Mandarin Tones Test
Tones change meaning in Mandarin — mā, má, mǎ and mà are four different words. This free Chinese tone quiz tests whether your ears can tell them apart.
10 roundsReal native audioFree · no sign-up
How this Mandarin tones test works
Each round plays one real word or phrase in the voice of a native NetChai teacher. You pick the pinyin with the tone marks you heard — first tone (ā), second (á), third (ǎ) or fourth (à). After 10 rounds you get a score, a listening level from Beginner to Master, and the course that fits it, plus a breakdown of which tones you mixed up. It is a listening test, not a speaking test: nothing is recorded and there is nothing to install.
Why tones matter
Mandarin has four tones (plus a neutral one). Same sounds, different pitch — completely different meaning: mǎi 买 means “buy,” but mài 卖 means “sell.” Training your ears early is the single best investment a beginner can make. Every clip in this quiz is produced from the voice of a real native NetChai teacher.
Learn how each tone works in our guide to the four Mandarin tones.
Want to know your overall level? Take the free HSK Level Test →