Word Guide
How to pronounce 去年 (qù nián)
去年 means "last year". Use this guide to lock in the tone pattern, articulation target, and the mistake most learners still make.
Short answer
去年 is pronounced qù nián and means "last year". The key target is palatal, with the tone pattern Tone 4 + Tone 2.
Why learners miss it
Learners often miss 去年 because they often say qu as if it were chu or ku.
Self-test
Record 去年, then check whether your pitch contour and articulation match qù nián.
Pinyin
qù nián
Tone Pattern
Tone 4 + Tone 2
Pronunciation Focus
palatal
How to say it
Guided fix
How to shape this pronunciation
What to do
Say qù slowly first, then keep the target sound steady as you move through the rest of 去年.
What to avoid
Do not let the whole word flatten into one rushed shape. Keep the target consonant or tone contrast clear.
What to listen for
The key sound should stay distinct instead of collapsing toward the nearest easy English habit.
Quick self-check
Say qù nián once slowly and once at normal speed. If the target sound disappears when you speed up, it is not stable yet.
Phonetic Breakdown
q+ü_n+ian
Most common error
Error summary
Learners often say qu as if it were chu or ku.
Focus area
Palatal
Difficulty
Easy
HSK Level
HSK1