Tone pair 1-2

This page will cover some examples of the 1-2 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 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
play 中国 Yīngguó China
play 英国 Yīngguó the United Kingdom
play 经常 jīngcháng often
play 今年 jīnnián this year
play 公园 gōngyuán public park

Source: AllSet Learning's "Tone Pair" Pronunciation Pack (used with permission)

1-2 Tone Pair Phrases (B1)

Audio Chinese Pinyin English
play 回英国 huí Yīngguó to return to the UK
play 来中国 lái Zhōngguó to come to China
play 经常来中国 jīngcháng lái Zhōngguó to often come to China
play 中国和英国 Zhōngguó hé Yīngguó China and the UK
play 来中国生活 lái Zhōngguó shēnghuó to come to China to live

Source: AllSet Learning's "Tone Pair" Pronunciation Pack (used with permission)

1-2 Tone Pair Combos

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

  • 真油 (zhēn yóu) really oily
  • 真长 (zhēn cháng) really long
  • 真红 (zhēn hóng) really red
  • 真难 (zhēn nán) really hard
  • 真忙 (zhēn máng) really busy

Sources and further reading

Websites