Mandarin Chinese has four main tones plus a neutral tone. This table shows how these tones combine in two-syllable words. Select a Chinese voice and click the play button to hear the pronunciation of each combination.
1st Tone: High Level (ā) | 2nd Tone: Rising (á) | 3rd Tone: Falling-Rising (ǎ) | 4th Tone: Falling (à) | Neutral: Light (a)
| Tone 1 + Tone | Example 1 | Example 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 + 1 |
飞机
airplane
|
咖啡
coffee
|
| 1 + 2 |
中文
Chinese language
|
新年
New Year
|
| 1 + 3 |
英语
English language
|
喝水
drink water
|
| 1 + 4 |
天气
weather
|
高兴
happy
|
| 1 + Neutral |
妈妈
mother
|
哥哥
older brother
|
| Tone 2 + Tone | Example 1 | Example 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 + 1 |
明天
tomorrow
|
回家
return home
|
| 2 + 2 |
学习
to study
|
同学
classmate
|
| 2 + 3 |
苹果
apple
|
牛奶
milk
|
| 2 + 4 |
学校
school
|
游戏
game
|
| 2 + Neutral |
爷爷
grandfather
|
伯伯
uncle
|
| Tone 3 + Tone | Example 1 | Example 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 + 1 |
北京
Beijing
|
火车
train
|
| 3 + 2 |
美国
America
|
可能
possible
|
| 3 + 3 |
水果
fruit
|
手表
wristwatch
|
| 3 + 4 |
准备
prepare
|
感谢
thank
|
| 3 + Neutral |
奶奶
grandmother
|
姐姐
older sister
|
| Tone 4 + Tone | Example 1 | Example 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 + 1 |
大约
approximately
|
汽车
car
|
| 4 + 2 |
问题
question
|
大学
university
|
| 4 + 3 |
报纸
newspaper
|
电影
movie
|
| 4 + 4 |
现在
now
|
谢谢
thank you
|
| 4 + Neutral |
爸爸
father
|
弟弟
younger brother
|