Languages · course 81 of 105

Mandarin Pinyin and Tones, Mark by Mark

Put Mandarin’s tones on paper in pinyin: marks and numbers, which vowel takes the mark, how ü is written, and how tones change in speech. Text only, no audio.

4 modules

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What it teaches

How pinyin writes Mandarin’s four tones and the neutral tone (ā á ǎ à), turning tone numbers into marks and marks into tones, which vowel the mark goes on (the a, e, o, i, u, ü order and the iu exception), how ü is written (u after j, q, x; v on keyboards), and the tone changes that happen in speech: two 3rd tones (nǐ hǎo is said ní hǎo), 不 and 一. The AI asks 3 questions, places you, shows a short card per module, then gives you one syllable or pair at a time.

Not a speaking course: no audio.

How long

48 items. About 20-30 rounds for a learner who reads pinyin already up to about 45-65 for a beginner (one simulated beginner took 62 graded rounds), plus a 12-item final: 1-2 sessions (estimate, not timed with a real student). The tutor gives a one-line save code at the end of each session.

The modules

4 modules, drilled one item at a time.

M0
The basics
How pinyin shows tones
M1
Tone marks and numbers
Tone numbers to marks, and marks to numbers
M2
Where the mark goes
Put the mark on the right vowel
M3
Tones that change when spoken
Write a pair the way it’s spoken

Before it teaches, it asks

1
Why are you learning Mandarin (a trip, a class, family, an app streak), and how much pinyin do you read now?
2
Write ma3 with a tone mark (the number is the tone; 5 = neutral).
3
Put the tone mark on gui4.

What’s exact, and what isn’t

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Straight from the course’s own notes.

Made by script: Every drill key comes from the rules on Wikipedia’s “Pinyin” and “Tone sandhi” pages, coded once; before making any key the script reproduces every example on those pages (mā má mǎ mà, lǘ, yī, nǚ; ní hǎo, bú shì, yí cì, yì bān...). Every marked key is turned back into its tone and vowel a second way (Unicode decomposition); every hand-written answer matched; a test with errors planted in it on purpose was caught by the script.
Sourced: 12 short quotes from the two pages, matched word for word on the live pages 2026-10-11.
Honest limits: Reading and writing only: a text tutor can’t play or hear tones. Tone-change items cover two-syllable pairs and the page’s own 第一个 example; three or more 3rd tones in a row are left out (neither page gives a rule for them). Pinyin syllables only: no characters or meanings are taught.
Not in it yet: Initials and finals, erhua (-r), the neutral-tone pitch, three-tone chains, Taiwanese usage.