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|[[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Tones-Introduction|◀️ Tones Introduction — Previous Lesson]]
|[[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Vocabulary/Greeting-People|Next Lesson — Greeting People ▶️]]
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{{Mandarin-chinese-Page-Top}}
{{Mandarin-chinese-Page-Top}}
<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Mandarin-chinese|Mandarin Chinese]]  → [[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Pinyin and Tones → Tone Pairs</div>


<div class="pg_page_title">Mandarin Chinese Grammar → Pinyin and Tones → Tone Pairs</div>
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== Introduction ==


As a beginner in learning Mandarin Chinese, understanding and recognizing tones is one of the essential skills to master. In Mandarin Chinese, tones distinguish meaning in words and sentences, and changing the tone can change the context and meaning of a sentence entirely. Therefore, to help you improve your Mandarin Chinese pronunciation skills, this lesson will introduce tone pairs, a set of words with identical syllables but different tones, and provide you with practice exercises.
Welcome to the lesson on Tone Pairs in Mandarin Chinese! In this lesson, we will explore the pairing of tones with syllables and words, and practice exercises to reinforce your understanding. Understanding tones is crucial in Mandarin Chinese, as tones can change the meaning of a word entirely. So let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of Mandarin Chinese tones!


== Tone Pairs ==


<span link>Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: [[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/吗-ma|吗 ma]] & [[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Be-Polite|Be Polite]].</span>
In Mandarin Chinese, each syllable is pronounced with one of four tones: the first tone (high level), the second tone (rising), the third tone (falling-rising), or the fourth tone (falling). These tones play a significant role in distinguishing words from one another, and it's essential to pair them correctly with the corresponding syllables to convey the intended meaning.
== What are Tone Pairs in Mandarin Chinese? ==


Tone pairs refer to Chinese characters with the same pronunciation but different tones. In Mandarin Chinese, there are four distinct tones and a neutral tone, represented by tone marks in pinyin, the official romanization system for Standard Mandarin.
=== Tone Pair 1: First Tone with First Tone ===


The four tones in Mandarin Chinese are:
When a first tone syllable is paired with another first tone syllable, the first tone is maintained in both syllables. Let's look at some examples:


* The first tone, represented by a flat high pitch (ā)
{| class="wikitable"
* The second tone, represented by a rising pitch (á)
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
* The third tone, represented by a dipping pitch that falls then rises (ǎ)
|-
* The fourth tone, represented by a falling pitch (à)
| 你好 || nǐ hǎo || hello
|-
| 谢谢 || xiè xie || thank you
|-
| 对不起 || duì bù qǐ || sorry
|}


The neutral tone is denoted by a horizontal line above the vowel (ā).
As you can see, when two first tone syllables are combined, they retain their original tone.


Tone pairs are essential in Mandarin Chinese as the tone of the word changes the meaning. For example, pinyin word "ma" pronounced in the four tones has four distinct meanings: mother (mā), hemp (má), horse (mǎ), and scold (mà).
=== Tone Pair 2: First Tone with Second Tone ===


To help you understand and recognize the importance of tone pairs, let's take a look at some examples:
When a first tone syllable is paired with a second tone syllable, the first tone remains unchanged, while the second tone rises slightly. Let's look at some examples:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
|-
|-
| 马 || mǎ || horse
| 中国 || zhōng guó || China
|-
|-
| 妈 || mā || mother
| 学习 || xué xí || to study
|-
|-
| 麻 || má || hemp
| 电影 || diàn yǐng || movie
|}
 
In these examples, the first tone syllable maintains its high level tone, while the second tone syllable starts low and rises slightly.
 
=== Tone Pair 3: First Tone with Third Tone ===
 
When a first tone syllable is paired with a third tone syllable, the first tone remains unchanged, while the third tone starts low and then rises. Let's look at some examples:
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
|-
|-
| 骂 || mà || scold
| 他们 || tā men || they
|-
| 我们 || wǒ men || we
|-
| 中国人 || zhōng guó rén || Chinese people
|}
|}


As you can see in the table above, all four words have the same syllable "ma" but differ in their tones, which changes the meaning of the word.
In these examples, the first tone syllable maintains its high level tone, while the third tone syllable starts low and then rises.


== Practice Exercises ==
=== Tone Pair 4: First Tone with Fourth Tone ===


To help you recognize the differences between tones, here are some practice exercises for you. Practice reading and pronouncing each pair of words.
When a first tone syllable is paired with a fourth tone syllable, the first tone remains unchanged, while the fourth tone falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:


=== Exercise 1 ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
|-
|-
| 巴巴 || bābā || father
| 妈妈 || mā mā || mother
|-
|-
| 把把 || bǎbǎ || to hold
| 爸爸 || bà bà || father
|-
|-
| 八八 || bābā || number 88
| 孩子 || hái zi || child
|}
 
In these examples, the first tone syllable maintains its high level tone, while the fourth tone syllable falls sharply.
 
=== Tone Pair 5: Second Tone with Second Tone ===
 
When a second tone syllable is paired with another second tone syllable, both syllables rise in pitch. Let's look at some examples:
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
|-
| 朋友 || péng yǒu || friend
|-
| 高兴 || gāo xìng || happy
|-
|-
| 爸爸 || bàba || dad
| 北京 || běi jīng || Beijing
|}
|}


=== Exercise 2 ===
In these examples, both second tone syllables rise in pitch.
 
=== Tone Pair 6: Second Tone with Third Tone ===
 
When a second tone syllable is paired with a third tone syllable, the second tone remains unchanged, while the third tone starts low and then rises. Let's look at some examples:
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
|-
| 大夫 || dàifu || doctor
|-
|-
| 打扶 || dǎfú || to support
| 一起 || yī qǐ || together
|-
|-
| 大富 || dàfù || rich
| 一点儿 || yī diǎn er || a little
|-
|-
| 打服 || dǎfú || to subdue
| 出发 || chū fā || to set off
|}
|}


=== Exercise 3 ===
In these examples, the second tone syllable maintains its rising pitch, while the third tone syllable starts low and then rises.
 
=== Tone Pair 7: Second Tone with Fourth Tone ===
 
When a second tone syllable is paired with a fourth tone syllable, the second tone remains unchanged, while the fourth tone falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
|-
| 哥哥 || gēge || older brother
|-
|-
| 鸽子 || gēzi || pigeon
| 老师 || lǎo shī || teacher
|-
|-
| 歌歌 || gēge || song
| 容易 || róng yì || easy
|-
|-
| 戈壁 || gēbì || desert
| 手机 || shǒu jī || mobile phone
|}
|}


=== Exercise 4 ===
In these examples, the second tone syllable maintains its rising pitch, while the fourth tone syllable falls sharply.
 
=== Tone Pair 8: Third Tone with Third Tone ===
 
When two third tone syllables are paired together, the first third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second third tone syllable remains in its original form. Let's look at some examples:
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
|-
| 活泼 || huópo || lively
|-
|-
| 火魄 || huǒpò || spirit
| 你好 || ní hǎo || hello
|-
|-
| 或拍 || huò pāi || option to take a photograph
| 谢谢 || xiè xie || thank you
|-
|-
| 获扑 || huòpū || to catch
| 对不起 || duì bù qǐ || sorry
|}
|}


=== Exercise 5 ===
In these examples, the first third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second third tone syllable remains unchanged.
 
=== Tone Pair 9: Third Tone with Fourth Tone ===
 
When a third tone syllable is paired with a fourth tone syllable, the third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the fourth tone falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
|-
| 季节 || jìjié || season
|-
|-
| 寂寞 || jìmò || lonely
| 中国 || zhōng guó || China
|-
|-
| 机器 || jīqì || machine
| 学习 || xué xí || to study
|-
|-
| 饥饿 || jī'è || hunger
| 电影 || diàn yǐng || movie
|}
|}


=== Exercise 6 ===
In these examples, the third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the fourth tone syllable falls sharply.
 
=== Tone Pair 10: Fourth Tone with Fourth Tone ===
 
When two fourth tone syllables are paired together, the first fourth tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second fourth tone syllable falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English
! Mandarin Chinese !! Pronunciation !! English Translation
|-
|-
| 块头 || kuàitóu || stature
| 妈妈 || mā mā || mother
|-
|-
| 快逃 || kuàitáo || to escape quickly
| 爸爸 || bà bà || father
|-
|-
| 宽头 || kuān tóu || wide-brimmed hat
| 孩子 || hái zi || child
|-
| 筷子 || kuàizi || chopsticks
|}
|}


With regular practice, recognizing tone pairs will become more natural, and your Mandarin Chinese pronunciation will improve.
In these examples, the first fourth tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second fourth tone syllable falls sharply.


== Conclusion ==
== Practice Exercises ==
 
Now that we've covered the different tone pairs, it's time to practice! Below, you will find a series of exercises to help you reinforce your understanding of tone pairing. For each exercise, determine the correct pronunciation of the given Mandarin Chinese word or phrase based on the tone pairing rules we have discussed.
 
Exercise 1: Tone Pair Identification
Determine the correct tone pairing for the following syllables or words:
 
1. 你好 (nǐ hǎo)
2. 谢谢 (xiè xie)
3. 朋友 (péng yǒu)
4. 一起 (yī qǐ)
5. 妈妈 (mā mā)


Tone pairs are important components in learning Mandarin Chinese, as they help practice pronunciation and distinguish different word meanings. Understanding Mandarin Chinese tones and tone pairs takes time and regular practice, so keep practicing! In the next lesson, we will learn how to use the subject-verb-object structure in Mandarin Chinese.
Exercise 2: Tone Pair Application
Apply the correct tone pairing to the following phrases:


== Sources ==
1. 中国人 (zhōng guó rén)
2. 一点儿 (yī diǎn er)
3. 老师 (lǎo shī)
4. 对不起 (duì bù qǐ)
5. 学习 (xué xí)


* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Chinese_phonology Standard Chinese Phonology]
Take your time to complete these exercises, and feel free to refer back to the tone pairing rules we covered earlier. Practice is key to mastering Mandarin Chinese tones!
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin Pinyin]


== Conclusion ==


<span link>Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: [[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Basic-structure-of-a-sentence|Basic structure of a sentence]] & [[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/二-(èr)-versus-两-(liǎng)|二 (èr) versus 两 (liǎng)]].</span>
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Tone Pairs in Mandarin Chinese! In this lesson, we explored the pairing of tones with syllables and words. Remember, correctly pairing tones is essential for conveying the intended meaning in Mandarin Chinese. Keep practicing and familiarize yourself with different tone combinations to become more fluent in the language. Good luck with your studies, and continue to explore the fascinating world of Mandarin Chinese!
{{#seo:
|title=Mandarin Chinese Grammar → Pinyin and Tones → Tone Pairs
|keywords=Mandarin Chinese, Pinyin and Tones, Tone Pairs, tones, Chinese characters, practice exercises, four tones, neutral tone, Mandarin Chinese pronunciation
|description=In this lesson, you will learn about tone pairs in Mandarin Chinese, a set of words with identical syllables but different tones, and how they are used in distinctive contexts. Improve your Mandarin Chinese pronunciation skills today!
}}


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==Other Lessons==
==Other Lessons==
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* [[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/都-(dōu)|都 (dōu)]]
* [[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/都-(dōu)|都 (dōu)]]
* [[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Chinese-adjectives|Chinese adjectives]]
* [[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Chinese-adjectives|Chinese adjectives]]


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<span pgnav>
{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
 
|[[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Tones-Introduction|◀️ Tones Introduction — Previous Lesson]]
|[[Language/Mandarin-chinese/Vocabulary/Greeting-People|Next Lesson — Greeting People ▶️]]
|}
</span>

Latest revision as of 05:23, 17 June 2023

◀️ Tones Introduction — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Greeting People ▶️

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Mandarin Chinese → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Pinyin and Tones → Tone Pairs

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Welcome to the lesson on Tone Pairs in Mandarin Chinese! In this lesson, we will explore the pairing of tones with syllables and words, and practice exercises to reinforce your understanding. Understanding tones is crucial in Mandarin Chinese, as tones can change the meaning of a word entirely. So let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of Mandarin Chinese tones!

Tone Pairs[edit | edit source]

In Mandarin Chinese, each syllable is pronounced with one of four tones: the first tone (high level), the second tone (rising), the third tone (falling-rising), or the fourth tone (falling). These tones play a significant role in distinguishing words from one another, and it's essential to pair them correctly with the corresponding syllables to convey the intended meaning.

Tone Pair 1: First Tone with First Tone[edit | edit source]

When a first tone syllable is paired with another first tone syllable, the first tone is maintained in both syllables. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English Translation
你好 nǐ hǎo hello
谢谢 xiè xie thank you
对不起 duì bù qǐ sorry

As you can see, when two first tone syllables are combined, they retain their original tone.

Tone Pair 2: First Tone with Second Tone[edit | edit source]

When a first tone syllable is paired with a second tone syllable, the first tone remains unchanged, while the second tone rises slightly. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English Translation
中国 zhōng guó China
学习 xué xí to study
电影 diàn yǐng movie

In these examples, the first tone syllable maintains its high level tone, while the second tone syllable starts low and rises slightly.

Tone Pair 3: First Tone with Third Tone[edit | edit source]

When a first tone syllable is paired with a third tone syllable, the first tone remains unchanged, while the third tone starts low and then rises. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English Translation
他们 tā men they
我们 wǒ men we
中国人 zhōng guó rén Chinese people

In these examples, the first tone syllable maintains its high level tone, while the third tone syllable starts low and then rises.

Tone Pair 4: First Tone with Fourth Tone[edit | edit source]

When a first tone syllable is paired with a fourth tone syllable, the first tone remains unchanged, while the fourth tone falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English Translation
妈妈 mā mā mother
爸爸 bà bà father
孩子 hái zi child

In these examples, the first tone syllable maintains its high level tone, while the fourth tone syllable falls sharply.

Tone Pair 5: Second Tone with Second Tone[edit | edit source]

When a second tone syllable is paired with another second tone syllable, both syllables rise in pitch. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English Translation
朋友 péng yǒu friend
高兴 gāo xìng happy
北京 běi jīng Beijing

In these examples, both second tone syllables rise in pitch.

Tone Pair 6: Second Tone with Third Tone[edit | edit source]

When a second tone syllable is paired with a third tone syllable, the second tone remains unchanged, while the third tone starts low and then rises. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English Translation
一起 yī qǐ together
一点儿 yī diǎn er a little
出发 chū fā to set off

In these examples, the second tone syllable maintains its rising pitch, while the third tone syllable starts low and then rises.

Tone Pair 7: Second Tone with Fourth Tone[edit | edit source]

When a second tone syllable is paired with a fourth tone syllable, the second tone remains unchanged, while the fourth tone falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English Translation
老师 lǎo shī teacher
容易 róng yì easy
手机 shǒu jī mobile phone

In these examples, the second tone syllable maintains its rising pitch, while the fourth tone syllable falls sharply.

Tone Pair 8: Third Tone with Third Tone[edit | edit source]

When two third tone syllables are paired together, the first third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second third tone syllable remains in its original form. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English Translation
你好 ní hǎo hello
谢谢 xiè xie thank you
对不起 duì bù qǐ sorry

In these examples, the first third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second third tone syllable remains unchanged.

Tone Pair 9: Third Tone with Fourth Tone[edit | edit source]

When a third tone syllable is paired with a fourth tone syllable, the third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the fourth tone falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English Translation
中国 zhōng guó China
学习 xué xí to study
电影 diàn yǐng movie

In these examples, the third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the fourth tone syllable falls sharply.

Tone Pair 10: Fourth Tone with Fourth Tone[edit | edit source]

When two fourth tone syllables are paired together, the first fourth tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second fourth tone syllable falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English Translation
妈妈 mā mā mother
爸爸 bà bà father
孩子 hái zi child

In these examples, the first fourth tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second fourth tone syllable falls sharply.

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now that we've covered the different tone pairs, it's time to practice! Below, you will find a series of exercises to help you reinforce your understanding of tone pairing. For each exercise, determine the correct pronunciation of the given Mandarin Chinese word or phrase based on the tone pairing rules we have discussed.

Exercise 1: Tone Pair Identification Determine the correct tone pairing for the following syllables or words:

1. 你好 (nǐ hǎo) 2. 谢谢 (xiè xie) 3. 朋友 (péng yǒu) 4. 一起 (yī qǐ) 5. 妈妈 (mā mā)

Exercise 2: Tone Pair Application Apply the correct tone pairing to the following phrases:

1. 中国人 (zhōng guó rén) 2. 一点儿 (yī diǎn er) 3. 老师 (lǎo shī) 4. 对不起 (duì bù qǐ) 5. 学习 (xué xí)

Take your time to complete these exercises, and feel free to refer back to the tone pairing rules we covered earlier. Practice is key to mastering Mandarin Chinese tones!

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Tone Pairs in Mandarin Chinese! In this lesson, we explored the pairing of tones with syllables and words. Remember, correctly pairing tones is essential for conveying the intended meaning in Mandarin Chinese. Keep practicing and familiarize yourself with different tone combinations to become more fluent in the language. Good luck with your studies, and continue to explore the fascinating world of Mandarin Chinese!

Table of Contents - Mandarin Chinese Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Pinyin and Tones


Greetings and Basic Expressions


Sentence Structure and Word Order


Daily Life and Survival Expressions


Chinese Festivals and Traditions


Verbs and Verb Usage


Hobbies, Sports and Activities


China's Geography and Landmarks


Nouns and Pronouns


Professions and Personality Traits


Chinese Traditional Arts and Crafts


Comparative and Superlative


Cities, Countries and Tourist Destinations


Modern China and Current Events



Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



◀️ Tones Introduction — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Greeting People ▶️

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