Tone pair 3-4

This page will cover some examples of the 3-4 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.

3-4 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
以后 yǐhòu after, later on
早饭 zǎofàn breakfast
晚饭 wǎnfàn dinner
走路 zǒulù to walk
好看 hǎokàn good-looking

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

3-4 Tone Pair Phrases (B1)

Audio Chinese Pinyin English
星期天 xīngqītiān Sunday
吃 香蕉 chī xiāngjiāo to eat a banana
喝 咖啡 hē kāfēi to drink coffee
去 公司 qù gōngsī to go to the office
很 开心 hěn kāixīn very happy

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

3-4 Tone Pair Combos

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

  • 很贵 (hěn guì) very expensive
  • 很快 (hěn kuài) very fast
  • 很慢 (hěn màn) very slow
  • 很热 (hěn rè) very hot
  • 很饿 (hěn è) very hungry

Sources and further reading

Websites