Each tone has a number (1–4) and a marked symbol above the vowel. Here are the four tones:

How to Hear Each Tone

• First tone (ā): Keep your voice flat and high, like singing a single note.
• Second tone (á): Raise your voice, like asking a question "What?" in English.
• Third tone (ǎ): Dip your voice down then up, like showing surprise.
• Fourth tone (à): Drop your voice sharply, like giving a command "Stop!"

When you listen to Chinese words, follow these steps:

1. Listen carefully to the teacher's voice or audio recording.
2. Notice the pitch pattern — is it flat, rising, dipping, or falling?
3. Repeat after the teacher exactly as you hear it.

Practice with these vowel sounds:

Chinese tones are written using diacritical marks (small symbols) above the vowel letter. The mark tells you which tone to use.

Examples with Consonants

Listen and read these syllables, then write them with the correct tone marks:

Practice Writing Tone Marks

Copy these syllables and add the missing tone marks:

• ā + ___ + ___ + ___ + ___ (write all four tones)
• é + ___ + ___ + ___ + ___ (write all four tones)

• The tone mark is placed above the main vowel (a, e, i, o, u, ü).
• Different tones mean different words, even if the consonants and vowels are the same.
• Always listen first, then repeat, then write with the correct mark.
• Practice every day to train your ear to hear the differences.

In Tanzania, if you meet a Chinese tourist at a market in Arusha or Dar es Salaam, you can use Chinese tones to greet them correctly. Saying "nǐ hǎo" (hello) with the right tones shows respect and helps communication. Knowing tones also helps when using Chinese mobile apps or reading labels on goods imported from China at local shops.