This is the #1 thing that makes Mandarin different. Master this and you'll sound 10× more natural. Same syllable "ma" — but said wrong, "Mom" becomes "Horse"!
🎵 4 Tones🔁 16 Minimal Pairs🧠 8-Question Quiz⏱ ~15 min
🎵 The 4 Tones
Click Each Tone — Hear the Difference
Tone 1
妈
mā
Mom / Mother
High & Flat →
Tone 2
麻
má
Hemp / Numb
Rising ↗
Tone 3
马
mǎ
Horse
Dip & Rise ↘↗
Tone 4
骂
mà
Scold
Sharp Fall ↘
🇺🇸
For English speakers: Think of Tone 2 like asking a question ("Really?↗"), Tone 4 like giving a command ("Stop!↘"), and Tone 3 like saying "Hmm..." with doubt (↘↗). Tone 1 is steady, like singing a single flat note.
🔁 Minimal Pairs
Same Sound — Totally Different Meaning
👅 Tongue Twister
The Most Famous Mandarin Tone Drill
🔊 Click to hear
妈妈骑马，马慢，妈妈骂马
Māma qí mǎ, mǎ màn, māma mà mǎ
Mom rides a horse. The horse is slow. Mom scolds the horse.
All 4 tones of "ma" in one sentence — listen carefully!
⚡ Rule
The T3 + T3 Secret Rule
💡 When two Tone 3 words are side by side, the first one changes to Tone 2
你
nǐ — Tone 3
+
好
hǎo — Tone 3
→
你好
níhǎo — T2 + T3 ✅
Don't worry — this happens automatically when you speak naturally! Just knowing it exists will help your ear recognise it.
🧠 Quiz
Which Tone Did You Hear?
🎧 Tone Ear Training
0 / 0
Press ▶ to hear the word, then pick which tone you heard.