Pinyin and tones in Mandarin

MFL, Mandarin grammar. Usually met in years 7 to 11.

Choose the right pinyin, tone marks included, for Mandarin words written in characters.

What you practise

Starts with one-syllable words and builds to longer words. Practice moves up a level when a round goes well and down when it does not.

Each sample comes with the method and the reason every wrong option is wrong. Real practice rounds are ten questions at your level.

Sample question, level 2 of 5

大学 means ‘university’. Which pinyin is right, tones included?

Show the answer and method

Answer: C, dà xué

The method: 大学 is ‘dà xué’: dà, fourth tone (falling); xué, second tone (rising).

Why the other options are wrong:

A, dā xué: ‘dā’ is the first tone (high and level), but here ‘dà’ is the fourth tone (falling).
B, dà xuē: ‘xuē’ is the first tone (high and level), but here ‘xué’ is the second tone (rising).
D, dá xué: ‘dá’ is the second tone (rising), but here ‘dà’ is the fourth tone (falling).
E, dà xuě: ‘xuě’ is the third tone (falling then rising), but here ‘xué’ is the second tone (rising).

Sample question, level 4 of 5

词典 means ‘dictionary’. Which pinyin is right, tones included?

Show the answer and method

Answer: D, cí diǎn

The method: 词典 is ‘cí diǎn’: cí, second tone (rising); diǎn, third tone (falling then rising).

Why the other options are wrong:

A, cí diān: ‘diān’ is the first tone (high and level), but here ‘diǎn’ is the third tone (falling then rising).
B, cí diàn: ‘diàn’ is the fourth tone (falling), but here ‘diǎn’ is the third tone (falling then rising).
C, cī diǎn: ‘cī’ is the first tone (high and level), but here ‘cí’ is the second tone (rising).
E, cí dián: ‘dián’ is the second tone (rising), but here ‘diǎn’ is the third tone (falling then rising).