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Chinese Tones Trivia Quiz

Is it first, second, third, or fourth?

A multiple-choice quiz by Tianaki. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Tianaki

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
185,779

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
687

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What are the tones for 'cheng (accomplish, become complete) yu (words, language)'? Hint

3, 4

3, 2

2, 3

2, 1

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What are the tones for: 'yi (one) mao (fur, hair) bu (no, not) ba (pull out)'? Hint

4, 4, 2, 2

4, 2, 4, 2

1, 2, 1, 1

1, 2, 4, 4

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What are the tones for: 'diao (drop, lose) yi (because of) qing (light, to slight) xin (heart)'? Hint

1, 2, 4, 1

1, 2, 1, 1

4, 3, 1, 1

4, 3, 4, 4

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What are the tones for: 'jing (well) di (bottom) zhi (of) wa (frog)'? Hint

3, 3, 1, 1

3, 4, 4, 1

2, 2, 1, 1

2, 1, 2, 2

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What are the tones for: 'shang (up, ascend) tian (sky) xia (down, descend) di (earth, ground)'? Hint

4, 1, 1, 4

1, 4, 1, 4

4, 1, 4, 4

1, 4, 4, 4

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What are the tones for: 'san (three) yan (to speak, words) liang (two) yu (words, language)'? Hint

1, 3, 2, 3

4, 2, 3, 3

1, 2, 3, 3

4, 3, 2, 2

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What are the tones for: 'luan (chaos) qi (seven) ba (eight) zao (a mess)'? Hint

4, 4, 4, 4

1, 1, 1, 1

4, 1, 1, 1

1, 4, 4, 4

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What are the tones for: 'ren (benevolence) yi (justice, righteousness) dao (the way, a path) de (virtue)'? Hint

2, 4, 1, 2

2, 1, 1, 2

2, 4, 4, 2

2, 1, 4, 2

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What are the tones for: 'bing (soldiers, army) bu (no, not) yan (to dislike, detest) zha (deceit)'? Hint

1, 4, 4, 4

1, 2, 1, 1

4, 1, 1, 4

4, 2, 4, 1

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. And, to finish off: True or False : There is a fifth tone.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What are the tones for 'cheng (accomplish, become complete) yu (words, language)'?

Answer: 2, 3

Cheng2 yu3 are sayings, proverbs, idioms, etc. The rest of the 'questions' are common cheng yu. All definitions are from the Far East Chinese-English Dictionary and zhongwen.com.

2. What are the tones for: 'yi (one) mao (fur, hair) bu (no, not) ba (pull out)'?

Answer: 4, 2, 4, 2

Can also be yi1 mao2 bu4 ba2. Literally: unwilling to sacrifice even a single hair (for the sake of others) -- parsimonious; very stingy.

3. What are the tones for: 'diao (drop, lose) yi (because of) qing (light, to slight) xin (heart)'?

Answer: 4, 3, 1, 1

Diao4 yi3 qing1 xin1: to lower one's guard; to treat something lightly.

4. What are the tones for: 'jing (well) di (bottom) zhi (of) wa (frog)'?

Answer: 3, 3, 1, 1

Jing3 di3 zhi1 wa1: literally -- a frog in [the bottom of] a well -- a person of very limited outlook and experience.

5. What are the tones for: 'shang (up, ascend) tian (sky) xia (down, descend) di (earth, ground)'?

Answer: 4, 1, 4, 4

Shang4 tian1 xia4 di4: literally -- to ascend to the heavens and descend to earth -- 1) everywhere; 2) to leave no stone unturned, to spare no efforts.

6. What are the tones for: 'san (three) yan (to speak, words) liang (two) yu (words, language)'?

Answer: 1, 2, 3, 3

San1 yan2 liang3 yu3: a brief talk, discussion, conversation, description, etc.

7. What are the tones for: 'luan (chaos) qi (seven) ba (eight) zao (a mess)'?

Answer: 4, 1, 1, 1

Luan4 qi1 ba1 zao1: in confusion; topsy-turvy.

8. What are the tones for: 'ren (benevolence) yi (justice, righteousness) dao (the way, a path) de (virtue)'?

Answer: 2, 4, 4, 2

Ren2 yi4 dao4 de2: virtue and morality -- a precept of Confucius.

9. What are the tones for: 'bing (soldiers, army) bu (no, not) yan (to dislike, detest) zha (deceit)'?

Answer: 1, 4, 4, 4

Bing1 bu4 yan4 zha4: trickery is no vice in military operations -- all is fair in war.

10. And, to finish off: True or False : There is a fifth tone.

Answer: True

The fifth tone is a neutral, or 'toneless' tone.

Source: Author Tianaki

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor thejazzkickazz before going online.
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