Word Guide
How to pronounce 聪明 (cōng míng)
聪明 means "clever/smart". Use this guide to lock in the tone pattern, articulation target, and the mistake most learners still make.
Short answer
聪明 is pronounced cōng míng and means "clever/smart". The key target is flat sharps, with the tone pattern Tone 1 + Tone 2.
Why learners miss it
Learners often miss 聪明 because learners either lose the aspiration on c or weaken the back nasal ending.
Self-test
Record 聪明, then check whether your pitch contour and articulation match cōng míng.
Pinyin
cōng míng
Tone Pattern
Tone 1 + Tone 2
Pronunciation Focus
flat-sharps
How to say it
Guided fix
How to shape this pronunciation
What to do
Say cōng slowly first, then keep the target sound steady as you move through the rest of 聪明.
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 cōng míng once slowly and once at normal speed. If the target sound disappears when you speed up, it is not stable yet.
Phonetic Breakdown
c+ong_m+ing
Most common error
Error summary
Learners either lose the aspiration on c or weaken the back nasal ending.
Focus area
Flat sharps
Difficulty
Easy
HSK Level
HSK2
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