HLCC Learn Chinese English and More

There are a few possible syllables (400+) and several tones. Chinese is a tone language, different pitch patterns do not just add emotional color, as in English; they actually distinguish one word from another. For example a simple word like “ma” could mean “horse” or “mother” depending on the tone that you use. This often leads to misunderstandings on which a lot of Chinese humor is based.

The typical stage comedy will portray a farmer from the countryside coming to the city and trying to get his way around using all the wrong tones. His accent leads to misunderstandings that often are quite funny e.g. I came to the city riding my “mother” instead of riding my “horse”!