<p>The fourth tone is usually considered low-falling, rather than low-flat.</p>

<p>The fourth tone begins just a little lower than where the sixth tone begins. Just start by producing the sixth tone, and then bring the pitch down as low as you can.</p>

<p>In terms of tone numbers (a 1-5 scale, with 1 the lowest), fourth tone is usually transcribed as 21, third tone as 33, and sixth tone as 22.</p>

<p>That's the reason for the advice about hearing your throat vibrate: the pitch you make should be low-frequency. I'd be happy to follow up on this for you if you have any more questions.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-06T04:45:54.337Z
Yes! I would love to follow more on this. It's more about how I can practice distinguishing them. So referring to your tone numbers, how do you train your voice to tones 1,2,3? I feel my throat vibrate at the same amount between all of them...
Matt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-06T09:57:58.430Z
I've recorded the six tones in an audio file here: http://cl.ly/420Z2n1y2u1c -- Ultimately, the tone numbers are only a rough indication. You can listen to recordings of native speakers, but every speaker has a different dynamic range.
jogloran
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-05T05:27:30.707Z
2013-03-05T05:27:30.707Z
jogloran
<p>I’ve been told to pronounce the fourth tone low enough to make a perceptible voice crack. In a study, the voice crack was one of the indicators to the Cantonese ear that the speaker was using the fourth tone,</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-29T07:13:29.160Z
2021-09-29T07:13:29.160Z
Imogen Drake
<p>The 4th tone is the low-falling tone. You are probably referring to the 6th tone. The difference with the 3rd tone is the frequency (in hertz). The 6th tone is about 30 Hz lower than the 3rd.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-05T05:56:31.177Z
2013-03-05T05:56:31.177Z
dda
<p>I was wondering whether anyone could help me distinguish how to pronounce tone 4 (mostly low flat) and tone 3 (mid flat). </p>

<p>I read in tone 4, you should feel your throat vibrate. Honestly, I have my finger touch my adam's apple and try to feel the difference but I don't feel it between 3rd and 4th. Is there any way to better work out my tones alone? The only thing I do about my 4th tone is shorten my 3rd tone. Thus, 4th tone to me = 3rd tone, but in a shorter burst. </p>

<p>How can I distinguish them?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-05T12:38:55.790Z
Please also note that vowel length is independent (and meaningful) from the tone. You can have a long and a short syllable with the same tone, and they are different sounds.
dda
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-07T10:19:41.013Z
@dda: Independent of the distinction between *a* and *aa*, [tone 3 has longer duration](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cantonese_tones.svg).
jogloran
<cantonese><tones>
Cantonese jyutping Tone 4 question "throat should be vibrating"
# Cantonese jyutping Tone 4 question "throat should be vibrating"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-03-05)

I was wondering whether anyone could help me distinguish how to pronounce tone 4 (mostly low flat) and tone 3 (mid flat).

I read in tone 4, you should feel your throat vibrate. Honestly, I have my finger touch my adam's apple and try to feel the difference but I don't feel it between 3rd and 4th. Is there any way to better work out my tones alone? The only thing I do about my 4th tone is shorten my 3rd tone. Thus, 4th tone to me = 3rd tone, but in a shorter burst.

How can I distinguish them?

**Tags:** cantonese, tones

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Please also note that vowel length is independent (and meaningful) from the tone. You can have a long and a short syllable with the same tone, and they are different sounds.  
> **username_2**: @username_1: Independent of the distinction between *a* and *aa*, [tone 3 has longer duration](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cantonese_tones.svg).  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-03-05. Score: 2

The fourth tone is usually considered low-falling, rather than low-flat.

The fourth tone begins just a little lower than where the sixth tone begins. Just start by producing the sixth tone, and then bring the pitch down as low as you can.

In terms of tone numbers (a 1-5 scale, with 1 the lowest), fourth tone is usually transcribed as 21, third tone as 33, and sixth tone as 22.

That's the reason for the advice about hearing your throat vibrate: the pitch you make should be low-frequency. I'd be happy to follow up on this for you if you have any more questions.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes! I would love to follow more on this. It's more about how I can practice distinguishing them. So referring to your tone numbers, how do you train your voice to tones 1,2,3? I feel my throat vibrate at the same amount between all of them...  
> **username_2**: I've recorded the six tones in an audio file here: http://cl.ly/420Z2n1y2u1c -- Ultimately, the tone numbers are only a rough indication. You can listen to recordings of native speakers, but every speaker has a different dynamic range.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2021-09-29. Score: 0

I’ve been told to pronounce the fourth tone low enough to make a perceptible voice crack. In a study, the voice crack was one of the indicators to the Cantonese ear that the speaker was using the fourth tone,


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### Answer by username_1 on 2013-03-05. Score: 0

The 4th tone is the low-falling tone. You are probably referring to the 6th tone. The difference with the 3rd tone is the frequency (in hertz). The 6th tone is about 30 Hz lower than the 3rd.


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