<p>In Chinese, there is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Chinese_phonology#Neutral_tone" rel="nofollow noreferrer">neutral tone</a> (轻声) which does not have any tone marks.</p>

<p>In the word 东边, the "边" can be pronounced with a neutral tone.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-05T00:32:02.950Z
Is this a rule that must be followed, because in my other resources it doesn't place a neutral tone for some reason.
Belphegor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-05T01:14:55.220Z
边 in 东边 can be pronounced neutral, and can also be pronounced with the 1st tone. I cannot come up with a rule about when to which now. There are some syllables that must be neutral, but then I think no resource will give it a tone mark.
fefe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T23:55:36.363Z
2017-09-04T23:55:36.363Z
fefe
<p>东边 in online 新华字典(the most authoritative dictionary in China) is marked with <strong>dōngbiān</strong>. So the correct answer is "dōngbiān". </p>

<p>In practice, it could often be pronounced as dōngbian, but the standard mandarin should be "dōngbiān". </p>

<p>So, you should fill with "dōngbiān" in any types of exams. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-05T01:39:26.173Z
2017-09-05T01:39:26.173Z
dan
<p>I am reading my textbook and I notice that the the pinyin next to</p>

<p><strong>东边</strong></p>

<p>is written as</p>

<p><strong>dōng​bian</strong></p>

<p>Why is the <strong>first tone</strong> not present on the <strong>bian</strong>? The weird thing is that in my other textbook the pinyin translation of <strong>东边</strong> shows both the first tones present? </p>

<p>Can someone explain to me this, I do not remember there being a rule like this?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-05T00:32:38.250Z
see grammars (reason must really have  been mentioned many times before),in fact it seems Aug30 (last Wednesday) was the last time see 要读轻声 in comment #4 of  https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/26277/can-i-omit-%e4%b9%8b-in-%e4%b9%8b%e5%90%8e-%e4%b9%8b%e5%89%8d-%e4%b9%8b%e5%86%85
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-05T01:55:01.677Z
pronunciation depends on meaning, 1st tone if it means the noun "East side, the East, in the East" , neutral tone, if it part of a phrase of locality meaning "to the east of" e.g.华盛顿广场东边的一个街区
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-06T10:12:09.977Z
One should always pronounce the 1st tone in the standard mandarin.
dan
<grammar><vocabulary>
How come the first tone in the character of 边 in the word 东边 is not written?
# How come the first tone in the character of 边 in the word 东边 is not written?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-04)

I am reading my textbook and I notice that the the pinyin next to

**东边**

is written as

**dōng​bian**

Why is the **first tone** not present on the **bian**? The weird thing is that in my other textbook the pinyin translation of **东边** shows both the first tones present?

Can someone explain to me this, I do not remember there being a rule like this?

**Tags:** grammar, vocabulary

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: see grammars (reason must really have  been mentioned many times before),in fact it seems Aug30 (last Wednesday) was the last time see 要读轻声 in comment #4 of  https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/26277/can-i-omit-%e4%b9%8b-in-%e4%b9%8b%e5%90%8e-%e4%b9%8b%e5%89%8d-%e4%b9%8b%e5%86%85  
> **username_1**: pronunciation depends on meaning, 1st tone if it means the noun "East side, the East, in the East" , neutral tone, if it part of a phrase of locality meaning "to the east of" e.g.华盛顿广场东边的一个街区  
> **username_2**: One should always pronounce the 1st tone in the standard mandarin.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-09-04. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

In Chinese, there is the [neutral tone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Chinese_phonology#Neutral_tone) (轻声) which does not have any tone marks.

In the word 东边, the "边" can be pronounced with a neutral tone.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is this a rule that must be followed, because in my other resources it doesn't place a neutral tone for some reason.  
> **username_3**: 边 in 东边 can be pronounced neutral, and can also be pronounced with the 1st tone. I cannot come up with a rule about when to which now. There are some syllables that must be neutral, but then I think no resource will give it a tone mark.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-09-05. Score: 1

东边 in online 新华字典(the most authoritative dictionary in China) is marked with **dōngbiān**. So the correct answer is "dōngbiān".

In practice, it could often be pronounced as dōngbian, but the standard mandarin should be "dōngbiān".

So, you should fill with "dōngbiān" in any types of exams.


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