Tones: the four mistakes I kept making
Mandarin has four tones plus a neutral one. On paper that is simple. In my mouth it was not.
1. Every third tone in full
Two third tones in a row become second + third: 你好 is said ní hǎo, not nǐ hǎo. Nobody tells you this until you sound strange.
2. Ignoring the neutral tone
Words like 谢谢 xièxie and 名字 míngzi end lightly. Stressing the last syllable makes them sound foreign immediately.
3. 不 changes
不 is fourth tone, but before another fourth tone it becomes second: bú shì, bú kèqi.
4. Buying and selling
买 mǎi is to buy, 卖 mài is to sell. Same sound, opposite meaning, different tone. My favourite reminder that tones are not decoration.