--description--

Each Pinyin syllable is spoken with a specific tone, and these tones are just as important as the initials and finals in determining its pronunciation.

A change in tone can completely alter the meaning of a syllable, even when the initials and finals remain exactly the same.

There are four main tones, plus a neutral tone, in Mandarin Chinese. Let's practice pronouncing a with different tones.

Note: In this curriculum, when you use the Pinyin Tone input and the Pinyin-to-Hanzi input, the number following a Pinyin should follow this convention:

• 1 indicates the first tone, the mark of which is ˉ.

• 2 indicates the second tone, the mark of which is ˊ.

• 3 indicates the third tone, the mark of which is ˇ.

• 4 indicates the fourth tone, the mark of which is ˋ.

• 5 indicates the neutral tone, which has no tone mark.

--transcript--

The first tone is a high and level tone that stays steadily high without rising or falling.

The second tone is a rising tone that starts in the middle and moves upward to a high point.

The third tone is a low dipping tone that starts in the middle, falls to a low point and then rises again.

The fourth tone is a sharp falling​ tone that starts high​ and drops quickly​ to the bottom.

There is also a neutral tone, which is short and soft. It is not marked with any tone mark.

--assignment--

I've watched the video and practiced pronouncing this final.