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Mandarin Tones and Pronunciation

In Mandarin, the pitch of your voice is part of the word. Meet the four tones and the neutral tone, and see how one sound, ma, can mean four different things.

⏱️ 15 min 🎯 13 activities
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What you'll cover

Why tones matter

Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language. The pitch of your voice is part of the word: the same sounds said with a different tone can mean completely different things. There are four tones, plus a light neutral tone. Saying them correctly is a graded part of speaking, so this module is where you start.

The four tones

Each tone has its own shape. Learn to hear and say them:

Does pitch change meaning?

In Mandarin the tone is part of the word. This is very different from English:

Match the tone to its shape

  • Tone 1
  • Tone 2
  • Tone 3
  • Tone 4
  • A high, level tone
  • A rising tone
  • A dipping tone that falls then rises
  • A sharp falling tone

Which tone?

Which tone rises, like asking a question in English?

  • Tone 2
  • Tone 1
  • Tone 3
  • Tone 4

One sound, four words

The most famous example is the syllable ma. With tone 1 (mā) it is 妈, mother. With tone 2 (má) it is 麻, hemp. With tone 3 (mǎ) it is 马, horse. With tone 4 (mà) it is 骂, to scold. In the neutral tone, ma (吗) turns a sentence into a question.

Match the syllable to its meaning

  • mā
  • má
  • mǎ
  • mà
  • mother
  • hemp
  • horse
  • to scold

True about tones?

Select the TWO statements that are TRUE about Mandarin tones.

  • There are four main tones, plus a neutral tone
  • The tone can change the meaning of a word
  • Tones are optional and do not change anything
  • English words all have fixed tones

Order the tones

Put the four tones in order, from tone 1 to tone 4.

  • Tone 1: high and level
  • Tone 2: rising
  • Tone 3: dipping
  • Tone 4: falling

Complete the facts

Mandarin is a _____ language, so the pitch is part of the word. There are four main tones plus a _____ tone. Tone 1 is high and _____. Tone 2 _____. The syllable ma with tone 3 means _____.

tonal neutral level rises horse silent strong falls mother scold

Tones that change meaning

Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE.

  • Mandarin has four main tones plus a neutral tone.
  • Changing the tone can change the meaning of a word.
  • Tone 1 is a sharp falling tone.
  • The syllable ma can only ever mean one thing.
  • English is a tonal language, like Mandarin.

Hear the tone

Use what you know about the tones to answer each question.

  • A syllable is said with a high, flat pitch that does not move. Which tone is it?
  • A syllable falls sharply, like giving an order. Which tone is it?
  • You hear ma said with a dipping tone that falls then rises. Which word is it?

Explain the tones

In English, explain why tones are important in Mandarin, using the syllable ma as an example. This is written in English and is not auto-marked.

  • Explain what a tonal language is
  • Describe the four tones and the neutral tone
  • Give the four meanings of ma with its tones
  • Say why getting the tone right matters when speaking