1

Learning outcomes

By the end of this lesson, you are

expected to:

• distinguish between the four tones.

• identify the neutral tone.

• pronounce syllables with the

proper intonation.

Tones

声调 shēnɡdiào

Hànyǔ yǒu sì ɡè jīběn shēnɡdiào

汉语 有 四 个 基本 声调。 In Chinese, there are four basic tones.

声调 shēnɡdiào Tones

第一声 dì yī shēnɡ

First tone

The first tone is known as “ dì yì shēnɡ 第一声”. The syllables carrying the first tone have to be read high and flat.

第二声 dì èr shēnɡ

Second tone

The second tone is called “ dì èr shēnɡ 第二声”. The syllables

carrying the second tone when read

start medium in tone, then rise to the

top.

第三声 dì sān shēnɡ

Third tone

The third tone is named as “dì sān

shēnɡ 第三声”. The syllables carrying a

third tone when read start low, dip to

the bottom, then rise towards the top.

第四声 dì sān shēnɡ

Third tone

The fourth tone is called “dì sì shēnɡ 第四声”. The syllables with a fourth

tone when read start at the top, then

fall sharp and strong to the bottom.

声调 shēnɡdiào Tones

第二声 第一声

第四声 第三声

5 4 3 2 1

5 4 3 2 1

Let’s see the example of the syllable “mɑ”.

Qǐnɡ zhùyì shēnɡdiào

请 注意 声调 Please pay attention to the tones.

1st tone 2nd

tone

3rd

tone

4th

tone

Chinese

pinyin

Chinese

character

English

meaning

mother fibrous

crop

horse to scold

má

麻

mā

妈

mǎ

马

mà

骂

声调 shēnɡdiào Tones

qīnɡshēnɡ

轻声 Neutral tone

The neutral tone （qīnɡshēnɡ 轻声） is identified by the

absence of a tone mark.

The syllables which carry a

neutral tone are pronounced soft

and short.

Let’s see some examples.

Chinese

characters

Chinese

Pinyin Meaning

妈妈 mother

学生 student

māmɑ xuéshenɡ

shēnɡdiào liànxí

声调 练习 Tone Practice

Qǐnɡ ɡēn wǒ dú

请 跟 我 读。 Qǐnɡ zhùyì shēnɡdiào

请 注意 声调。

Please read after me and pay

attention to the tones (shēnɡdiào

声调).

ā á ǎ à Tone Practice

ā á ǎ à ō ó ǒ ò

Tone Practice

ā á ǎ à ō ó ǒ ò ē é ě è

Tone Practice

ā á ǎ à ō ó ǒ ò ē é ě è ī í ǐ ì

Tone Practice

ā á ǎ à ō ó ǒ ò ē é ě è ī í ǐ ì ū ú ǔ ù

Tone Practice

ā á ǎ à ō ó ǒ ò ē é ě è ī í ǐ ì ū ú ǔ ù ǖ ǘ ǚ ǜ

Tone Practice

Exercise

练习 liànxí

Tīnɡ hòu xuǎnzé

听后选择

Listen and choose

the correct answer.

zhènɡquè dá’àn

正确答案

Qǐnɡ zhùyì shēnɡdiào 请 注意 声调

Pay attention to the tones.

A.wǒ

B.wò

Lìrú 例如 Example

Nǐ dáduì le mɑ

你答对了吗？ Have you answered

correctly?

A.wǒ

B.wò

Listen attentively

Xiànzài nǐ lái shì yī shì

现在 你 来 试一试 Now it’s your turn to try.

A.tiān

B.tián

Question 1

A.tiān

B.tián

Listen attentively

A.mèi

B.měi

Question 2

A.mèi

B.měi

Listen attentively

A.lànɡ

B.lánɡ

Question 3

A.lànɡ

B.lánɡ

Listen attentively

A.chuān

B.chuán

Question 4

A.chuān

B.chuán

Listen attentively

zài jiàn

再见