Tone pair 2-4

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 Combos

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

• 蛮快 (mán kuài) quite fast
• 蛮饿 (mán è) quite hungry
• 蛮大 (mán dà) quite big
• 蛮贵 (mán guì) quite expensive

2-4 Tone Pair Words

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

• 还是 (háishì) or; still
• 然后 (ránhòu) and then
• 奇怪 (qíguài) strange, odd; to be baffled
• 不太 (bùtài) not too, not so
• 同事 (tóngshì) co-worker, colleague
• 不错 (bùcuò) not bad
• 容易 (róngyì) easy

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