motel (car hotel) – loo gwan

To remember that motel (car hotel) is pronounced loo gwan (lu guan) in Mandarin Chinese, use the following mnemonic:

I've left the car outside my motel with the loot in the back, but don't worry, I have an iguana (loo gwan) guarding it.

I've left the car outside my motel with the loot in the back, but don't worry, I have an iguana (loo gwan) guarding it

1. Loo (loot) is a 3rd tone with ∪ as an accent.

However, lǚguăn has two 3rd tones in a row so loo becomes a 2nd tone. See 3rd Tone, 3rd Tone Combination Rule.

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

The loot was lifted up by helium balloons

The loot was lifted up by helium balloons.

2. Gwan (iguana) is a 3rd tone with ∪ as an accent.

Associate iguana, a 3rd tone, with a horse shoe or horse or smile. See Tones and Mnemonics.

The horse shoe wouldn't fit the iguana

The horse shoe wouldn't fit the iguana.

Loo = 2nd tone = ⁄

Gwan = 3rd tone = ∪