系统 (xì tǒng) — system in Mandarin
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#215 most common word · HSK 5 · CEFR B2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
系统 is pronounced xì tǒng. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Zhège diàn nǎo xì tǒng xū yào gēng xīn.
This computer system needs to be updated.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 系统 mean?+
系统 (xì tǒng) means "system" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 系统?+
系统 is pronounced xì tǒng. It uses the tone 4 (falling), then the tone 3 (rising/dipping). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 系统 in Mandarin?+
系统 is the #215 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 系统 fits
Every HSK 5 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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