The five tones in Zhuyin

Where the tone mark goes

• Second, third and fourth tone: the mark goes after the last symbol. In vertical text, it goes to the right of the column: ㄇㄚˇ.
• First tone: no mark. ㄇㄚ is mā. Some charts show ˉ to make the rule clear.
• Neutral tone: the dot ˙ goes before the syllable. In vertical text, it goes above it: ˙ㄇㄚ.

Tone changes you will hear

Some tones shift when words sit side by side. Books and dictionaries still write the original tone, so you learn to change it as you speak.

Two third tones in a row

The first one becomes a second tone. 你好 is written ㄋㄧˇ ㄏㄠˇ, but you say ㄋㄧˊ ㄏㄠˇ (ní hǎo).

一 (one)

一 is ㄧ (first tone) alone, in counting and at the end of a word. Before a fourth tone, it becomes ㄧˊ: 一個 (yí ge). Before the other tones, it becomes ㄧˋ: 一天 (yì tiān).

不 (not)

不 is ㄅㄨˋ. Before another fourth tone, it becomes ㄅㄨˊ: 不是 (bú shì), 不要 (bú yào).

The half third tone

Before tones one, two and four, the third tone stays low and does not rise: in 好吃 (hǎo chī), 好 stays low and 吃 is high. The full dip comes mostly at the end of a phrase.

Write the marks

Each mark is one short stroke. Write it after the symbols, at the upper right.

How to train your ear

1. Listen in pairs. Hear ㄇㄚˊ and ㄇㄚˇ one after the other. Contrast is easier than one sound alone.
2. Say it with your hand. Draw the tone shape in the air while you speak.
3. See your pitch. Record yourself and compare your pitch line with the target.
4. Practise words, not only syllables. Tones change in words. Real words teach the changes.

Zhuyin Pro trains tones with Tone catcher, See & say and the syllable map. Also see the Zhuyin chart and the syllable chart.