There are four tones in Mandarin Chinese Pinyin, plus one neutral tone(or called "no tone").

在汉语中有四个声调,加一轻声(或称为"无音")音。

First tone in Chinese Pinyin

The first tone is marked as a straight line like this¯. It has a long and sustained sound (as if singing a note).

第一种音调标记为这样的¯直线。它有一个长期和持续的声音(好像唱的说明)。

Second tone in Chinese Pinyin

The second tone is marked upwards like thisˊ . It is a rising tone (start from the lower part of your voice, then go up).

第二个音调的特点是向上ˊ这样。这是一个升调(从你的声音下部开始,然后向上)。

Third tone in Chinese Pinyin

The third tone is marked down and up like this ˇ. It is a low and curved tone. Try to go as low as you can and then bounce up.

第三种种语调明显下降,类似这样ˇ.。这是一个低,弯曲的基调。尝试尽可能的低,然后再反弹上去。

Fourth in Chinese Pinyin

The fourth tone is marked downwards like thisˋ. It is a falling tone (start from the grating highest part of your voice, then go down, as if exclaiming).

第四种语调像这样ˋ下调。这是降调,从你的声音光栅的最高部分(开始,然后下降)。

Neutral in Chinese Pinyin

The neutral tone has no mark. It is a short and light tone.

在轻声没有标记。这是一个短的和轻音。

Where should I mark the tones?

Tones should be marked on a vowel. If a word has more than one vowel, the tone should be marked on the main vowel of the word. Vowels are listed in the following order: a, o, e, i, u and ü. As the vowel 'a' appears first in this list, the tone in the word liao should be marked on the vowel 'a'.

我应该在哪里标注音调？

音调应标记在元音上。如果一个词有多个元音,语调应标明这个词的主要元音。元音列出以下顺序：1,a, o, e, i, u。由于元音'a'出现在这个列表中第一位,在liao中音调应该标在'a'.上。