---
title: "How to Pronounce China (中国) in Chinese, With Audio | Mandarin The Wild"
description: "China (the country) is 中国 in Chinese, written Zhōngguó in pinyin and said joong-gwaw. Hear it from two native speakers, slow or normal, sound by sound with its tones, then say it and see if you got it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/zhongguo"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[How to pronounce](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce)

# How to pronounce China

China (the country) is 中国 in Chinese, written Zhōngguó in pinyin and said joong-gwaw.

中国 Zhōngguó

joong-gwaw

## Sound by sound

1. 中zhōngjoongFirst tone: high and level
2. 国guógwawSecond tone: rising, as in a question

### Letters to watch

- Zh is said like the j in “jam”, with the tongue curled back. Not “z”.
- Ong rhymes with the “oo” of “book” plus ng, not with “long”.

## Places

- [Beijing 北京 bay-jeeng](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/beijing)
- [Shanghai 上海 shahng-high](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/shanghai)
- [Guangzhou 广州 gwahng-joh](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/guangzhou)
- [Shenzhen 深圳 shun-jun](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/shenzhen)
- [Chongqing 重庆 choong-cheeng](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/chongqing)
- [Chengdu 成都 chung-doo](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/chengdu)
- [Xi’an 西安 shee-ahn](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/xian)
- [Hangzhou 杭州 hahng-joh](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/hangzhou)
- [Suzhou 苏州 soo-joh](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/suzhou)
- [Nanjing 南京 nahn-jeeng](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/nanjing)
- [Wuhan 武汉 woo-hahn](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/wuhan)
- [Tianjin 天津 tyen-jeen](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/tianjin)
- [Qingdao 青岛 cheeng-dow](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/qingdao)
- [Xiamen 厦门 shyah-mun](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/xiamen)
- [Harbin 哈尔滨 hah-ar-been](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/harbin)
- [Kunming 昆明 kwun-meeng](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/kunming)
- [Guilin 桂林 gway-leen](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/guilin)
- [Zhengzhou 郑州 jung-joh](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/zhengzhou)
- [Changsha 长沙 chahng-shah](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/changsha)
- [Dalian 大连 dah-lyen](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/dalian)
- [Shenyang 沈阳 shun-yahng](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/shenyang)
- [Xinjiang 新疆 sheen-jyahng](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/xinjiang)
- [Tibet (Xizang) 西藏 shee-dzahng](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/tibet-xizang)
- [Taiwan 台湾 tie-wahn](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/taiwan)
- [Taipei 台北 tie-bay](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/taipei)
- [the Yangtze (Changjiang) 长江 chahng-jyahng](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce/yangtze-changjiang)

[Every name, or type your own](https://mandarinthewild.com/how-to-pronounce)

## How do you pronounce China?

China (the country) is 中国 in Chinese, written Zhōngguó in pinyin and said joong-gwaw.

## What are the tones in China?

zhōng: first tone, high and level; guó: second tone, rising, as in a question.

## What do English speakers get wrong in China?

Zh is said like the j in “jam”, with the tongue curled back. Not “z”. Ong rhymes with the “oo” of “book” plus ng, not with “long”.

## More free tools

- [Chinese text to speech](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-text-to-speech)
- [Chinese name to pinyin](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-name-to-pinyin)
- [Tone practice](https://mandarinthewild.com/tone-practice)
- [Pronunciation checker](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-pronunciation-checker)
- [Pinyin chart](https://mandarinthewild.com/pinyin-chart)

Voices recorded for our word cards. A spelling such as “shyow-mee” is the nearest English sound, not the sound itself: hear the voices.