自由 (zìyóu) — Free in Mandarin
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#290 most common word · HSK 5 · CEFR C1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
自由 is pronounced zìyóu. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Wǒ xiǎngyào zìyóu.
I want freedom.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 自由 mean?+
自由 (zìyóu) means "Free" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 自由?+
自由 is pronounced zìyóu. It uses the tone 4 (falling), then the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 自由 in Mandarin?+
自由 is the #290 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 自由 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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