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Four short lessons on tones, greetings, introductions, and numbers.

Absolute beginnerAbout 25 minutes4 short lessons

Course progress0%

01 · 5 min

Hear the four tones

In this lesson

Understand that tone changes meaning in Mandarin.

Mandarin uses four main tones plus a light neutral tone. Begin by hearing the shape of each tone; perfect pronunciation can come later.

妈

mā

mother · first tone

麻

má

hemp · second tone

马

mǎ

horse · third tone

骂

mà

to scold · fourth tone

mā → má → mǎ → mà

high → rising → low/dipping → falling

Keep the syllable the same and change only its pitch shape.

💡 Do not replace tones with extra stress. Think of each tone as a short melody.

Which pinyin has the third tone?

Is this course for complete beginners?

Yes. The lessons move from basic sounds and words to short, useful sentences.

Do I need to finish the lessons in order?

The order is recommended, but you can revisit any lesson and repeat its quick check whenever you need review.

How much should I study at one time?

Finish one short lesson, say the examples aloud, and review the vocabulary again the next day.

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