Tone pair 4-4

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

4-4 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
看见 kànjiàn to see
现在 xiànzài now, nowadays
最后 zuìhòu last; finally
会议 huìyì meeting
电话 diànhuà telephone; phone number

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

4-4 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)

4-4 Tone Pair Combos

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

  • 太大 (tài dà) too big
  • 太贵 (tài guì) too expensive
  • 太快 (tài kuài) too fast
  • 太热 (tài rè) too hot
  • 太饿 (tài è) too hungry


Sources and further reading

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