Tone pair 2-4

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This page will cover some examples of the 2-4 tone pair, which Sinosplice rates as a "2" on a difficulty rating of 1-7 (easiest to hardest).

Practice this tone pair using the words below. Once you can say them reliable in isolation (as just a tone pair), try putting them in longer sentences while keeping the tones accurate.

2-4 Tone Pair Diagram

It helps many learners to see the two tones side by side.

Tone Pair 2-4 cropped.png

2-4 Tone Pair Words (A2)

If you're just getting started with tone pairs, these simple two-syllable words and phrases are a good place to start. If these are too easy, you may want to move onto the longer (B1) phrases below.

Audio Chinese Pinyin English
还是 háishì or; still
然后 ránhòu and then
容易 róngyì easy
邮件 yóujiàn an email
前面 qiánmiàn ahead, in front

Remember: the word 不太 (bùtài) has a tone change, which means it is pronounced "bútài" (a 2-4 tone pair).

Source: AllSet Learning's "Tone Pair" Pronunciation Pack (used with permission)

2-4 Tone Pair Phrases (B1)

Audio Chinese Pinyin English
在前面 zài qiánmiàn to be up ahead
看邮件 kàn yóujiàn to check one's email
没事做 méi shì zuò to have nothing to do
不太容易 bùtài róngyì not too easy
前面的邮件 qiánmiàn de yóujiàn the previous email

Remember: the word 不太 (bùtài) has a tone change, which means it is pronounced "bútài" (a 2-4 tone pair).

Source: AllSet Learning's "Tone Pair" Pronunciation Pack (used with permission)

1-1 Tone Pair Combos

Audio Chinese Pinyin English
(coming) 蛮快 mán kuài quite fast
(coming) 蛮饿 mán è quite hungry
(coming) 蛮大 mán dà quite big
(coming) 蛮贵 mán guì quite expensive

Source: Sinosplice's Mandarin Chinese Tone Pair Drills (used with permission)

Sources and further reading

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