Use pinyin to connect writing and sound
Pinyin writes Mandarin pronunciation using letters and tone marks. It supports reading a word while you are learning its Chinese characters.
Four tone marks
| Mark | Example syllable | Pitch pattern |
|---|---|---|
| First tone | mā | High and level |
| Second tone | má | Rising |
| Third tone | mǎ | Low; often rises when said on its own |
| Fourth tone | mà | Falling |
These syllables illustrate the pitch patterns. Practise tones inside useful words and phrases as well as on their own.
Notice light syllables
In 爸爸 (bà ba) and 妈妈 (mā ma), the second syllable is normally light and short. A syllable without a tone mark is not always pronounced at the same pitch as a first-tone syllable.
Try a familiar greeting
你好 is written nǐ hǎo. In normal connected speech, the first third-tone syllable changes to a rising tone before the next third tone. Listen to the whole phrase in the Chinese greetings lesson, then record it as one short expression.
Use Compare for one small adjustment
- Listen to the example when useful.
- Record a short phrase and tap Stop.
- Use Compare to hear the example followed by your recording.
- Choose one feature — a tone, the light syllable or the rhythm — and try it again.
Compare is a listening tool. The course does not give an automatic pronunciation score, and a recorded tick means the recording task was completed.