Chinese Tongue-twister 四和十 (Sì hé shí) Four and Ten

Tuesday, December 6, 2022


四和十 (Sì hé shí) Four and Ten

Sì shì sì, shí shì shí, shí  sì shì shí sì,   sì shí shì sì shí,
四 是 四, 十 是 十，十 四 是 十 四，四 十 是 四 十，
Four is four, ten is ten, fourteen is fourteen, forty is forty.

shí sì bú shì sì shí ， sì shí bú shì shí sì，
十  四 不 是  四 十  ， 四 十  不 是  十  四
Fourteen is not forty, forty is not fourteen.

First is the number "四" (sì), its pronunciation is a voiced consonant with a clear "s" sound followed by a short, crisp "i" sound. The pronunciation of "四" should be gentle, without too much force.

Next is the number "十" (shí), it starts with the initial consonant "sh". The pronunciation of "十" is a clear "sh" sound followed by a long "i" sound.

Funny Stories Related to the Pronunciation of "Four" and "Ten" in Chinese

The pronunciation of "four" and "ten" in Chinese often leads to some amusing jokes and misunderstandings. For example, once a foreign friend wanted to buy four apples, but his pronunciation wasn't very accurate, and the shopkeeper mistakenly thought he wanted to buy ten apples. As a result, the friend felt very confused because he only needed four, not ten apples.

Another example is when a foreign friend wanted to express how satisfied he was with the service at a restaurant, but he accidentally confused the pronunciation of "four" and "ten." So he said, "I am ten satisfied with your service!" The waiters all laughed because he unexpectedly expressed a high evaluation of the service, but his pronunciation caused a misunderstanding.

  • How many apples do you want?
    你要买几个苹果？
    Nǐ yào mǎi jǐ gè píngguǒ?
  • I want to buy four apples.
    我要买四个苹果。
    Wǒ yào mǎi sì gè píngguǒ.
  • Here are ten apples.
    这是十个苹果。
    Zhè shì shí gè píngguǒ.
  • I want four!
    我要四个！
    Wǒ yào sì gè!
  • Sorry, I misunderstood.
    对不起，我听错了。
    Duìbùqǐ, wǒ tīng cuòle.

Sign up for a free trial now!

FAQ / Tips

Certainly, we offer a complimentary 30 - minute trial lesson for you to experience our services before committing to a purchase.This will allow you to gain a better understanding of our qualified tutors, innovative teaching methods, comprehensive class materials, and more.We are committed to providing you with the highest level of service and ensuring your satisfaction with our courses.
Before starting any Chinese language course, the teacher will assess your Chinese language proficiency level through a placement test.This helps to determine your current level of understanding and ability in Chinese, and allows the teacher to tailor the course materials and teaching methods to your specific needs and goals. The placement test may include assessments of your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.Based on the results of the test, the teacher will be able to recommend an appropriate course of study for you.
Our learning is different from traditional language learning in a number of ways. Firstly, we use technology to enhance the learning experience and provide personalized learning paths for each student. Secondly, our focus is not just on language proficiency, but also on cultural understanding and practical application of the language.Thirdly, we place a strong emphasis on developing speaking and listening skills, as well as reading and writing.Additionally, we incorporate modern teaching methods and materials, such as multimedia resources and interactive exercises.Finally, our courses are designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing students to learn at their own pace and according to their own schedule.
We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee for all new students.If you are not satisfied with our services within the first month, you may cancel your lessons and receive a refund for any unused lessons.We will only charge you for the first month of lessons, and refund the remaining balance to you promptly.Our goal is to ensure your satisfaction with our services, and we strive to provide the highest quality of instruction and support to all of our students.
We provide a wealth of Chinese teaching materials and learning resources, including but not limited to textbooks, workbooks, listening materials, reading materials, video courses, and online courses.Our teaching materials and resources are carefully selected and designed to meet the learning needs and goals of different learners. At the same time, our teachers will provide personalized teaching and guidance based on the learning characteristics and needs of students to ensure that students can learn and master Chinese language efficiently.
Our Chinese learning method is focused on personalized and interactive one-on-one lessons with a professional teacher. The lessons are conducted live through our online teaching platform, which allows you to see and talk to the teacher. You can schedule the lessons at a time that suits you, and the teacher will tailor the lesson content to your specific needs and goals. During the lesson, you can ask questions and receive feedback from the teacher to ensure you understand and master the knowledge and skills being taught. We also have a student service team and academic coordinator team to assist you with your learning and provide any additional support you may need.Overall, our method is designed to be flexible, personalized, and interactive to help you achieve your language learning goals.