首都 (shǒu dū) — capital in Mandarin
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#1487 most common word · HSK 4 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
首都 is pronounced shǒu dū. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
běi jīng shì shǒu dū.
Beijing is the capital.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 首都 mean?+
首都 (shǒu dū) means "capital" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 首都?+
首都 is pronounced shǒu dū. It uses the tone 3 (rising/dipping), then the tone 1 (high flat). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 首都 in Mandarin?+
首都 is the #1487 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 首都 fits
Every HSK 4 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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