Difference between revisions of "Tone change rules"
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * <em>一</em> 二 三 四 五<span class="pinyin"><em>yī</em> èr sān sì wǔ</span> <span class="trans">one two three four five</span> | + | * <em>一</em> 二 三 四 五<span class="pinyin"><em>yī</em> èr sān sì wǔ</span> <span class="trans">one, two, three, four, five</span> |
| − | * 0.<em>1</em>2<span class="pinyin">líng diǎn <em>yī</em> èr</span> <span class="trans"> | + | * 0.<em>1</em>2<span class="pinyin">líng diǎn <em>yī</em> èr</span> <span class="trans">zero point one two</span> |
* 第 <em>一</em> 个<span class="pinyin">dì <em>yī</em> ge</span> <span class="trans">the first one</span> | * 第 <em>一</em> 个<span class="pinyin">dì <em>yī</em> ge</span> <span class="trans">the first one</span> | ||
| − | * 一 千 一 百 <em>一</em>十<em>一</em><span class="pinyin">yī qiān yī bǎi <em>yī</em>shí<em>yī</em></span> <span class="trans">one thousand one hundred | + | * 一 千 一 百 <em>一</em>十<em>一</em><span class="pinyin">yī qiān yī bǎi <em>yī</em>shí<em>yī</em></span> <span class="trans">one thousand one hundred eleven</span> |
| − | * 20<em>11</em> 年<span class="pinyin">èr líng <em>yī</em> <em>yī</em> nián</span> <span class="trans"> | + | * 20<em>11</em> 年<span class="pinyin">èr líng <em>yī</em> <em>yī</em> nián</span> <span class="trans">the year two thousand eleven</span> |
| − | * <em>一</em> 楼<span class="pinyin"><em>yī</em> lóu</span> <span class="trans"> | + | * <em>一</em> 楼<span class="pinyin"><em>yī</em> lóu</span> <span class="trans">first floor</span> |
* 二 零 <em>一</em> 房间<span class="pinyin">èr líng <em>yī</em> fángjiān</span> <span class="trans">room 201</span> | * 二 零 <em>一</em> 房间<span class="pinyin">èr líng <em>yī</em> fángjiān</span> <span class="trans">room 201</span> | ||
* <em>一</em>五<em>一</em>十<span class="pinyin">yīwǔyīshí</span> <span class="trans">in full detail [idiom]</span> | * <em>一</em>五<em>一</em>十<span class="pinyin">yīwǔyīshí</span> <span class="trans">in full detail [idiom]</span> | ||
* 周<em>一</em> 到 周五<span class="pinyin">Zhōu<em>yī</em> dào Zhōuwǔ</span> <span class="trans">from Monday to Friday</span> | * 周<em>一</em> 到 周五<span class="pinyin">Zhōu<em>yī</em> dào Zhōuwǔ</span> <span class="trans">from Monday to Friday</span> | ||
| + | * <em>一</em>月 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yī</em>yuè</span> <span class="trans">January</span> | ||
* 三月 <em>一</em> 号<span class="pinyin">Sānyuè <em>yī</em>hào</span> <span class="trans">March 1st</span> | * 三月 <em>一</em> 号<span class="pinyin">Sānyuè <em>yī</em>hào</span> <span class="trans">March 1st</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 15:31, 26 March 2015
-
Level
- Also known as: tone sandhi and 变调规则 (biàndiào guīzé).
There are certain circumstances under which a Chinese word or character's normal tone will regularly change to a specific different tone. These tone changes (also called tone sandhi) must be learned in order to pronounce Chinese correctly.
There are three main tone change rules that every learner needs to know. These rules are not normally reflected in the tone marks of pinyin; you just have to know them.
Contents
Tone Changes for 不 (bù)
When followed by a 4th tone, 不 (bù) changes to 2nd tone (bú).
Examples
不是、不对、不要、不做、不去
Exceptions
没有例外，其他的都读第四声。
Tone Changes for 一 (yī)
When followed by a 4th tone, ⼀ (yī) changes to 4th tone (yì).
When followed by any other tone, ⼀ (yī) changes to 2nd tone (yí).
Examples
一个、一直、一起、一样、一千、一百
Exceptions
- 一 二 三 四 五 one, two, three, four, five
- 0.12 zero point one two
- 第 一 个 the first one
- 一 千 一 百 一十一 one thousand one hundred eleven
- 2011 年 the year two thousand eleven
- 一 楼 first floor
- 二 零 一 房间 room 201
- 一五一十 in full detail [idiom]
- 周一 到 周五 from Monday to Friday
- 一月 January
- 三月 一 号 March 1st
Tone Changes for Multiple Third Tones
When a 3rd tone (e.g. “yě”) is followed by another 3rd tone in a group, the first 3rd tone changes to a 2nd tone (e.g. “yé”).
Examples
你好、很好、可以、语法、所以
Exceptions
special groupings
Why Tone Changes Are Not Written
Normally the tone changes above are not written in the pinyin; you are supposed to just know the rule and apply it if you say the word(s) aloud. The reason for this is that in many cases if the tone change is written, you will be confused as to what the “normal” tone of a character is actually supposed to be. For example, you might wonder, “is this a third tone written as a second tone because it’s followed by a third tone, or is this character always a second tone?” Always writing the original tones solves this problem. But it also means that you really need to know your tone change rules. Learn them well!
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Tone sandhi: Mandarin Chinese
