HSK 1 Chinese Grammar Lesson
Basics 2: The Four Tones
四个声调
Sì gè shēng diào
3:27 min video · 13 sentences · 4 key words
Transcript with pinyin and English
Hide the English to test yourself.
- 你好！Nǐ hǎo!Hello!
- 中文。Zhōngwén.Chinese.
- 拼音。Pīn yīn.Pinyin.
- 妈。Mā.Mum. (first tone, high and flat)
- 妈妈。Māma.Mum. (mummy)
- 麻。Má.Hemp, numb. (second tone, rising)
- 麻？Má?Numb? (rising, like asking what)
- 马。Mǎ.Horse. (third tone, low dip)
- 小马。Xiǎo mǎ.Little horse.
- 骂。Mà.Scold. (fourth tone, sharp fall)
- 别骂！Bié mà!Don't scold!
- 妈，麻，马，骂。Mā, má, mǎ, mà.Mum, hemp, horse, scold.
- 很好！Hěn hǎo!Very good!
About this lesson
A young man learns Chinese. His flatmate plays a tone game with the word ma: mum, hemp, horse, scold. One syllable, four meanings.
How to practise
- Read how the pattern works on the first card, then listen to each example sentence.
- Repeat every example out loud in the 跟读 · Your turn pause: the pattern should start to feel automatic.
- At the end, check the common mistake and say the practice sentence yourself.
Key words 生词
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 妈 | mā | mum (mā) | HSK 1 |
| 麻 | má | hemp; numb (má) | HSK 7-9 |
| 马 | mǎ | horse (mǎ) | HSK 3 |
| 骂 | mà | to scold (mà) | HSK 5 |
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