Tones Matter.
Tones are more important than initials. Different tone = Different word. Here's another great example of how using the wrong tone will make your Chinese incomprehensible.
哪na3 which? 那na4 those!
One na is a question, the other na is an answer. The difference is the tone!
Rhyming finals classed by tones are the marking feature of Chinese writing. Initials are the least important. Producing J Q X and Z C S and Zh J Sh correctly matters but tones matter even more. Right initial sound + wrong tone = incomprehension. Wrong initial sound + right tone + right final = comprehension. That's completely unlike any European language.
嘲笑Cháoxiào to mock
朝cháo toward; dynasty
简直jiǎnzhí simple + straight = simply
扌hand+jiǔ九9(longhand)pellet丸wán+four coals灬biāo = rè HOT 热
严肃yánsù tight + respectful = solemn
严格yángé tight + pattern = strict stringent rigorotus
无论如何wúlùn rúhé no matter what, anyway
反正fǎnzhèng reflect+upright = anyway
哪na3 which? 那na4 those!
One na is a question, the other na is an answer. The difference is the tone!
Rhyming finals classed by tones are the marking feature of Chinese writing. Initials are the least important. Producing J Q X and Z C S and Zh J Sh correctly matters but tones matter even more. Right initial sound + wrong tone = incomprehension. Wrong initial sound + right tone + right final = comprehension. That's completely unlike any European language.
嘲笑Cháoxiào to mock
朝cháo toward; dynasty
简直jiǎnzhí simple + straight = simply
扌hand+jiǔ九9(longhand)pellet丸wán+four coals灬biāo = rè HOT 热
严肃yánsù tight + respectful = solemn
严格yángé tight + pattern = strict stringent rigorotus
无论如何wúlùn rúhé no matter what, anyway
反正fǎnzhèng reflect+upright = anyway
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