4. Tones at the Low Pitch

The following three tones are at or partly at the low pitch:

Tone NumberTone 4Tone 5Tone 6
Tone NameLow fallingLow risingLow level
Diagram

All of these three tones start at the low pitch. The difference between them is whether the pitch then goes down, goes up, or remains steady.

Step 1  Listen to the syllable si in Tone 4, Tone 5 and Tone 6 together. Pay attention to the pitch. Observe whether and how the pitch changes in the second half of the syllable.

si4 si5 si6

Step 2  Practice saying the syllable si in Tone 4, Tone 5 and Tone 6. Listen and repeat.

si4 si5 si6

Practice

Question 1

Practice saying Tone 4, Tone 5 and Tone 6 with other syllables. Listen and repeat.

  1. haa4 haa5 haa6
  2. wai4 wai5 wai6
  3. je4 je5 je6
  4. lou4 lou5 lou6
  5. fu4 fu5 fu6

Question 2

You will hear two syllables each time. Are their tones the same (S) or different (D)?

  1. S / D
  2. S / D
  3. S / D
  4. S / D
  5. S / D
  6. S / D
  7. S / D
  8. S / D
  9. S / D
  10. S / D
  11. S / D
  12. S / D

Question 3

You will hear four syllables each time. The first three syllables are Tone 4, Tone 5 and Tone 6 respectively. Which tone is the last syllable?

  1. si ____
  2. si ____
  3. si ____
  4. si ____
  5. si ____
  6. si ____
  7. haa ____
  8. wai ____
  9. je ____
  10. lou ____
  11. fu ____
  12. haa ____

Question 4

You will hear one syllable each time. Which tone is the syllable?

  1. si ____
  2. si ____
  3. si ____
  4. si ____
  5. si ____
  6. si ____
  7. haa ____
  8. wai ____
  9. je ____
  10. lou ____
  11. fu ____
  12. haa ____