Hakka Tones

It is important in all Chinese languages to use the correct tone (pitch of voice), so as to distinguish between different words that are otherwise pronounced the same e.g. fu(1) and fu(2). 

Below is a chart showing approximate Hakka tones:

Tone 1: Start at a high pitch and keep it steady throughout the word e.g. husband 夫 fu(1)  

Tone 2: Start at a low pitch and keep it steady throughout the word e.g. support with the hand 扶 fu(2) 

Tone 3:  Start at a mid-level pitch and drop to a low pitch whilst saying the word e.g. government 府 fu(3)

Tone 4: Start at a high pitch and drop to a mid/low-level pitch whilst saying the word e.g. wealth 富 fu(4)

Tone 5: Same low pitch as Tone 2, but the sound is abruptly ended with a consonant e.g. fortune 福 fuk(5)

Tone 6: Slightly higher pitch than Tone 1, and the sound is abruptly ended with a consonant e.g. clothes 服 fuk(6)  

I am going to ask someone in China to record these as examples for us to listen to.