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Tone Sandhi Rules

Tones shift in connected speech. The most important rule changes a third tone before another third tone — but there are a few more. Here is what actually happens when Chinese is spoken.

Each rule below shows the citation form (how it is written) and the spoken form (how it sounds). Getting these right is what makes your Chinese sound natural.

你好Written: nǐ hǎoSounds like: ní hǎo

Third-tone sandhi: a third tone before another third tone is pronounced as a second tone. Write nǐ hǎo, say ní hǎo.

Examples

  • 很好 hén hǎo — very good
  • 水果 shuíguǒ — fruit
谢谢Written: xièxieSounds like: xièxie

The second syllable of many polite words and reduplications is light and short (neutral tone).

Examples

  • 妈妈 māma — mom
  • 朋友 péngyou — friend
不是Written: bù shìSounds like: bú shì

不 (bù) changes to second tone (bú) before a fourth-tone syllable.

Examples

  • 不对 bú duì — not correct
  • 不要 bú yào — don't want
一个Written: yī gèSounds like: yí gè

一 (yī) changes to second tone (yí) before a fourth-tone syllable.

Examples

  • 一下儿 yíxiàr — for a moment
  • 一样 yíyàng — the same
一天Written: yī tiānSounds like: yì tiān

一 (yī) changes to fourth tone (yì) before a first, second, or third tone.

Examples

  • 一年 yì nián — one year
  • 一点儿 yìdiǎnr — a little
妈妈Written: māmaSounds like: māma

Reduplicated family words take a neutral second syllable: māma, not māmā.

Examples

  • 爸爸 bàba — dad
  • 哥哥 gēge — older brother
我们Written: wǒmenSounds like: wǒmen

The plural suffix 们 is always neutral and short.

Examples

  • 你们 nǐmen — you (plural)
  • 他们 tāmen — they
什么Written: shénmeSounds like: shénme

Common question words end in a light neutral syllable.

Examples

  • 怎么 zěnme — how
  • 吗 ma — question particle
老师Written: lǎoshīSounds like: lǎoshī

Third tone before a first tone keeps its low falling shape (half third tone); no sandhi.

Examples

  • 北京 Běijīng — Beijing
  • 好吃 hǎochī — delicious
中国Written: ZhōngguóSounds like: Zhōngguó

First tone + second tone: both tones keep their full shape. Say each clearly.

Examples

  • 中文 Zhōngwén — Chinese (language)
  • 喝茶 hē chá — to drink tea

Train your ear and your voice

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