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 Combos

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

• 蛮忙 (mán máng) quite busy
• 蛮长 (mán zhǎng) quite long
• 蛮强 (mán qiáng) quite strong

2-2 Tone Pair Words

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

• 足球 (zúqiú) football
• 还 钱 (huán qián) to return (borrowed) money
• 别 来 (bié lái) don't come
• 没 来 (méi lái) didn't come
• 平时 (píngshí) usually
• 流行 (liúxíng) popular
• 无聊 (wúliáo) bored

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