Mandarin sounds like music—the pitch rises and falls, and that melody changes meaning. Today, you’ll learn the four Mandarin tones plus the neutral tone, how to read pinyin, and how to pronounce common words clearly. We’ll practice with mini-exercises so you can start speaking right away.

Meet the Mandarin tones

In Mandarin, the same syllable with different tones can mean completely different things. Think of tones like voice melody:

• First tone (¯): high and steady. Example: mā (妈, mother)
• Second tone (ˊ): rising, like you’re asking a question. Example: má (麻, hemp)
• Third tone (ˇ): low dip, then rise. Example: mǎ (马, horse)
• Fourth tone (ˋ): sharp falling, like a command. Example: mà (骂, to scold)
• Neutral tone (no mark): light and quick, unstressed. Example: ma (吗, question particle)

Tip: Say each tone slowly first, then faster. Imagine singing a short note with different pitch patterns.

nǐ hao → nǐ hǎo Always add the tone mark. “hǎo” is third tone, not neutral.

Pinyin basics: initials and finals

Pinyin is the Romanization system that shows sound and tone.

• q (qǐng) sounds like “chee” but your tongue is closer to the front of the mouth; lips spread.
• x (xièxie) is like a soft “shee,” but again with the tongue forward.
• zh/ch/sh are retroflex—curl the tongue slightly back: zh ≈ “jur,” ch ≈ “chur,” sh ≈ “shur.”
• r (rén) is similar to the French “j” or English “r” with a slight buzz.
• ü (as in lǜ) is a rounded front vowel—say “ee” while rounding your lips.

Start slow. Match pinyin to sound, then add the right tone.

Nǐ hǎo, wǒ Lǐ Míng.

Neutral tone and the question particle “ma”

The neutral tone is short and light. It often appears in unstressed syllables and particles.

• 吗 ma is a neutral-tone particle that turns a statement into a yes/no question.

Examples:

• 你是老师吗？ Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma? → Are you a teacher?
• 你忙吗？ Nǐ máng ma? → Are you busy?

Keep “ma” light—no pitch contour.

Nǐ shì lǎoshī ?

Cultural note: tones matter, but kindness matters more

Yes, tones change meaning—calling someone’s “māma” (mother) a “mǎ” (horse) would be awkward! But people in China really appreciate your effort. Speak confidently, smile, and use polite phrases like 请 qǐng (please), 谢谢 xièxie (thank you), and 不好意思 bù hǎo yìsi (sorry/excuse me). Mistakes are part of learning.

Quick tone practice with common phrases

Say these slowly, then at natural speed:

• 你好 Nǐ hǎo → Hello.
• 谢谢 Xièxie → Thank you.
• 请 Qǐng → Please.
• 再见 Zàijiàn → Goodbye.
• 我叫… Wǒ jiào… → My name is…

Notice where the tones sit and how they flow together.

shie shie → xièxie “xiè” uses x (front-of-mouth sound) + fourth tone; the second syllable is neutral (no mark).

Wrap-up

You learned the four tones plus the neutral tone, how to place tone marks, and how pinyin maps to sound. Keep practicing short phrases, listen closely, and repeat with rhythm.

Your next step: pick 5 everyday phrases (like 你好, 谢谢, 我叫…) and record yourself. Compare to native audio, adjust tones, and repeat. You’ve got this—every clear tone is a win!