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| | There are no exceptions to this rule. Just remember that it '''only''' applies to the ''character'' 不 (bù), and it's still ''written'' "bù." | | There are no exceptions to this rule. Just remember that it '''only''' applies to the ''character'' 不 (bù), and it's still ''written'' "bù." |
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| − | == Tone Changes for 一 (yī) ==
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| − | <div class="jiegou">
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| − | When followed by a 4th tone, 一 (yī) changes to 2nd tone (yí).<br />
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| − | When followed by any other tone, 一 (yī) changes to 4th tone (yì).
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| − | </div>
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| − | === Examples ===
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| − | Remember, '''normally you do not write the tone change'''. We're just doing it here to make it extra clear.
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| − | <div class="liju">
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| − | * <em>一</em>个 <span class="pinyin"><em>yí</em>gè</span> <span class="trans">one (of something)</span>
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| − | * <em>一</em>样 <span class="pinyin"><em>yí</em>yàng</span> <span class="trans">the same</span>
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| − | * <em>一</em>起 <span class="pinyin"><em>yì</em>qǐ</span> <span class="trans">together</span>
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| − | * <em>一</em>百<span class="pinyin"><em>yì</em>bǎi</span> <span class="trans">one hundred</span>
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| − | * <em>一</em>千 <span class="pinyin"><em>yì</em>qiān</span> <span class="trans">one thousand</span>
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| − | * <em>一</em>直 <span class="pinyin"><em>yì</em>zhí</span> <span class="trans">straight; all along</span>
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| − | </div>
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| − | === Exceptions ===
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| − | When 一 (yī) appears as a number in a series, larger number, address, or date, it is pronounced without the tone change (regular first tone "yī")
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| − | <div class="liju">
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| − | * <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>
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| − | * 0.<em>1</em>2<span class="pinyin">líng diǎn <em>yī</em> èr</span> <span class="trans">zero point one two</span>
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| − | * 第 <em>一</em> 个<span class="pinyin">dì <em>yī</em> ge</span> <span class="trans">the first one</span>
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| − | * 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>
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| − | * 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>
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| − | * <em>一</em> 楼<span class="pinyin"><em>yī</em> lóu</span> <span class="trans">first floor</span>
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| − | * 二 零 <em>一</em> 房间<span class="pinyin">èr líng <em>yī</em> fángjiān</span> <span class="trans">room 201</span>
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| − | * <em>一</em>五<em>一</em>十<span class="pinyin">yīwǔyīshí</span> <span class="trans">in full detail [idiom]</span>
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| − | * 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>
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| − | * <em>一</em>月 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yī</em>yuè</span> <span class="trans">January</span>
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| − | * 三月 <em>一</em> 号<span class="pinyin">Sānyuè <em>yī</em>hào</span> <span class="trans">March 1st</span>
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| − | </div>
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| − | == Tone Changes for Multiple Third Tones ==
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| − | <div class="jiegou">
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| − | When a 3rd tone (such as “yě”) is followed by another 3rd tone in a group, the first 3rd tone changes to a 2nd tone (such as “yé”).
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| − | </div>
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| − | === Examples ===
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| − | Remember, '''normally you do not write the tone change'''. We're just doing it here to make it extra clear.
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| − | <div class="liju">
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| − | * 你好 <span class="pinyin"><em>ní</em>hǎo</span> <span class="trans">hi</span>
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| − | * 很 好 <span class="pinyin"><em>hén</em> hǎo</span> <span class="trans">very good</span>
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| − | * 可以 <span class="pinyin"><em>ké</em>yǐ</span> <span class="trans">can, may</span>
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| − | * 所以 <span class="pinyin"><em>suó</em>yǐ</span> <span class="trans">so, therefore</span>
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| − | * 语法 <span class="pinyin"><em>yú</em>fǎ</span> <span class="trans">grammar</span>
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| − | </div>
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| − |
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| − | === Exceptions ===
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| − | While not exactly an "exception," sometimes multiple third tones in a row will be broken up by pauses. In this case, the last word/character in each "group" will be pronounced as a third tone. Beginners should not worry about this, as lots of third tones in a row is not super common.
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| | == Why Tone Changes Are Not Written == | | == Why Tone Changes Are Not Written == |
- 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.
Tone Changes for 不 (bù)
When followed by a 4th tone, 不 (bù) changes to 2nd tone (bú).
Examples
Remember, normally you do not write the tone change. We're just doing it here to make it extra clear.
- 不是 bú shì not be
- 不对 bú duì not right
- 不要 bú yào not want
- 不做 bú zuò not do
- 不去 bú qù not go
Exceptions
There are no exceptions to this rule. Just remember that it only applies to the character 不 (bù), and it's still written "bù."
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!
An Alternative Way to Indicate Tone Changes
Some textbooks or software (such as Wenlin) indicate a tone change with a small dot under the letter with the tone mark. This can be nice for beginners, but it is not part of standard pinyin.
Sources and further reading
