Tonal rules

Question 1

3rd tone

Answer 1

In spontaneous speech, the third tone is rarely pronounced in full. It just goes half-3rd (2-1)

Question 2

3rd + 3rd combination

Answer 2

2nd + 3rd

Question 3

A string of 3rd tones

Answer 3

1. (3rd) + (3rd) + (3rd)
   - (2nd) + (2nd) + (3rd)
   * E.g. “jiǔ jiǔ jiǔ” (九九九) = “jiú jiú jiǔ”
2. One word (two syllables) + one word (one syllable):
   - (2nd + 2nd) + (3rd)
   * E.g. “bǎo-guǎn hǎo” (保管好) becomes “báo-guán hǎo”
3. One word (one syllable) + one word (2 syllables):
   - (3rd) + (2nd + 3rd)
   * E.g. “lǎo bǎo-guǎn” (老保管) becomes “lǎo báo-guǎn”

Question 4

4th + 4th combination

Answer 4

1. half-4th (5-3) + 4th (5-1)…for 2 words

2. 4th + half 3rd…for syllables of one word

Question 5

A string of 2nd tones

Answer 5

The middle one (and sometimes also the first one if speech is very fast) turns into 1st tone

*E.g. “líng-yún-lóng” becomes “líng-yūn-lóng”

Question 6

1st + “2nd” + (any other tone)

Answer 6

1st + “1st” + (any other tone)

Question 7

neutral tone

Answer 7

The pitch of a neutral-tone syllable is decided by the syllable in front of it.

1. 1st + Neutral
   - 2nd
2. 2nd + Neutral
   - 3rd
3. 3rd + Neutral
   - 4th
4. 4th + Neutral
   - 1st

Question 8

Sounds of all 4 tones

Answer 8

1st: Yeah…

2nd: Really?

3rd: Well…

4th: Shit!