Tone pair 2-2

This page will cover some examples of the 2-2 tone pair, which Sinosplice rates as a "3" 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.

2-2 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
play	平时	píngshí	usually
play	学习	xuéxí	to learn
play	其实	qíshí	actually, in fact
play	常常	chángcháng	often
play	没来	méi lái	didn't come

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

2-2 Tone Pair Phrases (B1)

Audio	Chinese	Pinyin	English
play	常常来	chángcháng lái	to come often
play	别来玩	bié lái wán	don't come play
play	常常学习	chángcháng xuéxí	to study often
play	常常没钱	chángcháng méi qián	to often have no money
play	从没学过	cóngméi xué guò	to have never studied (before)

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

2-2 Tone Pair Combos

Audio	Chinese	Pinyin	English
play	蛮忙	mán máng	quite busy
play	蛮长	mán zhǎng	quite long
play	蛮强	mán qiáng	quite strong

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

Sources and further reading

Videos

• AllSet Learning video on YouTube: Chinese Pronunciation Practice: A2 Tone Pair 2-2
• AllSet Learning video on YouTube: Chinese Pronunciation Practice: B1 Tone Pair 2-2

Websites

• Sinosplice: The Process Of Learning Tones
• Sinosplice: Mandarin Chinese Tone Pair Drills, New Feature: Mandarin Chinese Tone Pair Drills
• Hacking Chinese: Focusing on tone pairs to improve your Mandarin pronunciation
• About.com: How tone pairs can improve your Mandarin pronunciation

B1 pronunciation points