The four tones
Every Mandarin syllable carries one of four tones, described by Chao tone numbers that trace the pitch from start to finish on a 1 to 5 scale.
- Tone 1, high and flat (55): sing one steady high note. Example: mā, 妈, mother.
- Tone 2, rising (35): start low and climb, like asking a question. Example: má, 麻, hemp; numb.
- Tone 3, dipping (214): drop low in the middle, then come back up, like a valley. Example: mǎ, 马, horse.
- Tone 4, falling (51): start high and drop fast, like a firm command. Example: mà, 骂, to scold.
Tone Trainer judges the SHAPE of your pitch, not your absolute pitch. A low voice and a high voice are both judged on whether the curve rises, falls, stays flat, or dips.
The 20 syllables
Five everyday syllables, each in all four tones, so you hear how the tone alone changes the word:
- ma: mā 妈 mother, má 麻 hemp; numb, mǎ 马 horse, mà 骂 to scold.
- ba: bā 八 eight, bá 拔 to pull out, bǎ 把 to grasp; measure word, bà 爸 dad.
- yi: yī 衣 clothes, yí 移 to move; to shift, yǐ 以 with; by means of, yì 意 meaning; intention.
- shi: shī 诗 poem, shí 时 time, shǐ 使 to cause; to use, shì 是 to be.
- da: dā 搭 to build; to put up, dá 达 to reach; to arrive, dǎ 打 to hit; to play, dà 大 big.
Tone pairs: all 16 combinations
Knowing single tones is only half the skill. In real speech, tones come in pairs, and the second tone changes how the first one feels. Tone pairs unlock at 50 points, after you have the single tones down. All 16 combinations are real two-syllable words:
- 1-1: fēijī 飞机 airplane. 1-2: zhōngguó 中国 China. 1-3: kāishuǐ 开水 boiled water. 1-4: chīfàn 吃饭 to eat a meal.
- 2-1: shíjiān 时间 time. 2-2: rénmín 人民 the people. 2-3: méiyǒu 没有 not have. 2-4: xuéxiào 学校 school.
- 3-1: běijīng 北京 Beijing. 3-2: kěnéng 可能 possible. 3-3: nǐhǎo 你好 hello. 3-4: kǎoshì 考试 exam.
- 4-1: kànshū 看书 to read a book. 4-2: dàrén 大人 adult. 4-3: dìtiě 地铁 subway. 4-4: guìxìng 贵姓 your (honorable) surname.
The app splits your utterance at the gap between syllables and checks each half against its target tone. If the first syllable is right and the second is wrong, the hint says so: Second syllable, then the named fix.
How the live check works
Your browser samples the microphone and measures your pitch with autocorrelation, a standard signal-processing method that finds how often your voice waveform repeats. No model is downloaded and no audio is sent anywhere. Your pitch contour is normalised to your own range and compared to the four standard target shapes. A match needs a close fit and a clear margin over the next-best tone; otherwise the app says so and names the fix. Press Hear the target to hear any tone shape as a gliding tone before you say it.
Tone sandhi: when tones change in real speech
In connected speech, some tones change. The best-known case is two third tones in a row: the first is pronounced as a second tone. So 你好 (nǐhǎo, hello) is pronounced níhǎo in real speech, even though its citation tones are 3-3. Tone Trainer teaches citation tones and flags the 你好 case explicitly, because drilling the citation shape first is the standard way to learn. A teacher or native speaker can show you when to apply the change.
Quiz, points, levels and badges
Quiz mode asks for 8 items in a random order: +10 points per match, +20 bonus for a perfect round. Levels run New Voice, Rising Tone, Tone Star, and Master of Tones. Badges cover the first matched tone, practising all 20 syllables, practising all 16 tone pairs, a perfect quiz round, and practising on seven days in a row. Confetti and chimes celebrate wins, and both can be turned off in Settings. Practice stays the core: the games are there to pull you back for one more tone.
Your voice never leaves your device
Voice frames are analysed on your device and discarded. The page security policy blocks connections to every outside server. There is no account, no analytics, no recording, and no cookie. The built-in Offline proof panel shows a live log of every network request the page makes, lets you simulate a fully offline session, shows exactly what is stored on your device, and deletes it all with one button. The app works offline after your first visit. Pitch tracking approximates tones, and regional variation exists: the target shapes describe standard (Putonghua) citation tones. Native-speaker review is being sought in parallel, not as a gate.
If you are learning a signed language next, try Fingerspell, which teaches the ASL alphabet with the same private, on-device feedback. For kids, Little Hands teaches baby sign language.
Learning Cantonese next? Try Cantonese Tone Trainer, which coaches all six Cantonese tones with the same private, on-device feedback. Learning Vietnamese too? Try the Vietnamese Tone Trainer, the same live pitch feedback for Vietnamese's six tones. Learning Thai too? Try the Thai Tone Trainer, which coaches Thai's five tones the same private, on-device way. Learning Japanese pitch accent too? Try the Japanese Pitch Accent Trainer, which coaches Tokyo pitch patterns with the same private, on-device feedback. Learning Taiwanese Hokkien too? Try the Taiwanese Hokkien Tone Trainer, which coaches all seven Hokkien tones the same private, on-device way. Learning Yoruba too? Try the Yoruba Tone Trainer, which coaches Yoruba's three tones the same private, on-device way.
This is a home practice tool, not a teacher, therapist or safety device. Everything runs on your device: no video, audio or images are sent anywhere. Feedback is automatic and can be wrong. For real instruction, learn from a qualified Mandarin teacher or a native-speaker community, linked on the Resources page.