，
jiù huì rèn cuò rén.
就会认错人。
English ⑴ 分 [fēn] v.
distinguish
Chen is Chen,
Cheng is Cheng,
The one surnamed Chen can't rightly be called Cheng,
The one surnamed Cheng likewise can't rightly be called Chen.
The one by the rice crop is Chen,
The one with the ears is Cheng
Cheng and Chen are inseparable,
To the point that people misidentify them.
lǎowēng hé lǎowēng R068
老翁和老翁 Practice: ueng
Lǎowēng mài jiǔ lǎowēng mǎi,

⑴
老翁卖酒老翁买，
lǎowēng mǎi jiǔ lǎowēng mài.
老翁买酒老翁卖。
English ⑴ 老翁 [lǎowēng] n.
(written word) old man
Old man sells wine old man buys,
Old man buys wine old man sells.
qīngtíng qīng píng fēn bu qīng R069
蜻蜓青萍分不清 Practice: ing
Qīngtíng qīng, qīng fú píng,

蜻蜓青 , 青浮萍 ,
qīng píng shàngmian tíng qīngtíng,
青萍上面停蜻蜓 ,
qīngtíng qīng píng fēn bu qīng.
蜻蜓青萍分不清。
Bié bǎ qīngtíng dàng qīng píng,
⑴
别把蜻蜓当青萍 ,
bié bǎ qīng píng dàng qīngtíng.
别把青萍当蜻蜓。
English ⑴ 当 [dàng] v.
regard as, think
Dragonfly blue, blue duckweed,
A dragonfly stops on the blue duckweed,
There's no clear separation between the dragonfly and
the duckweed.
Don't take a dragonfly to be duckweed,
Don't take duckweed to be a dragonfly.
tōng xìn bù tóngxìng R070
通信不同姓 Practice: in ing
Tōng xìn bù néng niàn chéng tóngxìng,

通信不能念成同姓，
tóngxìng bù néng shuō chéng tōng xìn.
同姓不能说成通信。
Tóngxìng de kěyǐ hùxiāng tōng xìn,
同姓的可以互相通信，
tōng xìn de bùyídìng tóngxìng.
通信的不一定同姓。
English
Don't call the word "correspond" as "clansmen",

Don't say the word "clansmen" as "correspond".
Clansmen can correspond with each other,
But the ones they correspond with aren't
necessarily their clansmen.
yín xīng hé yīnyún R071
银星和阴云 Practice: in ing
Tiānshàng yǒu yín xīng,

天上有银星 ,
xīng páng yǒu yīnyún,
星旁有阴云 ,
yīnyún yào zhē yín xīng,
阴云要遮银星 ,
yín xīng duǒguò yīnyún,
银星躲过阴云 ,
bú ràng yīnyún zhē yín xīng.
不让阴云遮银星。
English
In the sky are silver stars,

Beside the stars are dark clouds,
The dark clouds want to cover the silver stars,
The silver stars avoided the dark clouds,
And didn't let the dark clouds cover the silver stars.
pén hé píng R072
盆和瓶 Practice: ing en eng
Zhuō shang fàng ge pén,

桌上放个盆，
pén li yǒu ge píng,
盆里有个瓶，
pēng, pēng, pēng,
砰，砰，砰，
bù zhīdao shì píng pèng pén,
⑴
不知道是瓶碰盆，
háishi pén pèng píng.
还是盆碰瓶。
English ⑴ 碰 [pèng] v.
knock, hit, touch
A pot is placed on the table,
A bottle is inside of the pot,
Thump, thump, thump,
I don't know if the bottle hit the pot,
Or if the pot hit the bottle.
fēng, sōng, zhōng, gōng R073
风、松、钟、弓 Practice: ong
Zǒu rú fēng,
走如风,
zhàn rú sōng,
站如松,
zuò rú zhōng,
坐如钟,
shuì rú gōng.
睡如弓。
Fēng, sōng, zhōng, gōng,
风、松、钟、弓 ,
gōng, zhōng, sōng, fēng,
弓、钟、松、风 ,
lián niàn qī biàn kǒuchǐ qīng.
⑴
连念七遍口齿清。
English ⑴ 连 [lián] adv.
one after another
Move like wind,
Stand like pine,
Sit like clock,
Sleep like bow.
Wind, pine, clock, bow,
Bow, clock, pine, wind,
Read seven times in a row for clear pronunciation.
dōng Dòngtíng, xī Dòngtíng R074
东洞庭，西洞庭 Practice: en eng ing ong
Dōng Dòngtíng, xī Dòngtíng,

东洞庭，西洞庭，
Dòngtíng shān shang yì gēn téng,
洞庭山上一根藤，
téngtiáo tóu shang guà tóng líng.
⑴
藤条头上挂铜铃。
Fēng chuī téng dòng tóng líng dòng,
风吹藤动铜铃动，
fēng tíng téng dìng tóng líng jìng.
风停藤定铜铃静。
English ⑴ 头 [tóu] n.
end, top, head
East Dongting, West Dongting,
On top of Dongting Mountain is one rattan,
At the crown of the rattan palm hangs a bronze bell.
When the wind blows the rattan moves, the bronze
bell moves,
When the wind stops, the rattan stabilizes and the
bronze bell is silenced.
xué yóuyǒng R075
学游泳 Practice: iong
Xiǎo Yǒng yǒnggǎn xué yóu yǒng,

小涌勇敢学游泳 ,
yǒnggǎn yóu yǒng shì yīngxióng.
勇敢游泳是英雄。
English
Xiao Yong bravely learns to swim,

Bravely swimming is heroic.
Xiǎonǚháir R076
小女孩儿 Practice: erhua ( 儿化 )
Xiǎonǚháir, hóng liǎndànr,

⑴
小女孩儿，红脸蛋儿，
hóng tóushéngr, zā xiǎobiànr.
⑵ ⑶
红头绳儿，扎小辫儿。
Hēiyǎnzhūr, dīliūliūr zhuàn,
黑眼珠儿，滴溜溜儿转，
shǒur qiǎo, xīnyǎnr hǎo,
⑷
手儿巧，心眼儿好，
huì zuò wàzi, huì zuò xiér.
会做袜子，会做鞋儿。
Néng kāi dìr, néng zhòng càir,
能开地儿，能种菜儿，
yòu huì jiāo huār yòu zuò fànr.
又会浇花儿又做饭儿。
English ⑴ 脸蛋儿 [liǎndànr] n.
cheek
Little girl, red cheeks,
⑵ 头绳（儿）[tóushéng] n.
Red ribbon, strung through a little braid. string for binding one's hair
Black pupils, darting round and round, ⑶ 扎 [zā] v.
Nimble fingered, Good natured, tie
Can make stockings, can make shoes. ⑷ 心眼儿 [xīnyǎnr] n.

nature, heart
Able to till soil, able to plant crops,
Can also water flowers and cook food.

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Chinese Tongue Twisters

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Introduction

Tongue twisters are ideal for pronunciation practice

In Chinese, tongue twisters ( 绕口令 ràokǒulìng ) repeat similar consonants and

If you've grown bored of pronunciation practice or if you're having trouble

The subtitles change color

Chinese Text and Pinyin Lecture Number

bā bǎi biāobīng R002

Bā bǎi biāobīng bèn běipō,

English Translation Footnotes

&OHMJTI Ρ⦝ <EP>BEW

&OHMJTI Ρ叻Ⱕ <CJÀPCÌOH>O

&OHMJTI Ρ髸 <EÚO>W

&OHMJTI Ρ蔄 <IVÀ>BEK

Big bunny, big belly,

Shù shang yǒu lí,

Ménkǒu yǒu sì liàng sì lún dà mǎchē,

Before the gate are four four-wheeled big carriages,

Hébiān yǒu kē liǔ,

Biǎndan cháng, bǎndèng kuān,

Gēge guò hé zhuō ge gē,

Gē kuà guākuāng guò kuān gōu,

English ⑴ 怪 [guài] adj.

Fēng chuī huī fēi,

The wind blows, the dust flies,

Seven plus one,

Xīqí xīqí zhēn xīqí,

English ⑴ 丈 [zhàng] measure word

Shǐ lǎoshī, jiǎng shíshì,

Rìtou rè, shài rénròu,

English ⑴ 直 [zhí] adv.

Shāo xiāng yào shāo Xiāoshān xiāng,

When burning incense, burn Xiaoshan incense,

Zǎochen zǎozǎo qǐ,

Wake up very early in the early morning,

崔粗腿 和 崔腿粗 Practice: c t

Shān qián yǒu ge Cuī Cūtuǐ,

Sījī mǎi cíjī,

English ⑴ 好 [hǎo] adv.

Climb mulberry tree mountain,

Sāngcán tǔ sī sī chán cán,

Zhè shì cán, nà shì chán,

Sān yuè sān, xiǎo Sān qù dēng shān.

English ⑴ 里 [lǐ] measure word

Sān shān chēng sì shuǐ,

Shì jiāng sìshiqī zhī jí xì jí xì de zǐ sīxiàn,

English ⑴ 将 [jiāng] prep.

Lùshang pǎo lái mǎ,

The tile wants the horse to compensate the tile,

Lǎobóbo mài mò,

Grandmother sells steamed bun and buys ink,

Bái bóbo, Péng bóbo,

English ⑴ 窝 [wō] measure word

Pō shang lìzhe yì zhī é,

A goose is standing on a slope,

Bíqí yǒu pí,

Gǔ shang huà zhī hǔ,

The tiger drawn on top of the drum,

Sūzhōu yǒu ge Sū Húzi,

English ⑴ 问 [wèn] prep.

Jiān bēi yì pǐ bù,

English ⑴ 匹 [pǐ] measure word

I spot a rabbit, ⑶ 卸下 [xièxià] v.

English ⑴ 屡次 [lǚcì] adv.

Zhè tiān tiān xià yǔ,

&OHMJTI Ρ⦝ <EP>BEW

&OHMJTI Ρ叻Ⱕ <CJÀPCÌOH>O

&OHMJTI Ρ髸 <EÚO>W

&OHMJTI Ρ蔄 <IVÀ>BEK

崔粗腿和崔腿粗 Practice: c t

铜勺和铁勺 Practice: ao iao iou

小良救羊 Practice: ang iang

船和床 Practice: uan uang

盆和瓶 Practice: ing en eng

东洞庭，西洞庭 Practice: en eng ing ong