The initials d, t, n and l use the tongue near the front of the mouth.
Compare d and t#
Mandarin d and t differ in aspiration. The letter names in English are not a pronunciation guide.
Suggested practice#
Compare dā and tā, then practise nǐ and lǐ separately. Record one pair at a time and compare it with a reference speaker. This page groups these initials for practice; it does not claim that other Mandarin consonants avoid using the tongue.
Reference#
Pronunciation reference. The practice instructions here are newly written. Recordings, charts and illustrations from the reference are not reproduced.