Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Tone-Pairs

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Mandarin Chinese → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Pinyin and Tones → Tone Pairs

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on Tone Pairs in Mandarin Chinese! In this lesson, we will explore the pairing of tones with syllables and words, and practice exercises to reinforce your understanding. Understanding tones is crucial in Mandarin Chinese, as tones can change the meaning of a word entirely. So let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of Mandarin Chinese tones!

Tone Pairs

In Mandarin Chinese, each syllable is pronounced with one of four tones: the first tone (high level), the second tone (rising), the third tone (falling-rising), or the fourth tone (falling). These tones play a significant role in distinguishing words from one another, and it's essential to pair them correctly with the corresponding syllables to convey the intended meaning.

Tone Pair 1: First Tone with First Tone

When a first tone syllable is paired with another first tone syllable, the first tone is maintained in both syllables. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
你好	nǐ hǎo	hello
谢谢	xiè xie	thank you
对不起	duì bù qǐ	sorry

As you can see, when two first tone syllables are combined, they retain their original tone.

Tone Pair 2: First Tone with Second Tone

When a first tone syllable is paired with a second tone syllable, the first tone remains unchanged, while the second tone rises slightly. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
中国	zhōng guó	China
学习	xué xí	to study
电影	diàn yǐng	movie

In these examples, the first tone syllable maintains its high level tone, while the second tone syllable starts low and rises slightly.

Tone Pair 3: First Tone with Third Tone

When a first tone syllable is paired with a third tone syllable, the first tone remains unchanged, while the third tone starts low and then rises. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
他们	tā men	they
我们	wǒ men	we
中国人	zhōng guó rén	Chinese people

In these examples, the first tone syllable maintains its high level tone, while the third tone syllable starts low and then rises.

Tone Pair 4: First Tone with Fourth Tone

When a first tone syllable is paired with a fourth tone syllable, the first tone remains unchanged, while the fourth tone falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
妈妈	mā mā	mother
爸爸	bà bà	father
孩子	hái zi	child

In these examples, the first tone syllable maintains its high level tone, while the fourth tone syllable falls sharply.

Tone Pair 5: Second Tone with Second Tone

When a second tone syllable is paired with another second tone syllable, both syllables rise in pitch. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
朋友	péng yǒu	friend
高兴	gāo xìng	happy
北京	běi jīng	Beijing

In these examples, both second tone syllables rise in pitch.

Tone Pair 6: Second Tone with Third Tone

When a second tone syllable is paired with a third tone syllable, the second tone remains unchanged, while the third tone starts low and then rises. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
一起	yī qǐ	together
一点儿	yī diǎn er	a little
出发	chū fā	to set off

In these examples, the second tone syllable maintains its rising pitch, while the third tone syllable starts low and then rises.

Tone Pair 7: Second Tone with Fourth Tone

When a second tone syllable is paired with a fourth tone syllable, the second tone remains unchanged, while the fourth tone falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
老师	lǎo shī	teacher
容易	róng yì	easy
手机	shǒu jī	mobile phone

In these examples, the second tone syllable maintains its rising pitch, while the fourth tone syllable falls sharply.

Tone Pair 8: Third Tone with Third Tone

When two third tone syllables are paired together, the first third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second third tone syllable remains in its original form. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
你好	ní hǎo	hello
谢谢	xiè xie	thank you
对不起	duì bù qǐ	sorry

In these examples, the first third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second third tone syllable remains unchanged.

Tone Pair 9: Third Tone with Fourth Tone

When a third tone syllable is paired with a fourth tone syllable, the third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the fourth tone falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
中国	zhōng guó	China
学习	xué xí	to study
电影	diàn yǐng	movie

In these examples, the third tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the fourth tone syllable falls sharply.

Tone Pair 10: Fourth Tone with Fourth Tone

When two fourth tone syllables are paired together, the first fourth tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second fourth tone syllable falls sharply. Let's look at some examples:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
妈妈	mā mā	mother
爸爸	bà bà	father
孩子	hái zi	child

In these examples, the first fourth tone syllable changes to a second tone, while the second fourth tone syllable falls sharply.

Practice Exercises

Now that we've covered the different tone pairs, it's time to practice! Below, you will find a series of exercises to help you reinforce your understanding of tone pairing. For each exercise, determine the correct pronunciation of the given Mandarin Chinese word or phrase based on the tone pairing rules we have discussed.

Exercise 1: Tone Pair Identification Determine the correct tone pairing for the following syllables or words:

1. 你好 (nǐ hǎo) 2. 谢谢 (xiè xie) 3. 朋友 (péng yǒu) 4. 一起 (yī qǐ) 5. 妈妈 (mā mā)

Exercise 2: Tone Pair Application Apply the correct tone pairing to the following phrases:

1. 中国人 (zhōng guó rén) 2. 一点儿 (yī diǎn er) 3. 老师 (lǎo shī) 4. 对不起 (duì bù qǐ) 5. 学习 (xué xí)

Take your time to complete these exercises, and feel free to refer back to the tone pairing rules we covered earlier. Practice is key to mastering Mandarin Chinese tones!

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Tone Pairs in Mandarin Chinese! In this lesson, we explored the pairing of tones with syllables and words. Remember, correctly pairing tones is essential for conveying the intended meaning in Mandarin Chinese. Keep practicing and familiarize yourself with different tone combinations to become more fluent in the language. Good luck with your studies, and continue to explore the fascinating world of Mandarin Chinese!

Table of Contents - Mandarin Chinese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Pinyin and Tones

• Pinyin Introduction
• Tones Introduction
• Tone Pairs

  ---

Greetings and Basic Expressions

• Greeting People
• Basic Expressions
• Numbers and Counters

  ---

Sentence Structure and Word Order

• Subject-Verb-Object Structure
• Question Words and Question Structure
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Negation and Conjunctions
• Particles and Structure Particles

  ---

Daily Life and Survival Expressions

• Asking for Directions
• Ordering Food and Drinks
• Shopping and Bargaining
• Transport and Travel
• Emergencies and Medical Care

  ---

Chinese Festivals and Traditions

• Spring Festival and Chunyun
• Mid-Autumn Festival and Mooncakes
• Dragon Boat Festival and Zongzi
• Double Ninth Festival and Chongyang Cake

  ---

Verbs and Verb Usage

• Action Verbs and Stative Verbs
• Modal Verbs and Auxiliary Verbs
• Complex Verb Phrases

  ---

Hobbies, Sports and Activities

• Leisure Activities and Hobbies
• Sports and Exercise
• Outdoor Activities and Nature
• Music and Film

  ---

China's Geography and Landmarks

• China's Four Great Ancient Capitals
• Famous Chinese Mountains and Rivers
• China's Great Wall

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Common and Proper Nouns
• Personal Pronouns and Possessive Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns and Interrogative Pronouns

  ---

Professions and Personality Traits

• Professions and Jobs
• Personality Traits and Characteristics
• Emotions and Feelings

  ---

Chinese Traditional Arts and Crafts

• Chinese Calligraphy and Painting
• Chinese Opera and Drama
• Chinese Knots and Paper-cutting

  ---

Comparative and Superlative

• Comparative Form and Usage
• Superlative Form and Usage

  ---

Cities, Countries and Tourist Destinations

• Chinese and International Cities
• Country Names and Nationalities
• Tourist Attractions and Transportation

  ---

Modern China and Current Events

• China's Economy and Business Landscape
• Chinese Art and Entertainment Scene
• Current Events and Issues in China and Beyond

Other Lessons

• Classifiers The Complete Guide
• 0 to A1 Course
• Action Verbs and Stative Verbs
• Superlative Form and Usage
• Ask how to do something with 怎么 (zěnme)
• 了 le
• Connect two nouns with 是 (shì)
• 吗 ma
• 都 (dōu)
• Chinese adjectives

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