Pitch is meaning · Audio-first Mandarin
Learn Mandarin
tones by ear.
One syllable can mean four different things. Hear the difference between mā, má, mǎ and mà, then make the right pitch automatic.
The ToneDeck method
Stop recognising tones. Start hearing them.
Mandarin tones are vocabulary, not decoration. ToneDeck builds the listening reflex first, then connects it to speaking and long-term memory.
Hear the contrast
Compare the same syllable across all four tones with clear audio and visible pitch contours.
Name what you heard
Short listen-and-guess drills reveal which tones your ear confuses and track accuracy by tone.
Make it automatic
Pronunciation practice and spaced review turn a correct answer into a reliable speaking habit.
Inside ToneDeck
A complete Mandarin listening gym.
Train isolated tones, learn HSK vocabulary, remember what matters and rehearse complete conversations in one connected system.
Tones
Ear training, the killer feature
Minimal pairs drilled side by side with pitch contours, then a listen-and-guess quiz that scores your accuracy. This is the muscle most apps never train.
Try the ear quiz free →
Review
SM-2 spaced repetition
The same algorithm behind Anki. Again, Hard, Good, Easy: each answer reschedules the word at the moment you're about to forget it. Streaks keep you honest.
See the lesson path →
Words
A soundboard for vocabulary
Tap any of 5,493 words to hear it instantly. The full HSK 1–6 vocabulary, plus the 1,000 most common words by frequency. Pinyin is coloured by tone, always.
Browse the HSK decks →
Speak
Record. Compare. Repeat.
109 real two-voice dialogues across everyday topics. Play any line, record yourself, then A/B your pronunciation against the native audio until you can't hear the difference.
Start speaking free →No account needed
Free Mandarin tools. No account needed.
The 60-second tone test
Hear a syllable, name the tone. Find out in a minute whether your ear can tell the four tones apart.
Test your ear →Six free games
A daily word puzzle, tone pairs, pinyin match, memory match, a typing test, and a level quiz. All with audio.
Play now →The guides
Plain-English explanations of the four tones, tone pairs, tone sandhi, and how to actually practice.
Start reading →Pricing
Free to start. Pro when it sticks.
forever, no card
- · All 127 HSK 1 words, by topic
- · Full tone trainer + ear quiz
- · Guided beginner course
- · Unlimited spaced-repetition reviews
- · Starter conversations
or $39.99/year, about $3.33/mo and 44% less
- · All 5,493 words: full HSK 1–6 + frequency decks
- · All 216 lessons and 109 conversations
- · Unlimited pronunciation checks
- · Record & compare your pronunciation
- · One subscription for web, iPhone and Android
Free week on both plans · cancel anytime
Questions
Why obsess over tones?+
Because tones aren't an accent; they're the meaning. Say mā with a falling pitch and you've called your mother a scolding. Mainstream apps cover tones in one early lesson and never return; learners plateau because their ears were never trained.
Do I need to install anything?+
No. The web app runs in any browser at tonedeck.app, nothing to download. Premium audio is spoken by a neural voice and cached after the first listen, and your progress saves to your account, so it follows you between browsers. The same account unlocks Pro in the iPhone and Android apps too.
What's in the free version?+
All 127 HSK 1 words with unlimited spaced-repetition reviews, the full tone trainer and ear-training quiz, the guided beginner course, and starter conversations. Pro unlocks all 5,493 words through HSK 6, every lesson and conversation, and unlimited pronunciation checks.
How does the free trial work?+
Both Pro plans start with a free week. Try the full vocabulary, all 216 lessons and all 109 conversations, then cancel before the week ends if it is not for you.
Is this for beginners or intermediate learners?+
Both. Beginners build the right habits from day one. Intermediate learners use the ear-training quiz to fix the tone deafness that has been fossilised in their speech for years.
Free guides
Learn Mandarin tones, no app required
Mandarin Tones Explained
The four tones plus the neutral tone, with marks and examples.
Read →
How to Practice Chinese Tones
A step-by-step routine and a sample 15-minute daily session.
Read →
Common Tone Pairs
The patterns of real speech, and how to hear them.
Read →
Chinese Swear Words
22 Mandarin curses with pinyin, severity and real usage notes.
Read →
Twenty minutes a day
Your ear can learn this.
Start in the browser right now, free and with nothing to install. One account, and Pro unlocks on the web and in the iPhone and Android apps.