2. Rising Tones
There are two rising tones in Cantonese:
Both Tone 2 and Tone 5 start from the low pitch. The difference between them is that Tone 2 ends at the high pitch, but Tone 5 ends at the mid pitch.
Step 1 ๐
Listen to the syllable si in Tone 2 and Tone 5 together. Pay attention to the pitch. The pitch of Tone 2 goes up much more noticeably and rapidly than that of Tone 5.
si2 si5 โ si2 si5 โ si2 si5 โ si2 si5 โ si2 si5
Step 2 ๐
Practice saying the syllable si in Tone 2 and Tone 5. Listen and repeat.
si2 si5 โ si2 si5 โ si2 si5 โ si2 si5 โ si2 si5
Practice ๐ฎ
Question 1
Practice saying Tone 2 and Tone 5 with other syllables. Listen and repeat.
- fu2 fu5 โ fu2 fu5 โ fu2 fu5
- se2 se5 โ se2 se5 โ se2 se5
- co2 co5 โ co2 co5 โ co2 co5
- hau2 hau5 โ hau2 hau5 โ hau2 hau5
- mou2 mou5 โ mou2 mou5 โ mou2 mou5
Question 2
You will hear two syllables each time. Are their tones the same (S) or different (D)?
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
- S / D
Question 3
You will hear three syllables each time. The first two syllables are Tone 2 and Tone 5 respectively. Which tone is the last syllable?
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- fu ____
- se ____
- co ____
- hau ____
Question 4
You will hear one syllable each time. Which tone is the syllable?
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- si ____
- fu ____
- se ____
- co ____
- hau ____