shēng diào 声 调 Tones

yīnpíng 阴平 yángpíng 阳平 上声 qùshēng 去声 轻声 1st Tone 2nd Tone 3rd Tone shǎngshēng 上声 qùshēng 去声 qīngshēng 轻声 1st Tone 2nd Tone 3rd Tone 4th Tone Neutral Tone Tone marks are written above the main final of a syllable. Main vowel can be identified according to the following sequence: a-o-e-i-u-ü Exception: when i and u are combined, tone mark is on the second final: jiù duì.

First Tone: it is high and remain level First Tone: it is high and remain level. Use your finger draw a heng while saying it. Second Tone: it goes up and is abrupt. Raise your eyebrows while saying it. Third Tone: it is a falling-rising tone. Drop your chin onto your neck and raise it again while saying it. Fourth Tone: is a falling tone. Stomp your foot gently while saying it. Neutral Tone: It is rare but useful.

Note: We do not change tone marks in writing. “er” sound Tone Sandhi If two third tones syllables are spoken in succession, the first third tone becomes second tone. This is known as “tone sandhi” in linguistics. Note: We do not change tone marks in writing. Neutral Tone: It is occurred in unstressed syllables. It is unmarked. The pitch is determined by the preceding syllable. E.g: Xièxie Chēzi Māma Chúzi Shūshu Lǐzi Shìzi Bàba Gēge Dìdi