Tone pair 1-2

If you're already familiar with tone pairs, then you might be ready for some specific examples. This page will cover some examples of the 1-1 tone pair, which Sinosplice rates as a "5" on a difficulty rating of 1-7 (easiest to hardest).

This one's a little difficult. 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.

1-2 Tone Pair Combos

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

• 开除
• 开门
• 开学

• 发明 (fāmíng) invent
• 发财 (fācái) make a fortune

1-2 Tone Pair Words

Sources: Sinosplice's Mandarin Chinese Tone Pair Drills, AllSet Learning's "Tone Pair" Pronunciation Pack (used with permission)

• 突然 (tūrán）suddenly
• 天堂 (tiāntáng) Heaven
• 猜拳 (cāiquán) finger guessing game
• 加油 (jiāyóu）add oil, to cheer someone on
• 生活 (shēnghuó) life
• 空调 (kōngtiáo) air Conditioning
• 家人 (jiārén) family

Sources and further reading

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