Chinese Tone Marker & Tone Checker
Two tools in one: convert numbered pinyin to tone marks (ni3 → nǐ), or paste Chinese text to identify every tone with colour-coded highlights. Free — no sign-up needed.
Pinyin Tone Marker — Numbers to Tone Marks
Type numbered pinyin (e.g. ni3 hao3) and get tone-marked pinyin (nǐ hǎo) instantly. Use 0 or 5 for neutral tone.
ma1 → mā, ma2 → má, ma3 → mǎ, ma4 → mà, ma5 → ma. For ü, use v or ü — e.g. lv4 → lǜ.The Four Tones of Chinese — Complete Chart
Mandarin Chinese has four tones plus a neutral (fifth) tone. The same syllable means completely different things depending on its tone — the classic example is mā / má / mǎ / mà. This is the essential Chinese tones chart every learner needs.
High and level. Hold a high steady pitch, like a musical note.
Rising. Start mid and rise high, like asking a question in English.
Dipping. Start mid, dip low, then rise. Often just falls without rising in speech.
Falling. Sharp drop from high to low, like a command or exclamation.
Short and unstressed. Pitch depends on the preceding syllable.
Where to Place Tone Marks in Pinyin
Placing tone marks in Chinese pinyin follows a strict priority rule. The mark always goes over the vowel that carries the main weight of the syllable:
How to Type Pinyin with Tone Marks
The easiest way is to use this tool — type numbered pinyin and copy the result. Other methods:
Frequently Asked Questions
▸ What is a tone checker?
A tone checker identifies the tone of each syllable in Chinese text or pinyin. It is used by learners to check their reading, by teachers to annotate materials, and by writers who need to verify that pinyin annotations are correct. This tool's Tone Checker tab shows the tone number (T1–T4) and colour for every character in your text.
▸ How many tones does Chinese have?
Standard Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua) has four tones plus a neutral (fifth) tone. Tonal languages use pitch to distinguish meaning — the syllable "ma" means mother (mā), hemp/numb (má), horse (mǎ), or scold (mà) depending on tone. Cantonese has six tones, Shanghainese has five.
▸ What is the 2nd tone in Chinese?
The 2nd tone (阳平, yángpíng) is a rising tone — it starts at mid pitch and rises to high, similar to the rising intonation used when asking a question in English. It is marked with an acute accent: á é í ó ú. Examples: guó (国, country), rén (人, person), lái (来, come).
▸ What are Chinese tonal marks called?
Chinese tonal marks are called diacritical marks or tone diacritics. The four marks are: macron (ā, 1st tone), acute accent (á, 2nd tone), caron/háček (ǎ, 3rd tone), and grave accent (à, 4th tone). Collectively they are called "声调符号" (shēngdiào fúhào) in Chinese.
▸ Is yin in "yin yang" a Chinese tone?
"Yin" (阴) means "feminine/dark/moon" and is itself a 1st-tone syllable (yīn). The compound 阴阳 (yīn yáng) is T1+T2. "Yin" in the context of Chinese linguistics also refers to the 1st tone: 阴平 (yīnpíng) is the formal name for the high flat 1st tone.
▸ Do tone marks change in third-tone sandhi?
Yes — when two 3rd-tone syllables occur together, the first changes to a 2nd tone in speech (e.g. 你好 nǐ hǎo is pronounced ní hǎo). However, pinyin is usually written with the original 3rd-tone marks (ǐ ǎ) even when sandhi applies. This tool shows base tones as written.
▸ Can I use numbered pinyin instead of tone marks?
Yes — numbered pinyin (e.g. ni3 hao3) is common in typing, digital dictionaries, and early study materials. It uses digits 1–4 after each syllable, and 5 or 0 for neutral tone. Use the Tone Marker tab above to convert from numbered pinyin to proper diacritics for publications or study cards.
Master All Four Tones with Spaced Repetition
HSK Tutor drills tones through adaptive flashcards, listening exercises and TTS audio so every syllable becomes second nature. Start your free trial today.