Tone sandhi

When two first tones appear consecutively, both keep their first tone, no sandhi rule applies. Example: 飞机 fēijī (airplane), 中秋 zhōngqiū (Mid-Autumn).

A neutral-tone syllable's pitch follows the tone before it: after a high tone it is higher, after a low tone it is lower. Example: 妈妈 māma (mother) vs. 爸爸 bàba (father).

With three third tones, the result depends on grouping. For 我很好 wǒ hěn hǎo (I'm very well), it is commonly read wó hén hǎo, the first two rise, the last stays third.

When 一 yī appears at the end of a phrase or sentence, it usually keeps its first tone or is pronounced more lightly, not following the usual rule. Example: 第一 dì-yī (first) keeps yī.

A fourth tone before a neutral-tone syllable keeps its clear fourth-tone contour. Example: 去吧 qùba (go ahead) maintains the clear fourth tone on qù.

In natural conversation, a second tone before a fourth tone may be pronounced lighter or shorter. Example: 来了 láile may sound less distinct than when pronounced slowly.

When a third tone precedes a neutral-tone syllable, it is usually pronounced as a low "half-third" tone (the low dip without the final rise). Example: 椅子 yǐzi (chair) → the 椅 is a low half-third.

When 不 bù precedes a first, second, or third tone, it keeps its bù pronunciation. Example: 不好 bù hǎo (not good) keeps the fourth tone.

When 一 yī precedes a first, second, or third tone, it becomes yì (fourth tone). Example: 一天 yī tiān → yìtiān (one day).

When 一 yī precedes a fourth tone, it changes to yí (second tone). Example: 一个 yī gè → yígè (one).

When 不 bù precedes a fourth tone, it changes to bú (second tone). Example: 不去 is pronounced búqù, not bùqù.

When two third tones appear consecutively, the first one changes to a second tone. Example: 你好 nǐhǎo (hello) is pronounced níhǎo, not nǐhǎo.

Combinations of 3rd + 1st tone or 2nd + 4th tone undergo no sandhi change. Example: 老师 lǎo shī ("teacher", 3+1), 学校 xué xiào ("school", 2+4). Note: 老板 lǎobǎn IS 3+3, so it does change → láobǎn.

When 儿 (-r) is appended, it merges with the final as an r-colored ending rather than a separate syllable. Example: 女儿 nǚ'ér ("daughter") is two syllables, but a true erhua word like 花儿 huār ("flower") fuses into one r-colored sound.

两 liǎng ("two") is used instead of 二 èr in most contexts before all tones. Example: 两个 liǎng ge ("two"), 两天 liǎng tiān ("two days").

不 bù only changes before a 4th tone. Before 1st–3rd tones it remains bù (4th tone). Example: 不好 bù hǎo ("not good"), 不来 bù lái ("not coming").

A 2nd tone before a 3rd tone stays the same. Example: 苹果 píng guǒ ("apple"), pronounced 2nd + 3rd with no change.

A 1st tone before a 2nd tone remains unchanged. Example: 中文 zhōng wén ("Chinese language"), both tones stay as is.

When two 4th tones appear consecutively, the first is often shortened, not falling all the way down. Example: 再见 zàijiàn (goodbye), the first zài is clipped before the second falling tone.

A neutral or light tone naturally follows a 4th-tone syllable without special tone changes. Example: 妈妈 māma ("mother"), 爸爸 bàba ("father"), where the second syllable stays light.

When 一 yī is at the end of a word or phrase, it retains its original 1st tone. Example: 第一 dì yī ("first"), 第一天 dì yī tiān ("first day").

一 yī shifts depending on what follows: it becomes 2nd tone before a 4th tone, and 4th tone before 1st–3rd tones. Example: 一个 yī ge → yí ge (2nd tone), 一天 yī tiān → yì tiān (4th tone).

The word 不 bù ("not") becomes 2nd tone when followed by a 4th-tone syllable. Example: 不去 bù qù → bú qù ("not go"), 不对 bù duì → bú duì ("incorrect").

When two 3rd tones appear consecutively, the first one shifts to a 2nd tone. Example: 你好 nǐ hǎo → ní hǎo ("hello"), 很好 hěn hǎo → hén hǎo ("very good").

Tone sandhi is a natural process that native speakers apply automatically when speaking. Listening practice and mimicking native speakers will help you develop intuition.

Tip: Repeat real examples from native speakers to internalize patterns

Tone sandhi rules apply primarily within compound words and word units, not necessarily across separate words in a sentence.

Example: 好人 hǎo rén (good person), changes apply within the word

A 2nd tone before a 3rd tone does not change. Some speakers may produce a slight, subtle adjustment in fast speech, but the underlying tones stay 2-3.

Example: 杨柳 yáng liǔ (willow), pronounced 2nd + 3rd.

When any tone precedes a neutral (light) tone, the neutral tone does not cause changes to the preceding tone.

Example: 妈妈 māma (mother), the first 妈 keeps its first tone.

The 3rd tone only changes when followed by another 3rd tone. Before 1st, 2nd, or 4th tones, it stays the same.

Example: 美国 měi guó (USA), no change

The character 不 bù only changes to 2nd tone before a 4th tone. Before other tones, it remains as bù.

Example: 不好 bù hǎo (not good)

When 一 yī appears at the end of a word or phrase, it typically retains its 1st tone.

Example: 第一 dì yī (number one)

When 一 yī precedes a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd tone, it becomes a 4th tone.

Example: 一天 yī tiān → yìtiān (one day)

When 一 yī stands directly before a 4th-tone syllable, it becomes a 2nd tone.

Example: 一去 yī qù → yíqù

The character 一 yī (one) becomes a 2nd tone (yí) when it precedes a 4th-tone syllable.

Example: 一样 yī yàng → yíyàng (same)

The character 不 bù (negation) becomes bú (2nd tone) when it precedes a 4th-tone syllable.

Example: 不去 bù qù → búqù (not going)

When two 3rd-tone syllables occur consecutively, the first one changes to a 2nd tone.

Example: 你好 nǐ hǎo → ní hǎo (hello)

First tone (ˉ) remains unchanged before tones 1, 2, or 3. Examples: 飞机 fēijī (1+1, airplane), 中文 zhōngwén (1+2, Chinese), 身体 shēntǐ (1+3, body).

The possessive/attributive particle 的 (de) is always neutral tone when used grammatically. Examples: 我的 wǒde, 大的 dàde, 好的 hǎode. This is inherent to the particle, not a sandhi rule.

The perfective particle 了 (le) is typically neutral tone regardless of the preceding tone. Examples: 吃了 chīle, 来了 lái·le, 好了 hǎole. It keeps 4th tone only in emphatic contexts.

Sentence-final particles like 呢, 啊, 吧 are pronounced in neutral tone, regardless of the preceding syllable's tone. Examples: 你呢 nǐ ne, 好吧 hǎo ba. They don't follow standard sandhi rules.

Two consecutive second tones (´) have no formal sandhi rule, both keep second tone. This combination is common: 学习 xuéxí (study), 银行 yínháng (bank), 长城 chángchéng (Great Wall).

Third tone (ˇ) only shifts when followed by another third tone. Before tones 1, 2, or 4, it stays the same. Examples: 老师 lǎoshī, 小时 xiǎoshí, 女儿 nǚ'ér.

Second tone (´) followed by third tone (ˇ) undergoes no tone change. Example: 国语 guóyǔ (national language) stays as is. Remember: not all tone combinations have sandhi rules.

Particles like 的, 了, 吗 carry neutral tone (unmarked) when they follow a fourth-tone syllable. Example: 大的 dàde. This neutral tone is light and quick.

When a first-tone (ˉ) syllable precedes a fourth-tone (ˋ) syllable, no tone change occurs. Examples: 工作 gōngzuò (work), 说话 shuōhuà (speak). Each keeps its original tones.

The number 一 (one) has two tone changes:

• Before a 4th tone → yí (2nd tone): 一个 yíge
• Before tones 1, 2, 3 → yì (4th tone): 一天 yìtiān, 一些 yìxiē

The negation 不 (bù) shifts to second tone (bú) when it precedes a fourth-tone syllable. Example: 不去 → búqù. Before tones 1, 2, and 3, it stays bù.

When two third-tone (ˇ) syllables appear together, the first syllable shifts to second tone (´). Example: 你好 nǐhǎo → níhǎo. This makes the utterance flow more naturally.

When speaking slowly, separating syllables, or emphasizing individual characters, sandhi rules may not apply. This is useful for careful pronunciation instruction.

Even with the prefix 老 lǎo, two third tones in a row still undergo sandhi. Example: 老虎 lǎohǔ → láohǔ (tiger). With non-third tones there is no 3-3 sandhi: 小鸡 xiǎojī (chick, 3+1) stays unchanged.

When second tone precedes fourth tone, both tones remain unchanged. Example: 人物 rénwù (character) stays the same.

When first tone precedes third tone, both tones remain unchanged. Example: 开始 kāishǐ (start) stays the same.

A fourth-tone syllable at the beginning of a phrase usually keeps its fourth tone. Example: 去年 qùnián (last year) keeps the fourth tone on 去 qù.

In longer phrases, apply each sandhi rule in turn. Example: 很好看 hěn hǎo kàn (good-looking) is 3-3-4; the first two are both third tone, so the first rises: → hén hǎo kàn (2-3-4).

Neutral-tone syllables have no inherent tone and are usually pronounced quickly and softly. Examples: 妈妈 māma (mother), 桌子 zhuōzi (table).

The negation 不 bù keeps its fourth tone before first-, second-, or third-tone syllables; it only changes to bú before a fourth tone. Examples: 不吃 bùchī (not eat, before 1st), 不来 bùlái (not come, before 2nd), 不好 bùhǎo (not good, before 3rd).

The number 一 yī changes to yì (fourth tone) when followed by a syllable with first, second, or third tone. Examples: 一天 yìtiān (one day), 一起 yìqǐ (together).

The number 一 yī (one) changes to yí (second tone) before a fourth-tone syllable. Examples: 一次 yícì (once), 一个 yíge (one).

The negation 不 bù changes to bú (second tone) when followed by a fourth-tone syllable. Examples: 不去 búqù (not go), 不好 búhǎo (not good).

When two consecutive syllables both have third tone, the first changes to second tone. Examples: 你好 nǐhǎo → níhǎo (hello), 老鼠 lǎoshǔ → láoshǔ (mouse).