Four Tones
The four tones of Mandarin Chinese
I can recognize and produce the four tones
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
妈妈骑马。
Mom rides a horse.
我要汤。
I want soup.
问他！
Ask him!
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Four Tones
Mandarin has 4 tones plus a neutral tone. The same syllable changes meaning with each tone.
| Tone | Mark | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | ā | high flat | mā 妈 mother |
| 2nd | á | rising | má 麻 hemp |
| 3rd | ǎ | dip | mǎ 马 horse |
| 4th | à | falling | mà 骂 scold |
Neutral tone: short, unstressed — ma 吗 (question particle).
Learners often flatten all tones. The 2nd and 3rd tones are hardest to distinguish.
妈妈骑马。
Mom rides a horse.
mā (1st: mother) vs mǎ (3rd: horse) — tone changes meaning completely.
我要汤。
I want soup.
tāng 汤 (1st: soup) vs táng 糖 (2nd: sugar) — wrong tone, wrong dish!
问他！
Ask him!
wèn 问 (4th: ask) vs wén 文 (2nd: text/writing) — falling vs rising.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises