Mandarin uses tones to distinguish word meanings. One syllable carries one main tone, and tones are realized through changes in pitch. The four tones are the basic tone system of Mandarin. The neutral tone is not the fifth tone; it is softer in pitch and loudness.

First tone is a high, level tone with a constant pitch. When producing a first tone, the voice should stay steady, not rising or falling. The first tone often sounds clear and stable.

Second tone is a mid-to-high rising tone, like the intonation when saying 'hmm?'. When producing the second tone, the voice naturally rises; do not break. The second tone in words often carries a questioning or calling pitch.

Third tone is a falling-then-rising contour; full pronunciation includes a fall followed by a rise. In natural speech, the third tone is often simplified to a low flat tone or only a fall. When practicing in isolation, keep the fall and rise; in connected speech, pay attention to the rules for third-tone variation.

Fourth tone is a high-to-low abrupt falling tone, like the imperative mood in English. When pronouncing the fourth tone, the voice drops quickly; do not prolong. The fourth tone sounds short and forceful, and is easy to distinguish from the first tone.

The neutral tone is a syllable that becomes short and light; its pitch is not fixed within the four tones. The neutral tone does not carry the main lexical contrast and often appears at the end of words or function words. When producing a neutral tone, the voice should be short and soft; do not hold a high or low pitch.

Mandarin often renders the final syllable of a word or the last syllable of a reduplicated word as a neutral tone. In multisyllabic words, non-stressed parts are likely to become neutral. Function words and affixes commonly use the neutral tone, forming fixed pronunciations.

When two consecutive third tones occur, the first typically becomes a 'half-third' tone, effectively near a low level. A sequence of third tone + third tone is read as 'low + falling-rising' to aid cohesion. This rule keeps speech natural and clear.

In sentences, non-stressed third-tone syllables are often realized as low level, especially at faster speeds. If a third tone is between other syllables, it often mainly retains the falling portion, not the rising. This simplification is a common phenomenon in natural speech.

Changing the tone on the same syllable usually changes meaning. Mandarin vocabulary relies heavily on tone distinctions; for example, 'ma' can mean 'mom', 'hemp', 'horse', or 'scold'. Accurately recognizing and producing tones is key to understanding and expressing.

When practicing tones, keep the pitch contour clear: tone 1 level, tone 2 rising, tone 3 falling-rising, tone 4 falling quickly. For neutral tone practice, shorten the syllable; do not seek a fifth contour. Contrastive practice and phrase linking help reinforce practical use.