Tones

Tone Modifiers

Use one consistent image per tone:

• Tone 1 (high, flat: ā, shape ¯)
• Tone 2 (rising: á, shape ´)
• Tone 3 (dip then rise: ǎ, shape ˇ)
• Tone 4 (sharp falling: à, shape `)
• Neutral tone (no mark: a)

Pick images I can instantly visualize and keep them consistent across scenes.

Pinyin Examples

• Tone 1: mā, shī, tiān
• Tone 2: má, xué, péng
• Tone 3: mǎ, wǒ, hǎo
• Tone 4: mà, shì, zài
• Neutral: ma, de, ne

Integration Checklist

For every new word scene:

1. Add pronunciation cue.
2. Add tone marker.
3. Make both cues interact with the meaning image.

If scenes get cluttered, simplify action and exaggerate only one feature.