Mandarin Pronunciation Guide

This site is very simple to use, and it will look up phrases for you and pronounce them.
How To Pronounce Basic Mandarin Chinese

Pronunciation Guide:

There are four tones, which are indicated by numbers or directional lines:

1 (flat), 2 (rising), 3 (dipping then rising), and 4 (falling).

"Q" is pronounced "ch"
"Qu" is pronounced "chree"
"X" is pronounced "sh"
"Zh" is pronounced "dj"
"Sh" is pronounced "ss" with your tongue curled toward the roof of your mouth
"I" is pronounced "ee"
"ao" is pronounced "ow"
"uo" is pronounced "aw"
"ie" is pronounced "eeyeh"
"ian" is pronounced "eeyen"
"ai" is pronounced like the letter "I"
"ei" is pronounced like the letter "a"
Beijingers end almost everything with "er" or "ar"

PLEASANTRIES:

Nihao or Nihao ma: "Hello" or "How are you?" Universal greeting.
Xie Xie: Thank you
Fu Wu Ren: Server. You might also hear "Xiao Jie," meaning waitress.
Man Zhou: Literally: "Walk slowly." Said in parting, i.e. safe travels.
Shi Fu: Literally: "Teacher." Used colloquially to mean "sir."
Zai Jian: Goodbye

SHOPPING:

Duo shao qian?: "How much?" In Beijing,
the regional accent might sound like Duor qian?
Tai gui!: "Too expensive!" Use for haggling.
Zhe ge: This one
Na ge: That one

DIRECTIONALS:
Zai nar?: "Where is it?"
Qu nar?: "Where are you going?"

Dong: East
Xi: West
Nan: South
Bei: North
Zhong: Center
Hai: Body of water
Men: Gate or door, used in a lot of street names
Wai: Without
Nei: Within
Guo: Country
Jing: Capital
Jie: Major avenue
Lu: Street or road
Hutong: Traditional alleyway
Zhan: Station or stop

FOOD:
Xiao chi: Snacks, usually something hearty,
like noodles or dumplings
Fan: Rice
Mian: Noodles
Bing: Pancake or crepe
Bao: Bun

Jiao zhi: Boiled dumplings

Thanks to National Geographic
for the above information in their
BEFORE YOU GO section.