Listen and pronounce basic Chinese vowels

Chinese Vowels with Tones

In Chinese, every vowel (called irabu or 韵母) is pronounced with a tone. There are four tones that change how a vowel sounds. Learning to hear and say these tones correctly is very important in Chinese.

The Four Chinese Tones

Tone Number	Name in Swahili	Description	Example
1	Toni ya kwanza	High and flat (level)	ā (mā)
2	Toni ya pili	Rising (going up)	á (má)
3	Toni ya tatu	Dipping (down then up)	ǎ (mǎ)
4	Toni ya nne	Falling (going down quickly)	à (mà)

Basic Vowels (韵母) in All Four Tones

Listen and repeat after your teacher. Notice how the tone mark (the accent mark) shows which tone to use:

• a: ā á ǎ à
• o: ō ó ǒ ò
• e: ē é ě è
• i: ī í ǐ ì
• u: ū ú ǔ ù
• ü: ǖ ǘ ǚ ǜ

How to Practise

Step 1: Listen carefully

• Listen to your teacher or the audio recording.
• Pay attention to whether the voice goes up, down, or stays flat.

Step 2: Repeat after the teacher

• Say the vowel after you hear it.
• Try to match the exact sound.

Step 3: Sing the tones

• Practice by singing or chanting the vowels in order: ā á ǎ à
• This helps you remember the rising and falling patterns.

Important Tips

• The tone mark tells you which tone to use. It is placed above the main vowel letter.
• The same vowel with a different tone means a different sound in Chinese.
• Practice every day by listening and repeating.

Real-life application

In Tanzania, if you travel to places where Chinese tourists visit, such as Zanzibar or Arusha, knowing how to pronounce Chinese vowels with correct tones can help you greet them politely. For example, saying "nǐ hǎo" (hello) with the correct tones shows respect and makes communication easier when buying or selling goods at the market.