Beginner
The Five Tones
15 min · 3 objectives
What you'll learn
- Hear the difference between mid and high tone
- Produce a clear falling tone on monosyllables
- Avoid English-style pitch drift
The five tones
| Tone | Contour | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid | flat | māa | dog |
| Low | falling-start | màa | horse |
| Falling | sharp drop | mâa | dog (formal) |
| High | rising to peak | máa | come |
| Rising | low→high | mǐa | (no common) |
Minimal-pair drills are the fastest path to internalising these contours.