The third tone in Mandarin Chinese
Tone 3 · Dipping (low), then rising · 上声 shǎngshēng
How the third tone sounds
In full form the third tone falls to the bottom of your range and then rises again, so it has a 'valley' shape. In real speech, though, the third tone is usually pronounced as a low dip with little or no final rise - this is the 'half third tone'. The single most useful thing to learn is that the third tone is mainly a LOW tone, not a bouncy one.
A way to feel it
A drawn-out, reluctant 'wellll…' as you think about something - the pitch dips down low, then drifts back up.
Drill the third tone with audio
Hearing beats reading. ToneDeck plays the tone, you guess it, and your accuracy climbs as your ear sharpens. HSK 1 is free.
Start freeCommon mistakes
- ×Over-exaggerating the rise on every third tone. Before another syllable it usually stays low (the half third tone).
- ×Confusing it with the second tone because both can rise. The third tone goes DOWN first.
- ×Forgetting third-tone sandhi: two third tones in a row change - the first becomes a second tone (see the sandhi page).
Third tone example words
Pinyin is coloured by tone (this tone is dipping (low), then rising).
Frequently asked questions
What does the third tone sound like in Mandarin?+
In full form the third tone falls to the bottom of your range and then rises again, so it has a 'valley' shape. In real speech, though, the third tone is usually pronounced as a low dip with little or no final rise - this is the 'half third tone'. The single most useful thing to learn is that the third tone is mainly a LOW tone, not a bouncy one.
What is an example of the third tone?+
The third tone on "ma" is mǎ (马), meaning "horse". Other common third-tone words include wǒ (我, I / me), hǎo (好, good), shuǐ (水, water).
What is the most common mistake with the third tone?+
Over-exaggerating the rise on every third tone. Before another syllable it usually stays low (the half third tone).
Which number is the third tone?+
It is tone 3 of the four Mandarin tones. On "ma" it is written mǎ in pinyin, and described as "dipping (low), then rising", pitch 214 (falling-rising).
The other tones
See all five together in Mandarin tones explained, or read how to learn the tones.