🇨🇳ap chinese review

Four tones

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

The four tones in Mandarin Chinese refer to different pitch patterns used when pronouncing syllables. Each tone has a distinct pitch contour and can change the meaning of a word.

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