Linking & Assimilation
Linking and assimilation shape how sounds flow and change when you speak Mandarin Chinese naturally. This guide goes over key patterns so you can sound smooth and quick.
Linking
Linking happens when the ending sound of one word connects to the beginning sound of the next, making speech flow seamlessly. In Mandarin, tones and syllables stay distinct but mouth movements glide between sounds.
Sign In
Add an email to access exercises.
Assimilation
Assimilation occurs when a sound changes to become more like a neighboring sound, making pronunciation easier and faster. Mandarin has assimilation mainly in retroflex and nasal consonants during rapid speech.
Sign In
Add an email to access exercises.
Examples
| Hanzi Phrase | Pinyin Phrase | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌧️外面下雨了。 | Wàimiàn xià yǔ le. | It’s raining outside. | Smooth flow between subject and weather. |
| 🏃♂️他快跑了。 | Tā kuài pǎo le. | He ran quickly. | Linking speed with action. |
| 🍵茶很热。 | Chá hěn rè. | The tea is very hot. | Connects quality with object. |
| 🐶狗跑去了。 | Gǒu pǎo qù le. | The dog ran away. | Flow between subject and direction. |
| 🚪门开着。 | Mén kāi zhe. | The door is open. | Linking state with subject. |
| 🍚饭吃了吗？ | Fàn chī le ma? | Have you eaten? | Casual spoken linking. |
| 🚌公交来了。 | Gōngjiāo lái le. | The bus has arrived. | Connects vehicle with action. |
| 👧她在笑。 | Tā zài xiào. | She is smiling. | Smooth transition with auxiliary. |
| 📖书很有趣。 | Shū hěn yǒuqù. | The book is very interesting. | Linking adjective and noun. |
| 🕒时间不早了。 | Shíjiān bù zǎo le. | It’s getting late. | Connects time with judgment. |
Summary
Linking connects sounds across word boundaries for smooth flow, while assimilation tweaks sounds to be more alike and easier to say. Practicing both with short sentences will make your speech sound natural and fluent.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025