LEARN / TONES
Same sound, five meanings.
Mandarin uses tone to tell words apart. Press each one and listen.
TONE 1妈māmother
High and flat — like holding a note.
TONE 2麻máhemp / numb
Rising — like asking “what?”
TONE 3马mǎhorse
Dips down, then up.
TONE 4骂màto scold
Sharp fall — like a firm “no!”
TONE 0吗ma(question word)
Neutral — light and short.
How pinyin spells sounds
- qlike “ch” in cheese — 七 qī
- xlike “sh” in sheep — 小 xiǎo
- zhlike “j” in jump, tongue curled — 中 zhōng
- clike “ts” in cats — 菜 cài
- rbetween “r” and the “s” in measure — 人 rén
- üsay “ee” with rounded lips — 绿 lǜ