These four consonants are similar to English sounds.

Writing practice: Trace each letter five times: b b b b b, p p p p p, m m m m m, f f f f f

These four consonants are also similar to English.

Writing practice: Trace each letter five times: d d d d d, t t t t t, n n n n n, l l l l l

Writing practice: Trace each letter five times: g g g g g, k k k k k, h h h h h

These three consonants are special. They sound different from English letters.

Writing practice: Trace each letter five times: j j j j j, q q q q q, x x x x x

These are "curled" consonants. Your tongue curls back when you say them.

Writing practice: Trace each letter five times: zh zh zh zh zh, ch ch ch ch ch, sh sh sh sh sh, r r r r r

These are "flat" consonants. Your tongue is flat.

Writing practice: Trace each letter five times: z z z z z, c c c c c, s s s s s

Here is the complete list:

b, p, m, f, d, t, n, l, g, k, h, j, q, x, zh, ch, sh, r, z, c, s

1. Listen first: Listen to your teacher or audio recordings of each consonant.
2. Read aloud: Repeat each consonant after hearing it.
3. Write carefully: Trace each consonant on the line, then write it on your own.
4. Match with cards: If you have consonant cards, match the written letter to the sound.
5. Play games: Hide consonant cards and find them, or race to name them.

In Tanzania, you can use your Chinese consonant knowledge when shopping at Chinese supermarkets in Dar es Salaam or Arusha, or when reading labels on products made in China. If you learn more Chinese, you could help translate for a tourist from China visiting Serengeti, or work as a guide for Chinese visitors to Mount Kilimanjaro. Knowing Chinese letters also helps if you use Chinese-made phones or tablets, as the pinyin input system uses these consonants to type Chinese characters.