Tone pair 3-1
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Level
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In series Tone pairs
- 1. Tone pair 1-1
- 2. Tone pair 1-2
- 3. Tone pair 1-3
- 4. Tone pair 1-4
- 5. Tone pair 1-0
- 6. Tone pair 2-1
- 7. Tone pair 2-2
- 8. Tone pair 2-3
- 9. Tone pair 2-4
- 10. Tone pair 2-0
- 11. Tone pair 3-1
- 12. Tone pair 3-2
- 13. Tone pair 3-3
- 14. Tone pair 3-4
- 15. Tone pair 3-0
- 16. Tone pair 4-1
- 17. Tone pair 4-2
- 18. Tone pair 4-3
- 19. Tone pair 4-4
- 20. Tone pair 4-0
This page will cover some examples of the 3-1 tone pair, which Sinosplice rates as a "5" 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.
Contents
3-1 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 |
---|---|---|---|
已经 | yǐjīng | already | |
买单 | mǎidān | to pay the restaurant bill | |
手机 | shǒujī | cell phone | |
北京 | Běijīng | Beijing | |
老师 | lǎoshī | teacher |
Source: AllSet Learning's "Tone Pair" Pronunciation Pack (used with permission)
3-1 Tone Pair Phrases (B1)
Audio | Chinese | Pinyin | English |
---|---|---|---|
买手机 | mǎi shǒujī | to buy a cell phone | |
喜欢北京 | xǐhuān Běijīng | to like Beijing | |
老公买单 | lǎogōng mǎidān | (one's) husband pays the bill | |
很多老师 | hěn duō lǎoshī | a lot of teachers | |
已经吃了很多 | yǐjīng chī le hěn duō | have already been eating for a long time |
Source: AllSet Learning's "Tone Pair" Pronunciation Pack (used with permission)
3-1 Tone Pair Combos
Source: Sinosplice's Mandarin Chinese Tone Pair Drills (used with permission)
- 很高 (hěn gāo) very tall
- 很轻 (hěn qīng) very light
- 很酸 (hěn suān) very sour
- 很黑 (hěn hēi) very dark
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