Basics
The Four Tones
Mandarin has four tones plus a neutral tone. The same syllable with different tones means different things.
| Tone | Mark | Contour | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | ā | High, flat | 妈 mā (mother) |
| 2nd | á | Rising | 麻 má (hemp) |
| 3rd | ǎ | Falling–rising (dip) | 马 mǎ (horse) |
| 4th | à | Sharp falling | 骂 mà (to scold) |
| neutral | a | Short, unstressed | 吗 ma (question particle) |
Getting tones wrong changes the meaning. Shuǐjiǎo means "dumplings", but shuìjiào means "to sleep".
Quiz
Pick the best answer for each question. You get feedback right away.
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Which tone is a falling–rising "dip"?
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How many tones (including neutral) does Mandarin have?
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"mǎ" means: