The Four Tones
See how a rising or falling melody can flip a word's meaning.
The Four Main Tones
Every syllable carries a little melody, and that melody is part of the word, just as much as the sounds are.
The line by each word traces its pitch. Some stay flat, while others rise, dip, or fall.
The same sounds can become four different words, and the tone is what tells them apart.
The Light Tone
Some syllables are soft and quick, with no tone of their own. In māma (妈妈, mom), the first part has a tone and the second stays light.
māma māmā
Sounds That Are New
A few consonants don't make the sounds you'd expect from English. Tap each one and let your ears lead the way.