Back
Courses ▾
Mandarin Tone Tangle

Mandarin Tone Tangle

Choose the Chinese character and tone the speaker meant. Compare mā, má, mǎ, mà, and more.

Four tones and a neutral tone

High level (1), rising (2), low or dipping (3), falling (4), and a light neutral tone. In connected speech, third tones are often low; before another third tone, the first changes to a rising tone.

ma

mai

tang

shu

wen

shi

Why this is good practice

Tiny marks prevent excellent misunderstandings 🎭

Mandarin tones distinguish words: mā (妈, mother), mǎ (马, horse), and mà (骂, scold) have different meanings. Pinyin tone marks help you hear and remember the difference.

Choose the intended character, listen to its tone, then read the response. The tone overview lets you compare words side by side.