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Welcome to your first Mandarin lesson! We hope you're as excited as we are about your cultural voyage to China! Today, we will introduce you to Mandarin and discover different tones in the language! So lets get started
Mandarin
There are about 13 sub-languages within the Chinese language
million), Cantonese (Yue) (70 million) Mandarin has the largest number of native speakers in the world
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese (including Mandarin) characters into Latin script
It is often used to teach Chinese (including Mandarin) and spell names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into computers You = (Chinese characters) To view this with Audio and practice games, visit www.CultureAlley.com/Mandarin You = n (Pinyin)
Lesson objectives
Tones in Mandarin
Tones in Mandarin
Let's get started by understanding the concept of tones in Mandarin You will usually encounter symbols on certain characters, eg: , , etc Each letter in Mandarin has a distinct tone (pitch of voice) associated with it Pinyin uses four easily - remembered marks to tell you what the tones of words are
To view this with Audio and practice games, visit www.CultureAlley.com/Mandarin
Tones in Mandarin
Eg: 'm' means 'Mother' But 'm' means 'Horse' So if you don't say the word right, you'd end up calling your mother a horse and land into trouble! :)
Tones in Mandarin
Let's look at the tonal variations of 'ma' m m m m ma Meaning : 'mother', 'hemp', 'horse', 'scold' and a question particle respectively
As we saw...
Each syllable in Mandarin has a distinct tone (pitch of voice) associated with it Let's now look at the easily - remembered marks which will help us in identifying the tones
Tones in Mandarin
We shall now take a look at various tones using 'Ma' as an example Lets begin!
Tonal tip
Tonal tip
Let's try and say M It is said with a high level tone - also known as the first tone, M
So remember!
The first tone is denoted by ( ) It is a constant, high level tone It is said as 'Aaaaa' For example : M
Tonal tip
Tonal tip
Let's try and say M It is said with a mid rising tone - or second tone, M
So remember!
The second tone is denoted by () It is said with a mid rising tone It is similar to the a in Wht? For example : M
It is a falling-rising tone Say it by pushing the tone and then letting go, '' This will now be referred to as the 'falling rising tone (3rd )'
To view this with Audio and practice games, visit www.CultureAlley.com/Mandarin
Tonal tip
Horse = M
Tonal tip
Let's try and say M Once again,with a falling rising tone - also known as the third tone, M
So remember!
The third tone is denoted by () It is said in a falling rising tone It is said by pushing the tone and then letting it go For example : M
Tonal tip
Tonal tip
Let's try and say M It is said with a falling tone - also known as the fourth tone, M
So remember!
The fourth tone is denoted by () It is a falling tone It shares intonation with commands such as Stop! For example : M
1
M
2
M
3
M
Solution
1
M
2
M
3
M
So remember!
Mother = M is said with a constant high level tone - also known as the first tone
1
M
2
M
3
M
Solution
1
M
2
M
3
M
So remember!
Horse = M is said with a falling rising tone - also known as the third tone
1
High level (First)
2
Falling (Fourth)
3
Mid rising (Second)
Solution
1
High level (First)
2
Falling (Fourth)
3
Mid rising (Second)
So remember!
The mid rising tone is the second tone In this tone 'M' means 'Hemp'
1
High level
2
Mid rising
3
Falling
Solution
1
High level
2
Mid rising
3
Falling
So remember!
'M' means 'Scold' and carries the falling tone The falling tone is also known as the fourth tone
Tones in Mandarin
It might seem overwhelming, but don't worry, you will get a hang of the tones as you go along! They are important as different tones convey different meanings
Let's revise!
Revision - Tones
Revision-Vocabulary
Mandarin M M M M
Culture Leaf
Culture leaf
The Chinese civilization originated in and along the Yellow River (China's mother River) in the Neolithic era (12000- 10,000 B.C)
Culture leaf
Chinese society has progressed through five major stages - Primitive Society, Slave Society, Feudal Society, Semi-feudal and Semi-colonial Society, and Socialist Society It has seen the rise and fall of several ruling dynasties in its 4500 year history
Culture leaf
Today China is a vibrant economy and a leading superpower which is making strides in all fields from manufacturing to technology to culture, arts, and tourism as well!
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Credits
Content Team CultureAlley, Sunny Dang http://www.chinatraveldiscovery.com/china-history/inde x.htm Images http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/China/West/phot o306017.htm Andr Holdrinet