Pinyin Tone Converter
Type pinyin with tone numbers, like ni3 hao3, and get proper tone marks, nǐ hǎo, instantly. It works in both directions and runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you type leaves this page.
Tip: write ü as v (lv4 becomes lǜ), and use 5 or 0 for the neutral tone (ma5 becomes ma). Anything that is not pinyin passes through unchanged, so you can convert whole sentences or vocabulary lists in one go.
How the number system works
Type the letters, then the tone number, and the accent appears for you.
ma1 → mā (flat) ma2 → má (rising)
ma3 → mǎ (dipping) ma4 → mà (falling)
For the ü sound, type v: lv4 → lǜ, nv3 → nǚ
For the neutral tone, use 5 or 0: ma5 → ma
Teachers, textbooks and software all understand this convention, and this tool turns it into the real thing.
Where does the tone mark go?
The converter follows the standard placement rule. An a or an e always takes the mark, so hao3 becomes hǎo. In the combination ou, the o takes it, so gou3 becomes gǒu. Otherwise the mark lands on the last vowel, so hui4 becomes huì and liu2 becomes liú. If you want the full explanation, along with how to type tone marks natively on every device, our guide on how to type pinyin with tone marks covers Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android.
Why tones matter
Tones are spelling, not decoration: mā (妈) is mother, while mǎ (马) is horse. If you are just getting started with them, our beginner's guide to Chinese tones explains all four with examples you can hear in your head.