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
