Word Guide
Tier 1 Practice Page
How to pronounce 老师 (lǎo shī)
老师 means "teacher". Use this guide to lock in the tone pattern, articulation target, and the mistake most learners still make.
Pinyin
lǎo shī
Tone Pattern
Tone 3 + Tone 1
Pronunciation Focus
retroflex-basics
How to say it
The sh in the second syllable should stay slightly curled back and steady.
Most common error
The final shī often gets flattened into sī.
HSK Level
HSK1
Related pronunciation rules
Practice similar examples
Hear the same pattern in sentences
他是老师。 (tā shì lǎo shī.)
The key target is the final shī, which should stay retroflex and narrow.
他吃了。 (tā chī le.)
Keep the retroflex initials in 他吃了。 (tā chī le.) slightly curled back instead of letting them flatten forward.
他出去。 (tā chū qù.)
Keep the retroflex initials in 他出去。 (tā chū qù.) slightly curled back instead of letting them flatten forward.