Difference between revisions of "Neutral tone"

 
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{{AKA|fifth tone|轻声 (qīngshēng)}}
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{{Pronunciation Box}}
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{{AKA|fifth tone|zeroth tone|轻声 (qīngshēng)}}
  
The [[four tones]] of Mandarin Chinese are widely known, but you occasionally hear about a "fifth tone," also known as the '''neutral tone'''. The neutral tone is said to be "light" or "de-emphasized," meaning you don't have to give it the same amount of stress, and it should actually be a bit shorter than the other tones.
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The [[four tones]] of Mandarin Chinese are widely known, but you will also hear about a "fifth tone," also known as the '''neutral tone'''. The neutral tone is said to be "light" or "de-emphasized," meaning you don't have to give it the same amount of stress, and it should actually be a bit shorter than the other tones.
  
The neutral tone is not as "absolute" as the others, and it needs to stand apart from the tone that came before it. That means that after a [[first tone]] or [[second tone]], the neutral tone sounds a bit lower, while after the [[third tone]] or [[fourth tone]] it sound slightly higher. The key is ''contrast''.
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The neutral tone is not as "absolute" as the others, because its exact pitch depends on the tone that came before it. (This is why [[pinyin chart]]s like ours typically do not include the neutral tone: there is no "neutral tone in isolation," and you'd need four different versions of it-—one for each of the four tones—-to be totally accurate!) While you ''can'' memorize the exact pitch of the neutral tone when it follows each of the four main tones, it's not recommended for beginners. Just keep it short and de-emphasized, and with a little practice, it'll sound fine.
  
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== Common Examples of the Neutral Tone ==
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Remember, words ''do not start'' with the neutral tone. Sentence-final particles like 吗 (ma), 呢 (ne), and (吧), as well as the "de" particles are always read in the neutral tone.
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<div class="liju">
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* <em>吗</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>ma</em></span> <span class="trans">[question particle]</span>
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* <em>的</em><span class="pinyin"><em>de</em></span><span class="trans"> [particle]</span>
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* <em>吧</em><span class="pinyin"><em>ba</em></span><span class="trans"> [modal particle] </span>
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* <em>呢</em><span class="pinyin"><em>ne</em></span><span class="trans"> [modal particle] </span>
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* 朋<em>友</em><span class="pinyin">péng<em>you</em></span> <span class="trans">friend</span>
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* 孩<em>子</em><span class="pinyin">hái<em>zi</em></span> <span class="trans">child;children</span>
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* 妈<em>妈</em><span class="pinyin">mā<em>ma</em></span> <span class="trans">mother</span>
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* 聪<em>明</em><span class="pinyin">cōng<em>ming</em></span> <span class="trans">clever</span>
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* 我<em>们</em><span class="pinyin">wǒ<em>men</em></span> <span class="trans">we</span>
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* 什<em>么</em><span class="pinyin">shén<em>me</em></span> <span class="trans">what</span>
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</div>
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If you'd like more examples, see our [[List of HSK neutral tone words|list of HSK 1-4 words featuring the neutral tone]].
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== Neutral Tone Diagrams ==
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To understand how the absolute pitch of the neutral tone varies depending on what tone precedes it, it helps to diagrams of the neutral tone with various preceding tones, side by side. Because the neutral tone is short and light, it is represented by a gray circle in our diagrams.
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[[File:Tone_Pair_1-0_cropped.png||785px|thumb|center]]
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[[File:Tone_Pair_2-0_cropped.png||785px|thumb|center]]
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[[File:Tone_Pair_3-0_cropped.png||785px|thumb|center]]
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[[File:Tone_Pair_4-0_cropped.png||785px|thumb|center]]
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Remember, as a beginner, ''you don't need to memorize this!'' It will take quite a lot of hearing the neutral tone in natural speech before it becomes familiar, and studying these diagrams is no substitute for audio input!
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== Regional Variation ==
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It's worth noting that the neutral tone varies a bit in different parts of the Chinese-speaking world. The neutral tone is ''much more common'' in Beijing than in Taiwan, with usage in southern places like Shanghai somewhere in between.
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As a beginner, you don't need to worry about this. But if you're studying Chinese in Beijing, expect the neutral tone to be emphasized quite a bit. Conversely, if you're living in Taipei, you won't hear it as much "in the wild."
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One example of this phenomenon is the word 喜欢. It's pronounced "xǐhuan" (clear neutral tone on "huan") in Beijing, but "xǐhuān" in Taiwan. In Shanghai you'll hear both "xǐhuan" and "xǐhuān."
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== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Websites ===
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* Wikipedia: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Chinese_phonology#Neutral_tone Standard Chinese phonology: Neutral tone]
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* [http://www.beijingputonghua.com/psc/qingsheng/qingsheng.htm List of Mandarin Chinese words that use the neutral tone]
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* Chinese Linguist Jinxiao Song: [https://jinxiaosong.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/neutral-tone-in-real-speech/ Neutral Tone In Real Speech]
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=== Podcasts ===
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* ChinesePod: [https://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-neutral-tone The Neutral Tone]
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=== Videos ===
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* YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXHZOc4HPd4 Ms Zou Chinese Class: Mandarin Neutral Tone 轻声 (Chinese Version)]
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{{Basic Pronunciation|A1|20|Whether you think of it as "the fifth tone," or "the zeroth tone," it's a little tonal trick you'll need to know.|tone|ASP00015}}
 
[[Category: Tones]]
 
[[Category: Tones]]
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{{Related|Four tones}}
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{{Related|Tone pair 1-0}}
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{{Related|Tone pair 2-0}}
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{{Related|Tone pair 3-0}}
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{{Related|Tone pair 4-0}}

Latest revision as of 15:07, 18 August 2022

Also known as: fifth tone, zeroth tone and 轻声 (qīngshēng).

The four tones of Mandarin Chinese are widely known, but you will also hear about a "fifth tone," also known as the neutral tone. The neutral tone is said to be "light" or "de-emphasized," meaning you don't have to give it the same amount of stress, and it should actually be a bit shorter than the other tones.

The neutral tone is not as "absolute" as the others, because its exact pitch depends on the tone that came before it. (This is why pinyin charts like ours typically do not include the neutral tone: there is no "neutral tone in isolation," and you'd need four different versions of it-—one for each of the four tones—-to be totally accurate!) While you can memorize the exact pitch of the neutral tone when it follows each of the four main tones, it's not recommended for beginners. Just keep it short and de-emphasized, and with a little practice, it'll sound fine.

Common Examples of the Neutral Tone

Remember, words do not start with the neutral tone. Sentence-final particles like 吗 (ma), 呢 (ne), and (吧), as well as the "de" particles are always read in the neutral tone.

  • ma [question particle]
  • de [particle]
  • ba [modal particle]
  • ne [modal particle]
  • péngyou friend
  • háizi child;children
  • ma mother
  • cōngming clever
  • men we
  • shénme what

If you'd like more examples, see our list of HSK 1-4 words featuring the neutral tone.

Neutral Tone Diagrams

To understand how the absolute pitch of the neutral tone varies depending on what tone precedes it, it helps to diagrams of the neutral tone with various preceding tones, side by side. Because the neutral tone is short and light, it is represented by a gray circle in our diagrams.

Tone Pair 1-0 cropped.png
Tone Pair 2-0 cropped.png
Tone Pair 3-0 cropped.png
Tone Pair 4-0 cropped.png

Remember, as a beginner, you don't need to memorize this! It will take quite a lot of hearing the neutral tone in natural speech before it becomes familiar, and studying these diagrams is no substitute for audio input!

Regional Variation

It's worth noting that the neutral tone varies a bit in different parts of the Chinese-speaking world. The neutral tone is much more common in Beijing than in Taiwan, with usage in southern places like Shanghai somewhere in between.

As a beginner, you don't need to worry about this. But if you're studying Chinese in Beijing, expect the neutral tone to be emphasized quite a bit. Conversely, if you're living in Taipei, you won't hear it as much "in the wild."

One example of this phenomenon is the word 喜欢. It's pronounced "xǐhuan" (clear neutral tone on "huan") in Beijing, but "xǐhuān" in Taiwan. In Shanghai you'll hear both "xǐhuan" and "xǐhuān."

Sources and further reading

Websites

Podcasts

Videos