Pinyin final: "a4"
/a˥˩/
The Pinyin final "a4" is used in the second half of Pinyin syllables. In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the second half of a Pinyin syllable is always represented by a location. You can visit the Pinyin index to see all Pinyin syllables from this mnemonic group, or to see all Pinyin syllables "a4" can appear in.
Pronunciation Tips
The “Cheat Code”
Think of a clear, open “ah” like the vowel in “father,” but say it with Tone 4: a sharp, falling “AH!” (like a firm command or a sudden realization).
Mouth Mechanics (Step-by-step)
- Open your mouth wide vertically (jaw drops). This is an “open” vowel.
- Keep your lips relaxed and neutral—not rounded, not spread into a smile.
- Place the tongue low and flat in the bottom of the mouth. The tongue tip can rest lightly behind the lower front teeth.
- Aim the sound straight out of the mouth (not up into the nose). The throat stays open, like you’re sighing “ah.”
- Add Tone 4 (falling): start a little higher and drop quickly and decisively to a lower pitch by the end—like saying “Ah!” when stopping someone.
English Approximation
English has a close vowel quality, but you must control it to stay “pure” (not turning into “uh” or “aw”).
- “father” — use the “fa-” vowel (the open “ah”). Keep it steady and clean.
- “spa” — use the “a” sound (the open “ah”), especially in careful speech.
- “Ah!” (as an exclamation) — this is a good match for the vowel and it naturally invites a strong falling intonation.
Important adjustment for many American accents:
Don’t let the vowel drift toward “aw” (like “law”) or toward a colored “uh.” Keep it as a plain, open “ah.”
Common Mistakes (English speakers)
- Turning it into “aw”: Many learners round the lips or back the tongue, producing something like “caught/law.” Keep lips neutral and tongue low.
- Adding an “r” or “uh” color: Some accents “pull” vowels toward an R-colored sound or a dull “uh.” Keep it bright, open, and steady.
- Not making Tone 4 clear: Tone 4 is not “flat” and not “question-like.” It should sound firm and falling, not rising.
- Clipping the vowel too short: Tone 4 is quick, but the vowel still needs to be fully formed: a clean “AH,” then fall.
Practice Pairs (Pinyin ↔ English approximation)
| Pinyin (Tone 4) | English approximation | What to copy from English |
|---|---|---|
| a4 | “Ah!” (as in “Ah, stop!”) | Open ah + decisive falling feeling |
| ba4 | “bah!” (as in “bah, humbug!”) | The ah quality (don’t add “aw”) |
| da4 | “da!” (as a sharp “duh!” but brighter) | Use open ah, not the dull “uh” |
| ma4 | “ma!” (a firm call) | Keep it open and clean; add the fall |
| fa4 | “fa” in “father” | Copy the vowel in fa- |
| ta4 | “ta!” (a crisp syllable) | Use pure ah, then fall in pitch |
| na4 | “nah!” (said sharply) | Similar vowel; avoid nasalizing |
| la4 | “la!” (sung) but spoken firmly | Open vowel; then add Tone 4 fall |
| sa4 | “sah!” (like “psst—sah!”) | Open ah, no rounding |
Note: These English words are approximations. The goal is to “borrow” the vowel quality (open “ah”) and then apply Tone 4.
Comparisons & Caveats (similar pinyin / what to watch out for)
A. Tone matters: a4 vs a1/a2/a3
- a4 is falling: it should feel firm, final, and dropping.
- If you say the same “ah” vowel but keep pitch flat or rising, you may accidentally produce a different tone and therefore a different word.
B. a vs o / e (don’t drift)
- a is wide-open “ah.”
- Learners often drift toward:
- o-like “aw” (rounding lips),
- or a duller e/uh-like quality (not opening enough).
Keep jaw dropped and lips neutral to stay in a.
C. a vs ai / ao / an / ang (don’t add a tail)
- a is a single, pure vowel.
- English speakers often add a glide at the end (like “ah-uh” or “ahw”), especially under stress.
- For a4, keep it clean and direct: one vowel, one falling tone.
D. In full syllables, the final stays “a” even when a glide appears
Some syllables include a y/w glide before the a, but the main vowel is still the same open “a.”
- ya4 / jia4 / qia4 / xia4: you start with a brief “y”-like glide, then open into a (the a is still the target sound).
- wa4 / gua4 / kua4 / shua4 / hua4: you start with a brief “w”-like rounding motion, then open into a—but don’t let it become “aw.” The lips can round briefly for the glide, then relax as you hit the a.
E. Don’t confuse the vowel with aspiration or consonant strength
In pa4 / ta4 / cha4 / kua4 / qia4, the consonant may feel “stronger,” but the final is the same a. Keep the vowel quality consistent across:
- pa4, ma4, fa4
- ta4, na4, la4
- zha4, cha4, sha4, sa4
- ya4, jia4, qia4, xia4
- wa4, gua4, kua4, shua4, hua4
Bottom line: Build a reliable open “ah” first, then make Tone 4 a clear high-to-low drop without changing the vowel into “aw,” “uh,” or a diphthong.
Pinyin with a4
Mnemonics for a4
