20 Single-syllable Tones

In the first module on tones, we introduced tones with simple initials and finals. This module provides more practice with tones using a greater variety of initials and finals. Even if you haven’t mastered all of the initials or finals, that should not be a problem as the focus of this module is on the use of tones . You might also return to this module after you have completed all the modules on initials and finals.

If you recall, there are five tones in Chinese. The first tone is an even, high-level contour:

Listening Quiz 1

Listen to the audio below and type in the number 1 if you hear the first tone, and the letter N if what you hear is not the first tone.

The second tone has a rising contour that moves from a low pitch to a high pitch:

Listening Quiz 2

Listen to the audio below and type in the number 1 if you hear the first tone, the number 2 if you hear the second tone, and the letter N for any other tone that you hear.

The third tone has a contour that falls slightly and then rises:

Listening Quiz 3

Listen to the audio below and type in the number 1 if you hear the first tone, the number 2 if you hear the second tone, the number 3 if you hear the third tone, and the letter N for any other tone you hear.

The fourth tone has a falling contour that starts high and then falls sharply to a low pitch:

Listening Quiz 4

Listen to the audio below and type in the number 1 if you hear the first tone, the number 2 if you hear the second tone, the number 3 if you hear the third tone, and the number 4 if you hear the fourth tone.

The neutral tone is pronounced short and light. Syllables with a neutral tone seldom occur in the beginning of a word or at the beginning of a sentence:

Dictation Quiz

Listen to the audio below and fill in the blanks with the Pinyin of what you hear. Rather than entering the tone mark, indicate the number of the tone after the final. So, if the answer is mǎ, you should enter ma3.