Pronunciation · 对照句
A tone sentence bank you can say twice
Eight short Mandarin sentences with a same-tone trap and a one-tone trap, for checking whether a speaking-app score is hearing pitch.
Written September 28, 2026. These lines are prompts, not a test we recorded.
Use this page when you already have a speaking exercise open and want a second take that the recognizer should fail if it is checking tone. The method sits next to the research note on what a Chinese tone checker measures. This page does not add a score, a ranking, or a claim that any named app passed or failed these lines.
How to run one item
- Pick one line. Read the as-written pinyin out loud once.
- Record that take in the app, or into the phone dictation the app is using. Write down the mark.
- Record the same-tone trap. Every syllable is first tone. Write down the mark.
- If you want a closer error, record the one-tone trap. Only one syllable has been moved.
If the as-written take and the same-tone trap both pass, the score is not checking tone on that item. If only the as-written take passes, the system moved when the contour changed. If both fail, you have a recording or recognition problem. None of those three outcomes is a grade from this site.
The eight lines
Pinyin is written with tone marks, syllables split. Neutral tone is unmarked. 不 in 我不喝咖啡 is fourth tone because 喝 is first; do not apply the sandhi that 不 uses before a fourth tone.
1 · The first greeting most apps ask for.
你好
hello
- As written
- nǐ hǎo
- Same-tone trap
- nī hāo
- One-tone trap
- ní hǎo你 from third tone to second.
2 · Stopping someone before a question.
请问
excuse me
- As written
- qǐng wèn
- Same-tone trap
- qīng wēn
- One-tone trap
- qǐng wén问 from fourth tone to second.
3 · A short offer, not a full sentence.
请坐
please sit
- As written
- qǐng zuò
- Same-tone trap
- qīng zuō
- One-tone trap
- qǐng zuó坐 from fourth tone to second.
4 · A name people guess easily once they hear 姓.
我姓王
my surname is Wang
- As written
- wǒ xìng wáng
- Same-tone trap
- wō xīng wāng
- One-tone trap
- wǒ xìng wāng王 from second tone to first.
5 · A common statement. 老 stays third; this is not a third-tone pair.
她是老师
she is a teacher
- As written
- tā shì lǎo shī
- Same-tone trap
- tā shī lāo shī
- One-tone trap
- tā shì lāo shī老 from third tone to first.
6 · Weather talk. 今天 is already two first tones.
今天很热
it is hot today
- As written
- jīn tiān hěn rè
- Same-tone trap
- jīn tiān hēn rē
- One-tone trap
- jīn tiān hěn rě热 from fourth tone to third.
7 · 不 stays fourth here, because 喝 is first tone.
我不喝咖啡
I do not drink coffee
- As written
- wǒ bù hē kā fēi
- Same-tone trap
- wō bū hē kā fēi
- One-tone trap
- wǒ bú hē kā fēi不 flipped to second, which is the sandhi used before a fourth tone, not before 喝.
8 · The second syllable is neutral. Write that down before you record.
谢谢
thanks
- As written
- xiè xie
- Same-tone trap
- xiē xiē
- One-tone trap
- xié xie谢 from fourth tone to second; the second syllable stays neutral.
What this bank is not
It is not a recording. It is not a claim that these eight lines cover Mandarin. It is not a list of what HelloChinese, Duolingo, or any other app did with them. If a later page reports a contrast, it will say who spoke, what counted as a pass, and what failed. That rule is in the editorial policy.
A person who can hear the difference remains the standard. These lines only help you see whether the software is doing that job.