Soup or sugar?

“阿姨，我要汤” "Aunty, I want soup." - this is what the Indian exchange student from Singapore thought she said to the cook at her campus in China.


What she actually said was: "阿姨，我要糖“ "Aunty, I want sugar."


So, the cook took out a huge jar of sugar and placed it on the counter in front of her.


The student said, "不，我要那个可以喝的。“ "No, I want the kind that can be drunk."


Confused, the cook thought the student wanted liquid sugar!


What was the problem?  The student thought she had got the Mandarin tone correct, but she hadn't.


汤or soup is pronounced "tang1" - in the 1st tone.  But, 唐or sugar is pronounced "tang2", 2nd tone.


Small difference in tone, but what a world of difference in meaning!  


How can I overcome this and get it right???  Good, old-fashioned drills.  Say it over and over again in the presence of a native speaker so that you can get corrected immediately.  Record his/her pronunciation and play it over and over again to yourself so that you get used to hearing the correct tone.  Very soon, you'll be saying the right words and making yourself understood!


Happy pronunciation!