There are five tones in Mandarin Chinese. Flat, rising, dip, falling, and neutral. Practice using the five tones with words that you know. This can be very hard for English speakers who have never spoken in tones before.
You can really tell a polished learner of Chinese when they are nailing their tones correctly. At the same time, is also really obvious when someone speaks Chinese with the wrong or just random tones. I think a tutor or coach at this stage is also crucial to make sure you are pronouncing tones correctly. You should also listen to correct pronunciation, and practice repeating what you hear. Keep in mind some tone combinations have special rules and do not always sound the same. The five tones of Mandarin Chinese: 1. First Tone (level/flat tone): The first tone is flat, so you are not changing the pitch on this one. However, it is usually slightly higher pitched than other tones. 2. Second Tone (rising tone): Here you start from a low pitch to a higher pitch. In English, it's similar to the tone you make at the last word of a sentence when asking a question, like how you would say the word "really?" 3. Third Tone (fall and rise): The third tone starts low, falls, and then rises slightly, but is mainly a low tone. In English, it's a similar tone when you say "oh" in embarrassment. 4. Fourth tone (falling/departing): The fourth tone starts from a high pitch and falls to a low pitch. In English, this is the kind of tone you make when you are yelling at someone angrily, like saying a curse word in frustration. 5. Fifth tone (neutral tone): The fourth tone is a neutral tone that does not go up or down and is spoken more softly and quickly than other tones. It also has a lower pitch than first tone, and a higher pitch than third tone; it is in the middle. Definitely do not pronounce it as a first tone or third tone. Practice makes perfect: It is important to imitate and practice what you hear from a native speaker. A good way to practice is to listen to an audiobook and at the same time read the pinyin and tones and repeat them out loud. You can check out Chinese books with CD audio in bookstores, online, or on Amazon. You can also use the tone trainer function on the Pleco App. Memorize, memorize, memorize! Once you have learned pinyin and the five tones, now you can start memorizing vocabulary. Not only should you memorize the pinyin for each word, but equally important is that you memorize the tone for each new word you use. Otherwise, Chinese speakers will still not understand what you are saying. It sounds really bad when you are guessing tones while speaking Chinese. You might end up saying something embarrassing that you didn't mean to say. You can really tell a polished learner of Chinese when they are nailing their tones correctly.
Here is another video you can check out:
Special tone rules: two word tone pair combinations Sometimes when you combine two tonal words together, the tone changes. Here are a few two-word tonal rules to remember:
In addition, other words have special rules, such as the word 不 Bù, which is normally fourth tone, but becomes second tone when followed by another fourth tone. Find a good Chinese Tutor: To accomplish the steps above, it may be easier to start off by taking classes or getting a Chinese tutor to help you. They can listen to how you are pronouncing tones and will be able to give you valuable feedback. Here are a few resources you can consider:
They are based in Taichung and can provide the best Taiwan-based Mandarin courses around. Get 10% off with promo code: FOREIGNERS10 https://www.tutorabc.com/
Other Resources you can consider:
There is no age limit to study a new language. Just keep dedicating yourself, improving your Chinese, and achieving your goals.
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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