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HSK 2 Chinese Culture Lesson

The Four Tones of Mandarin

四声

Sì shēng

6:59 min video · 18 sentences · 5 key words

Transcript with pinyin and English

Click a line to hear it, or loop it to shadow it.
  1. 0:01
  2. 0:12
  3. 0:25
  4. 0:37
  5. 0:58
  6. 1:08
  7. 1:20
  8. 1:31
  9. 2:06
  10. 2:14
  11. 2:28
  12. 2:40
  13. 2:50
  14. 3:04
  15. 3:16
  16. 3:42
  17. 3:56
  18. 4:13

About this lesson

Learn how one syllable like ma changes meaning with four tones, then test your ears with ma, tang and shi.

How to practise

  1. Read what you will learn on the first card, then follow the lesson section by section with pinyin and English.
  2. Repeat every sentence out loud in the 跟读 · Your turn pause: you learn the facts and the words together.
  3. At the end, check the recap and answer the question in the YouTube comments.

四声 Sì shēng

The Four Tones of Mandarin

In this lesson

  • Hear four tones on the syllable ma
  • Tell tang and shi apart by tone
  • Learn the shape of each tone

Key takeaways

  • Mandarin has four tones
  • Ma can mean mother, hemp, horse or scold
  • Tang means soup, candy or burning hot depending on tone

Your turn: Does your language use tones, and which Chinese tone is hardest for you?

Key words 生词

ChinesePinyinEnglishLevel
声调shēngdiàotone
第一声dìyīshēngfirst tone
听tīngto listenHSK 1
练习liànxíto practiseHSK 2
汤tāngsoupHSK 3

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