Learn Chinese with eChineseLearning.com - Underestanding the four tons

Lesson 2: Understanding Four Tones

The best way to explain tones is probably do so by using examples. Here, we can use English pronunciation of letter "i" as one example.

Tone 1: flat

In English, it is the default tone we use to pronounce 'i' emotionlessly as in saying "I am ....".

The audio material will show flat tone 'i', and how 'i' would sound on other tones as if with strong emotions although you should keep in mind that in Chinese, tones have nothing to do with meanings or emotions.

Tone 2: up

This tone is a little like the tone used in English for questions. For example: "Is he right?" The tone of "i" used in word 'right' here is equivalent to the up tone used in Chinese.

Tone 3: curve

There is not exact equivalent for Tone 3 in English. However, Tone 3 can be delivered through a quick combination of tone 4 and tone 2 in a very quick way. Remember, tone 4 before tone 2. So maybe you want to learn to use tone 4 first.

Tone 4: down

The 4th tone is what you will use when saying "right" as in "Yes, he is right.”

Four tones together:

All vowels can be pronounced in 4 tones. It can be a great practice to play it on your own language.

Listen to this example that uses 4 four tones to pronounce English letters A, B, C, and D.

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Introduction to Chinese Characters

Lesson 1: Chinese Characters - Introduction

汉 字 han4 zi4

The two characters above mean “Chinese Characters”. Chinese Characters are the founding block/unit of Chinese language, because one or more Chinese characters form words, phrases, and sentences, etc.

The number of Chinese characters can be a little overwhelming, but it helps keep Chinese overall a simply structured language.

We start by discussing the pronunciation of Chinese Characters. There are two aspects of Chinese characters’ pronunciation to learn about.

1. Phonics - Pinyin

Invariably, each Chinese character's pronunciation is either a consonant followed by one or two vowels (always in this order) or one or two vowels only. In an analogy, Chinese characters all sound a bit like "La", "Di", "Da".

And generally the pronunciation of each Chinese character lasts about the same length in a sentence. So roughly, a Chinese sentence sounds like "he saw me", "I know you", or "who can sing?", if read flatly.

The phonics system for Chinese characters is called Pinyin. We will introduce Pinyin in much detail starting from Class 3.

2. Four Tones

Each Chinese character has one vowel, and each vowel, in turn, has a tone with it. Many characters should have different tones for different meanings, but most have unique tones in all situations.

There are 5 possible tones: 4 major tones and a "light" tone. Conventionally, the major tones are labeled as following.

Tone 1: flat

Tone 2: up

Tone 3: curve

Tone 4: down

The 5th tone is called "light" tone, which has no number as label. Characters with light tone should be pronounced light and fast, the only exceptions to the previous rule that all characters in a sentence lasts about the same long.

We will introduce how to pronounce the four tones in the next class. It is important to remember that Chinese character’s tone has nothing to do with its meaning.

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别哭，我最爱的人！ Don’t cry , my love !

别哭，我最爱的人！ Don’t cry , my love !

bié kū wǒ zuì ài de rén
别 哭 我 最 爱 的 人 Don't cry , my love!
jīn yè wǒ rú tán huā zhàn fànɡ
今 夜 我 如 昙 花 绽 放 Tonight i like the night-blooming cereus
zài zuì měi de yí chà nà diāo luò
在 最 美 的 一 刹 那 凋 落 languish at the most beautiful moment
nǐ de lèi yě wǎn bù huí de kū wěi
你 的 泪 也 挽 不 回 的 枯 萎 And Your tears can't stop languishing
bié kū wǒ zuì ài de rén
别 哭 我 最 爱 的 人 Don't cry , my love!
kě zhī wǒ jiānɡ bú huì zài xǐnɡ
可 知 我 将 不 会 再 醒 Don't you know that i won't weak up again?
zài zuì měi de yè kōnɡ zhōnɡ zhá yǎn
在 最 美 的 夜 空 中 眨 眼 blink in the most beautiful night sky
wǒ de móu shì zuì shǎn liànɡ de xīnɡ ɡuānɡ
我 的 眸 是 最 闪 亮 的 星 光 My eyes are the most bright star
shì fǒu jì dé wǒ jiāo ào dì shuō
是 否 记 得 我 骄 傲 地 说 Do you remember that i have talked to you proudly:
zhè shì jiè wǒ cénɡ jīnɡ lái ɡuò
这 世 界 我 曾 经 来 过 I have been in this world
bú yào ɡào su wǒ yǒnɡ hénɡ shì shén me
不 要 告 诉 我 永 恒 是 什 么 Don't tell me what can last forever
wǒ zài zuì càn làn de shùn jiān huǐ miè
我 在 最 灿 烂 的 瞬 间 毁 灭 I died at the most beautiful time of my life
bú yào ɡào su wǒ chénɡ shu shì shén me
不 要 告 诉 我 成 熟 是 什 么 Don't tell me what is the maturation
wǒ zài ɡānɡ kāi shǐ de shùn jiān jié shù
我 在 刚 开 始 的 瞬 间 结 束 I died at the first begining!

This is one of my favorite song , the singer is "shui mu nian hua " . I love that two boys . this song is beautiful. Don't cry ,my love! And the lines in Chinese is much more beautiful. I'd like to show you the most beautiful sound of Chinese !

liten or download here :bie ku , wo zui ai de ren ! Don't cry my love!

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Pretty Boy in a Chinese Version!

Wow , the two girls are really good .
Pretty boy in chinese is :美美 少年 mei 3 mei 3 shao 4 nian 2
Enjoy the song here :
http://player.youku.com/player.php/sid/XNjY0Mzk2/v.swf

Olympic Fu Wa