It looks like there are 4 distinct tones plus the neutral tone in Chinese, which is mostly analogous but distinct from both Thai and Vientiane Lao. Here's just a random page that gives the basics of Chinese tones along with some much-needed audio comparison.<br/>http://people.wku.edu/shizhen.gao/Chinese101/pinyin/tones.htm (http://people.wku.edu/shizhen.gao/Chinese101/pinyin/tones.htm)<br/><br/>I will curb my enthusiasm now.