How to Get the Chinese language Tones right

The first thing that all beginners learn in the Chinese language is the four tones, how the meaning of a sound changes relies on whether you say it in a rising pitch, a flat pitch, a falling pitch or a falling then rising pitch. If you are on this site and reading this article, then you have probably at least heard of the four tones, so I would not go over what they are in detail here. In this article, I will give you a strategy for practicing the tones so that you can get them to pronounce right, and some instructions for how to fix them in your head. A lot of people at the beginning learn about the tones, but they find them confusing, give up on them, and when they try to speak Chinese, then pretend that tones do not exist at all. This is a terrible idea because it becomes much more difficult to correct your pronunciation mistakes later on, and it is worth taking the time to get them right at the initial stage. 

Learn to say the tones correct by practicing them in pairs 

The key to getting “into the feel” of how the tones work in sentences and words is to practice them in different combinations. Luckily, most “words” in Chinese have just two syllables and, therefore, two tones, and with only four tones, there are only a small number of different combinations even when you factor in the unstressed syllables. There are many videos people produce on the internet. You need to listen and repeat after the examples to see how they work. If you become used to what the different tone mixtures “feel like” to say, then you will become more familiar with them and also be able to pick them out more quickly. When you become familiar with the tone combinations in two-syllable words, then it is just the same for three-syllable words, there is only an extra syllable on the front. And full sentences can usually be divided down into two or three-syllable “blocks,” which makes them easier to say correctly.

Fixing the tones in your head

One common trouble that beginner learners of Chinese face remember what tone each character or word should be. Also, this is why many people decide to “give up” on the tones. Every Chinese character has a tone, and if a word is consists of two characters, then that makes two tones you have to keep in mind. The problem is that there are generally not any clues from the character itself that will tell you the tone. That is why you have to pay attention to the tones of words right from the start and integrate them into your learning, and continue to reinforce them, so you do not forget them. After all, native Chinese speakers would not usually “forget the tones,” except for uncommon words, so it is possible to remember them, even though it might seem tough on your brain.

Strategy for remembering tones of words and characters

Be disciplined about using the correct tones 

Be disciplined about using the right tones whenever you say anything in Chinese. One of the great ways to remember the tones is not to try to remember them from a list of words but to use them simply.

It is easy just to try to “muddle through” by saying things without using the tones at all, but it is essential to be disciplined and pronounce each word and sentence you learn with right tones from the start. Even if it slows you down at the beginning, it will help you in the long run. 

Analyze your use of tones as you speak Chinese

Do not worry if you make tone mistakes, everybody does, and it is normal for any learner, but try to recognize your mistakes and correct them, or go and look up the tones of the word again later if you have forgotten them. 

Learn the tones when you learn new word/character

Whenever you learn a new character, always remember to learn the tones at the same time. Do not just copy a native speaker, always ask what the tones are, or look them up in a dictionary. 

When you learn a character, use that as an opportunity to strengthen the tones for the characters in it Chinese “words” are usually two or three characters. You might recognize the characters individually but have forgotten their tones. For instance, if you know that 法律 is the law, and it is pronounced “fǎ lǜ,” but keep in mind that the first character is in the third tone, then you can use it as an opportunity to energize your memory about the pronunciation of the 2nd character (lǜ in the fourth tone). 

Focus on tones while Chinese listening

You might find native speakers speak very fast, and it is tough to pick out the tones of words from a continuous stream of speech, but try to also listen for the tones of words or parts of the sentence. Obviously, not everyone speaks in a clear accent, so this tip works better for classes or when you are listening to TV or radio, etc. 

Double-check the tones of characters/words in a dictionary as you speak

Forgetting the tones of words is entirely normal. But the more you check terms and then use them properly, the more likely you are to remember them. It will take time, but in the end, you will get things right. Now, with smartphones, it is easy to look up a word quickly anywhere, using an app like Pleco. If you are unsure of the tones in the word for pencil, say, you could just type in qianbi (铅笔), and see that it would be pronounced in the 1st then 3rd tone. 

When you read, then read out loud with the correct tones

Reading Chinese texts out loud can be more complicated than other languages, because you have to remember all the character's pronunciations, and it can be quite slow. However, it is an excellent exercise to assist you to reinforce the tones, and it allows you to look up any character that you have forgotten. It is a great memory exercise and will help you improve quickly. 

Use colors and mnemonics and tone symbols

If you like to depend on visual prompts to remember things, then use mnemonics or a different color to represent the different tones. Who knows, it might make things easy for you. Practice makes perfect all aspects of a language. The more you practice the tones, rather than wishing they did not exist, the more you will remember them. Maybe you forget the tones of a word five times, but if you admit that, and in the end memorize it forever, then it is worth it.

Say the tones with gestures 

For those that are just beginning, this plan will keep your tone pronunciation in check. All you need to do is mimic the movement of the tone with your finger or with your whole hand, kind of like a conductor of an orchestra. While this may feel silly, the gestures offer signals on the type of stress that requires to be placed on the character. We know that the Chinese language has four tones, as well as a neutral, or a “fifth,” tone which needs to be paired with other characters for them to have a meaning. These are the gestures that you can use as you are reading characters with diverse tones:

First tone (—) — Draw a line above your head to keep your pitch high. Note how characters in the first tone tend to sound longer than the others, so draw a longer line or the imaginary line slowly.

Second tone (/) — Draw a diagonal fast from the bottom left to the top right to increase the pitch of your voice somewhat.

Third tone (V) — Draw a ‘V’ or a ‘U’ as a guide to drop or scoop, and then raise your pitch.

Fourth tone (\) — Draw a diagonal fast from the top left to the bottom right to add hard emphasis to the pinyin.

Fifth tone (.) — Draw a dot to keep the pronunciation concise and short.

Exaggerate the tones

Whether you are reading a passage or doing your tone pair drills, say the tones with gusto. At first, you might sound crazy, though it does not matter when you are practicing by yourself, does it? Giving that extra punch raises the chance of remembering how the tones sound, and the more you practice this, the more you will advance your pronunciation. Each tone kind of already sounds like it is emoting a feeling anyway, with the first tone sounding like unrestrained happiness and the third like utter confusion. All you need to do is exaggerate it a little more, turning it into a small dramatic production of your own, if you will. 

Always have a dictionary 

If you make a mistake during communication with a Chinese speaker, then do not worry. It is bound to happen when you are learning. Mistakes help you to learn and remember the right tones for certain characters. Pocket dictionaries, although a bit of a hassle to carry around, are convenient for those emergencies where the person you are talking to has not got a clue what you are trying to ask. The dictionary will help you to correct yourself and will shed clarity on the situation, and hopefully, you would not make the same mistake again. Of course, a dictionary in hard form is not important for moments like this, because there are many apps, from offline dictionaries and free resources for getting the tones right that you can depend on. Also, you can use mobile applications like Pleco, which functions as an integrated dictionary, document reader, and flashcard system with handwriting input, so it is fully equipped to assist you with any of your translation needs.

Listen to Chinese radio or watch TV

A language partner is beneficial for feedback and examples of correct usage of tones, but if you do not have one, consider listening to Chinese radio or watching Chinese TV. While conversations are also great practice, one of the best things about spoken Chinese in broadcast media is that everything is pronounced with the right tones, whereas some tones might be mumbled in real-life dialogue. From news stations to pop music and cultural programs, many Chinese stations will give you the chance to listen for real-world usage of tones. As you listen, you can either make a mental note of tones used or write them down to challenge yourself. And if you are not quite that comfortable with radio stations that are exclusively in Chinese, Easy FM has a few bilingual programs so that you have a better idea of how tones are used in spoken Chinese, but you are still able to understand what the radio DJs are saying. Whether you are a beginner or intermediate Chinese learner, we could all use some tone practice now and then. Adding any of these learning strategies will get you pronouncing and remembering tones in no time.