How to pronounce Yao Ming (姚明) in Chinese
Yao Ming is 姚明, Yáo Míng: "yow ming", both syllables rising. Hear 姚明 (yáo míng) spoken, see what it means, then record yourself for instant AI feedback on your pronunciation.
姚明
yáo míng
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Characters & meanings
(surname)
bright
Common mistake
Two rising tones, each with its own rise. Yao is "yow" as in "how", not "yay-oh".
Yao Ming in Mandarin: what to get right
Yao Ming, born in Shanghai in 1980, played for the Houston Rockets from 2002 to 2011 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. Yáo is the surname; 明 means "bright".
How English speakers usually say it
English speakers get close: "Yow Ming". What is usually missing is the pitch: two flat syllables, or a falling "MING" at the end as in an English statement.
How to say 姚明 tone by tone
Yáo: "yow", rising. Míng: "ming", rising again, even at the end of the name. English sentence intonation pulls the last syllable down; resist it.
The recorder below scores the Mandarin, 姚明 (yáo míng): every syllable’s tone, initial and final. Check your tones on more words.
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