Tone marks

A tone mark sits above the consonant and, together with the consonant class and the vowel length, decides how the syllable is pitched.

ngang

ngang (level tone)

ngang

Level tone, no tone mark, stable pitch. Tone direction: 33 (middle level).

保持平稳中音，不升不降

Example: ma

◌́

sắc

A sharp tone, marked with ´ , rises in pitch from mid to high. Pitch range: 35 (rising).

从中音快速升到高音

Example: má

◌̀

huyền

Xuan Sheng, symbol ` , has a low pitch that gradually descends. Pitch trend: 21 (lower).

从中低音平缓下降

Example: mà

◌̉

hỏi

The question mark (symbol: a small hook ◌̉ indicates a question, with a falling tone followed by a rising tone. Tone pattern: 313 .

先下降再回升，像问句

Example: mả

◌̃

ngã

A sharp, rising tone, marked with ~ , accompanied by a glottal stop. Tonal range: break at 35 .

上升中带一次喉塞停顿

Example: mã

◌̣

nặng

The stressed syllable is marked with a dot below it ◌̣ , and it falls sharply with a glottal stop at the end. Tonal pattern: 21 (short and abrupt).

短促下压，喉部收紧

Example: mạ

Tones are easier to learn by ear than by rule. The practice app has listening drills that play one syllable and ask you which tone you heard.