Why You Have To Master Chinese Tones

Mixing up the tones in Chinese can lead to an unexpected and potentially humorous result. Understanding the importance of mastering Chinese tones can be illustrated through some sentences.

Both sentences have identical pronunciations except for the different tones of “shuǐ” and “jiǎo.”

Sentence A:

(Xiǎo jiě, shuǐjiǎo yī wǎn duō shao qián?)
小姐，水饺一碗多少钱？
Miss – how much is a bowl of dumplings?

Sentence B:

(Xiǎo jiě, shuì jiào yī wǎn duō shao qián?)
小姐，睡觉一晚多少钱？
Miss (prostitute) – how much is it to sleep with you (one night)?

水饺 – shuǐ jiǎo:dumplings (both third tones)

睡觉 – shuì jiào: sleep (both fourth tones)

小姐 (xiǎo jiě) is used differently in parts of China. In Shanghai, you can use xiǎo jiě to call a female waitress & it’s understood to be a waitress. However, it is also used as slang to refer to prostitutes or bar girls somewhere. Therefore you probably do not want to randomly call a girl who isn’t a waitress or you might get slapped. If you want to be safe you can also address a waiter/waitress as 服务员(fúwùyuán). Of course, the most important thing is to get every single tone right!

A foreigner in China needs to see a doctor and intends to say, “I want to see the doctor” in Chinese. 

Sentence A:

(Wǒ yào kàn yīshēng.)
我要看医生。
I want to see the doctor.

Sentence B:

(Wǒ yào kǎn yīshēng.)
我要砍医生。
I want to chop the doctor.

So if you mistakenly use the wrong tone for “kàn” (看 – to see) and instead say “kǎn” (砍 – to chop), there might be serious consequences. 

If you want to impress others by ordering dishes in Chinese at a restaurant, you might try saying, “I want a bowl of soup.” However, be careful not to end up asking for a bowl of sugar instead. Why?

Sentence A:

(Wǒ yào yī wǎn tāng.) 
我要一碗汤。
I want a bowl of soup.

Sentence B:

(Wǒ yào yī wǎn táng.)
我要一碗糖。
I want a bowl of sugar.

The difference lies in the tones: “tāng” (汤 – soup) and “táng” (糖 – sugar). Imagine the surprise on the waiter’s face when you confidently ask for a bowl of sugar! 

To avoid such mix-ups, it’s crucial to master the correct tones in Chinese. Mastering these nuances will not only help you communicate more effectively but also avoid any unintended surprises.

Back to the Complete Guide of Chinese Pronunciation.