How to pronounce
in Mandarin Chinese
yíSecond toneshìFourth tone
Hear it in conversation
kāi开mù幕shì式shì是yī一gè个fēi非cháng常zhèng正shì式de的yí仪shì式
The opening ceremony is a very formal event
hái还huì会yǒu有yì一xiē些gù固dìng定de的yí仪shì式
Select a word for its meaning.
See it in a sentence.
The ritual was completed.
Hear the difference
A syllable has a shape.
Tone marks show how pitch changes. Colors help you follow each syllable in the app.
ā →First toneHigh and level
á ↗Second toneRising
ǎ ↘↗Third toneLow, then rising in isolation
à ↘Fourth toneFalling
a ·Neutral toneShort and light
These are dictionary tones. In natural speech, tones can change with context. A third tone often stays low before another syllable.