Hear and practise Mandarin tones

Keep the syllable, change the pitch

• A Mandarin syllable has an initial sound, a final sound and a tone. Changing only the tone can change the word.
• Practise the following four words on the same syllable, ma. Keep the consonant and vowel steady so that you can hear what the pitch contributes.
• The marks in pinyin show the tone. A number after a syllable is another way of writing it: mā and ma1 represent the same tone.

The neutral tone

• The second syllable of 妈妈 is normally light and unstressed. Pinyin leaves it unmarked; numbered pinyin may use 5.
• A neutral tone is shorter and less prominent than a full tone. Its exact pitch depends on the syllable before it, so do not give it one fixed melody.
• Do not confuse an unmarked neutral syllable with a first tone. Mā has a tone mark; ma does not.

When two third tones meet

• In a pair of third-tone syllables, the first is normally pronounced with a rising tone. You will hear something like ní hǎo, although the dictionary spelling remains nǐ hǎo.
• In connected speech, a third tone often stays low without a full dip and rise. Avoid exaggerating every third tone into a long scoop.
• Learn the written tone and listen to the whole phrase. The written form helps you recognise the word; the spoken phrase teaches you its natural rhythm.

A five-minute listening routine

1. Open a word in the HSK 1 word list. Play its pronunciation with the pinyin visible.
2. Listen once without speaking. Trace the pitch with one finger, then replay and imitate the whole word.
3. Cover the pinyin and listen again. Say the tone number before uncovering the answer.
4. Alternate two words with different tones. If you confuse them, slow down and compare only that pair.
5. Finish by using one word in a short sentence. Move to the game's tone practice after you can hear the contrast without guessing from the spelling.

Check your understanding