The Four Tones of Mandarin
In Mandarin, the pitch you use changes the word. The same syllable mā, má, mǎ, mà means mom, hemp, horse, or to scold. Here is what each tone does.
Tone 1 · first tone
High and level, like singing a steady note.
Example: mā 妈 — mom
Tone 2 · second tone
Rising, like asking a surprised question.
Example: má 麻 — hemp; numb
Tone 3 · third tone
Falls then rises, like a doubtful 'well...'.
Example: mǎ 马 — horse
Tone 4 · fourth tone
Falls sharply, like a firm 'No!'.
Example: mà 骂 — to scold
Tone 5 · neutral tone
Light and short, no tone mark.
Example: ma 吗 — question particle
Practice each tone in isolation first, then in real words. Inside Hanlyny you can record any syllable and see exactly which tone you produced.
Practice the tones with feedback
Hanlyny scores your pronunciation syllable by syllable, so you know precisely when a tone is off.