Lesson 3 · Tones & Pronunciation 声调
Tones change meaning in Mandarin. Get them right and you'll be understood; this lesson trains all four — plus the neutral tone — with the classic mā má mǎ mà.
Level: Core skill
⏱ 12:48
5-question quiz
▶ Watch the mouth shapes closely. The tone contour matters more than volume — keep it relaxed.
The four tones (+ neutral)
mā 妈1st · high & level — “mother”
má 麻2nd · rising — “hemp / numb”
mǎ 马3rd · dip then rise — “horse”
mà 骂4th · sharp fall — “to scold”
ma 吗neutral · light & quick — question particle
🎧 Tone-pair drill
声调
Tone-change rules · 变调
| Written | Actually said | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 你好 | ní hǎo | 3rd + 3rd → first becomes 2nd tone |
| 不是 | bú shì | 不 (bù) → bú before a 4th tone |
| 一个 | yí gè | 一 (yī) → yí before a 4th tone |
| 一起 | yìqǐ | 一 (yī) → yì before 1st/2nd/3rd tone |
Example sentences · 例句
- 妈妈骑马。
Mom rides a horse. - 马慢，妈妈骂马。
The horse is slow, so mom scolds the horse. (a classic tone tongue-twister) - 你好吗？
How are you? - 这不是茶。
This is not tea. (不 → bú)