Sentence Guide
How to pronounce 他是老师。 (tā shì lǎo shī.)
他是老师。 means "He is a teacher.". Use this guide to lock in the tone pattern, articulation target, and the mistake most learners still make.
Short answer
他是老师。 is pronounced tā shì lǎo shī. and means "He is a teacher.". The key target is retroflex basics, with the tone pattern Tone 1 + Tone 4 + Tone 3 + Tone 1.
Why learners miss it
Learners often miss 他是老师。 because the sentence loses clarity when shì and shī both flatten forward.
Self-test
Record 他是老师。, then check whether your pitch contour and articulation match tā shì lǎo shī..
Pinyin
tā shì lǎo shī.
Tone Pattern
Tone 1 + Tone 4 + Tone 3 + Tone 1
Pronunciation Focus
retroflex-basics
How to say it
Guided fix
Retroflex fix
What to do
For tā, pull the tongue tip slightly back before the vowel starts. Keep the release tight instead of letting the front of the tongue stay flat.
What to avoid
If the first sound feels flat and too close to z or s, the tongue is still too far forward.
English anchor
Pull the tongue tip slightly back before the vowel starts. Do not over-curl.
Quick self-check
Compare the sound with a flatter z/s version. The retroflex version should sound darker and tighter. In 他是老师。, this matters most on the first syllable.
Most common error
Error summary
The sentence loses clarity when shì and shī both flatten forward.
Focus area
Retroflex basics
Difficulty
Moderate
HSK Level
HSK1