Game of Tones: Pronounce RICE Correctly

Jan.07, 2021

Pronouncing successive tones is much more difficult than simply pronouncing individual tones. We invited some of our students to check out the secret technique of tone pairs together in the video series of Game of Tones!

Today, let's practice the 3rd + 4th Tone Pair. Take mǐfàn (rice) as an example:

The 3rd tone requires more efforts than any other tones. When you pronouce the 3rd tone proceding the 4th tone, to save efforts, you can just pronouce the first half- a slightly dropping tone, mǐ. Then find the highest pitch, so you can have enough space to drop for the 4th tone, fàn.

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In a word, to pronounce the tone of 米饭 mǐfàn correctly, you should always remember the falling tones. Small drop for 米️ + big drop for 饭️. Yes, remember this pattern!

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米饭/mǐfàn

这个米饭太好吃了！

Zhè ge mǐfàn tài hǎochī le!

Read the words and sentences one by one slowly following the tone pair trick you just got

考试	kǎoshì	exam
跑步	pǎobù	to run
准备	zhǔnbèi	to prepare
有意思	yǒu yìsi	interesting
打电话	dǎ diànhuà	to make phone call
比较	bǐjiào	to compare
比赛	bǐsài	competition
打算	dǎsuàn	to plan
感冒	gǎnmào	to catch a cold
可爱	kě'ài	cute; lovely
礼物	lǐwù	present
马上	mǎshàng	immediately
满意	mǎnyì	to be satisfied
努力	nǔlì	hardworking
请假	qǐngjià	to ask for leave
饮料	yǐnliào	drink
总是	zǒngshì	always

你为什么总是请假？

Nǐ wèishénme zǒngshì qǐngjià？

Why do you keep asking for leave?

马上要考试了。

Mǎshàng yǎo kǎoshì le。

The exam is coming up.

这个礼物太可爱了！

Xhè ge lǐwù tài kěài le!

This present is so cute!

You got it?

Practice makes perfect!
加油！Jiāyóu!
See you next time!