# ToneDetector Lite

> Mandarin Chinese tone pronunciation practice and feedback tool. (iPhone/iPad app by Jian Cheng.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonedetector-lite/id550854681 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Jian Cheng](https://appshunter.io/developer/495002823)
- Category: Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.0 · 28 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2012-08-15
- Data updated: 2026-07-04
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonedetector-lite/id550854681/reviews.md

## What is ToneDetector Lite?

How to know if you pronounced a Mandarin tone correctly without human tutors? The 12 years old tone detector app lets you make a judgement by yourself instantly. It is very intuitive for you to practice your tones.

The Chinese tones are the most difficult part for a foreign language learner to speak Chinese. How to get rid of strong non-native accent and misunderstanding caused by tone issues? Using this app, practice to be right in every Mandarin tonal syllable first!

Hear sample tonal syllables, practice tonal syllables and see their pitch shapes immediately. By comparing your pitch contours with the sample pitch contours directly, you can make a judgement easily by yourself. From the visual intuitive feedback, you may improve your tones quickly.

This app basically covers all the possible Mandarin Chinese syllables with lexical tones. They are 407 base syllables and 1259 tonal syllables. This app provides a sample sound for each tonal syllable for you to compare. By following the sample sounds, you can practice all the Mandarin tonal syllables and learn Chinese pronunciations.

This app is essential to all Chinese learners to master Chinese tone quickly. It could be used for tone lecture demonstration purpose too.

In the lite version ToneDetector:
 1. detects sample tone contours.
 2. covers 56 base syllables and 185 tonal syllables.
 3. assesses your tone perception ability using 5 random syllables.

In the full version ToneDetector:
 1. detects both sample tone contours and your tone contours. 
 2. covers all the Mandarin Chinese syllables with lexical tones. They are 407 base syllables and 1259 tonal syllables.
 3. supports to select syllables randomly, or select syllables by typing.
 4. assesses your tone perception ability using 20 random syllables.

## Key features

- Instant tone contour detection
- Visual pitch shape comparison
- Practice Mandarin tonal syllables
- Covers hundreds of base and tonal syllables
- Assess tone perception ability
- Sample sounds for comparison

## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonedetector-lite/id550854681/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Need the paid version

*2023-07-31*

I was disappointed to discover that after about three goes, it no longer detected my tones! Despite the name of the app.  Or rather it didn’t display them telling me to purchase the full version

### 2/5 — Helpful for tone feedback

*2019-04-29*

It’s useful to help you get feedback and a feel for the four tones. Once you have achieved that, then there is not much else on the app. Sometimes the pinyin does not match the sound being demonstrated. For me it was useful to help get the tones much better.

## Frequently asked questions about ToneDetector Lite

### What is ToneDetector Lite?

ToneDetector Lite is a free educational app designed to help users practice and improve their Mandarin Chinese tone pronunciation. It provides instant visual feedback by comparing the user's pitch contours to sample sounds.

### How does ToneDetector Lite help with pronunciation?

The app allows you to hear sample tonal syllables, practice them, and immediately see their pitch shapes. By comparing your pitch contours with the samples, you can easily identify and correct pronunciation errors.

### What Mandarin syllables does ToneDetector Lite cover?

The lite version of ToneDetector covers 56 base syllables and 185 tonal syllables. The full version offers a more comprehensive selection of all Mandarin Chinese syllables with lexical tones.

### Can ToneDetector Lite assess my tone perception?

Yes, ToneDetector Lite includes a feature to assess your tone perception ability using 5 random syllables. This helps you gauge your understanding and accuracy with Mandarin tones.

### Is ToneDetector Lite available on multiple devices?

ToneDetector Lite is supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, making it accessible for Apple users on the go.

### How often is ToneDetector Lite updated?

The app was last updated on May 20, 2025, indicating ongoing support and potential improvements. Its latest version is 2.1.

### What is the age rating for ToneDetector Lite?

ToneDetector Lite has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users, including younger learners.

### Does ToneDetector Lite have ads?

No, ToneDetector Lite is ad-free, providing an uninterrupted learning experience for users focused on mastering Mandarin tones.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.1 — 2025-05-20

Color enhancement

### 2.0 — 2023-05-28

Adds Tone Perception Assessment.

### 1.4 — 2020-11-02

To be compatible with iOS 14

### 1.3 — 2018-04-24

To support iOS 11+ and iPhone X

### 1.2 — 2015-11-30

To comply with iOS 9+

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## More apps by Jian Cheng

- [ToneDetector](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonedetector/id495002820)
- [声调检测](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id497899041)

All apps by Jian Cheng: https://appshunter.io/developer/495002823

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-04.*