Pinyin — Day 3 — Initials: d t n l
Today's group is d t n l — all pronounced with the tip of the tongue touching just behind the upper front teeth.
Today's Vocabulary
大
big
很大
hěn dà
very big
他
he
他是
tā shì
he is
你
you
你好
nǐ hǎo
hello
里
inside
家里
jiā lǐ
at home
了
(completed-action particle)
吃了
chī le
ate already
累
tired
很累
hěn lèi
very tired
奶
milk
牛奶
niúnǎi
milk
头
head
头发
tóufa
hair
Today's Grammar
d, t, n, l are alveolar initials (tongue tip behind the upper teeth). d is unaspirated, t is aspirated (strong puff of air), n and l are straightforward. Just like b/p, the d/t distinction is about aspiration, not voicing.
大 他
dà (big) unaspirated, tā (he/she) aspirated.
你 里
Practice n vs l, both here with Tone 3.
了 累
le (neutral tone) vs lèi (tired) falling tone.
奶 耐
nǎi (milk) dipping-rising, nài (to endure) falling.
兔 头
Practice "t" with the "u" and "ou" finals.