church – chow-tuhng

To remember that church is pronounced chow-tuhng (jiaotang) in Mandarin Chinese, use the following mnemonic:

The church was giving out free chow mein, but it burnt my tongue (chow-tuhng).

Tones

1. Chow (chow) is a 4th tone with \ as an accent.

Associate chow, a 4th tone, with lowering things like trip or slide down. See Tones and Mnemonics.

She fell into the chow mein.

2. Tuhng (tongue) is a 2nd tone with / as an accent.

Associate tongue, a 2nd tone, with a balloon filled with helium or anything that goes up. See Tones and Mnemonics.

The frog was lifted up by his tongue.

Remember

Chow = 4th tone = \

Tuhng = 2nd tone = /