Abstract: This paper is to establish a clustering system of tonal particles by restudying the essence of the particles. The essence of tonal particles in Mandarin is shown in the following three aspects: (1) the mood structure is consisted of tonal particles and intonations, in the mode of “intonation + tonal particles”, with intonation representing superior mood while tonal particles the inferior tone; (2) the phonetic form of tonal particles has the characteristics of super-phonology, especially the tone, which interacts and varies with the intonation in the flow of speech, has the characteristics of super-tone; (3) there is iconicity relationship among the three opposites of denture, labial and zero initial, denoting three tones of affirmation, undefinition and surprise, and iconicity relationship among the binary opposites of low vowel /A/, middle vowel /ə/, denoting the strength of various tones. Therefore, the structural pattern of tonal particles can be expressed as follows: tonal particles = the initial_{tone type} + the final_{tone strength}. Then, according to the principle that “the initial is the longitude while the final is the latitude”, a clustering system of tonal particles in Mandarin is established. This system not only helps to explain the dynamic order of tonal particles, but also helps to explain their synchronic functions and their grammaticalization directions.

Key words: essence of tonal particles, super-phonology, super-tone, iconicity of the relationship between sound and meaning, clustering system