<ol>
<li><p><code>撇</code> is pronounced as <code>piē</code> when it means 'to cast away' (as in <code>撇下兒女</code>) or 'to scoop off' (as in <code>撇油</code>). Note it is a verb in both cases.</p>
</li>
<li><p><code>撇</code> is pronounced as <code>piě</code> when it means 'left-downward stroke' (as a noun in <code>撇捺</code>), 'to throw (horizontally)' (as in <code>撇磚頭</code>), or 'to incline' (outwards, as in <code>八字腳向外撇</code>). <code>撇嘴</code> literally means to incline the ends of the lips downwards, usually to express discontent; so it must be pronounced in the third tone.</p>
</li>
<li><p>I suspect Pleco detected the first <code>撇</code> as a verb, then jumped to the conclusion it should be pronounced in the first tone. It failed to realise <code>撇</code> here is a detached verb and is collocated with <code>嘴</code>. After tone sandhi <code>撇了撇嘴</code> should be pronounced like <code>3023</code>.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/VOWI3m.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/VOWI3m.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Reference: 余培英（2012）《多音字學習手冊》。北京：商務。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-20T01:37:24.363Z
2021-05-20T01:51:02.740Z
2021-05-20T01:51:02.740Z
L Parker
<p>There are two pronunciations for <a href="https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E6%92%87" rel="nofollow noreferrer">撇</a>: piē and piě.  As I understand, the pinyin for <a href="https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E6%92%87%E5%98%B4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">撇嘴</a> is piě​zuǐ​.  But then I see this example sentence on Pleco...</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/VulnZ.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/VulnZ.jpg" alt="Pleco example sentence" /></a></p>
<p>他撇了撇嘴，轻蔑地一笑。<br />
<strong>Tā piēle piězuǐ.</strong><br />
His lips curled in a contemptuous smile (or a sneer).</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I'm puzzled as to why the pinyin on the first 撇 is given as piē (1st tone) above.  My understanding is that this is an example of verb reduplication, so the two 撇s are the same, in which case I would expect their pronunciation to be the same.  So...</p>
<p><strong>Question</strong>: Is the pinyin for 他撇了撇嘴 actually &quot;tā piē le piězuǐ&quot; (as given by Pleco)?  And if so, why are the two 撇s pronounced differently?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-20T03:39:27.370Z
I pronounce it as "tā piě le piězuǐ" in day to day usage.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-20T15:57:18.387Z
Judging by the responses, it looks like this is an error. Someone should file a report to Pleco for them to fix it.
goPlayerJuggler
<pronunciation><pinyin>
Is the pinyin for 他撇了撇嘴 actually "tā piē le piězuǐ" (as given by Pleco)? And if so, why are the two 撇s pronounced differently?
# Is the pinyin for 他撇了撇嘴 actually "tā piē le piězuǐ" (as given by Pleco)? And if so, why are the two 撇s pronounced differently?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-20)

There are two pronunciations for [撇](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E6%92%87): piē and piě. As I understand, the pinyin for [撇嘴](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E6%92%87%E5%98%B4) is piě​zuǐ​. But then I see this example sentence on Pleco...

> [![Pleco example sentence](https://i.sstatic.net/VulnZ.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/VulnZ.jpg)
>
> 他撇了撇嘴，轻蔑地一笑。  
> **Tā piēle piězuǐ.**  
> His lips curled in a contemptuous smile (or a sneer).

I'm puzzled as to why the pinyin on the first 撇 is given as piē (1st tone) above. My understanding is that this is an example of verb reduplication, so the two 撇s are the same, in which case I would expect their pronunciation to be the same. So...

**Question**: Is the pinyin for 他撇了撇嘴 actually "tā piē le piězuǐ" (as given by Pleco)? And if so, why are the two 撇s pronounced differently?

**Tags:** pronunciation, pinyin

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I pronounce it as "tā piě le piězuǐ" in day to day usage.  
> **username_2**: Judging by the responses, it looks like this is an error. Someone should file a report to Pleco for them to fix it.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-05-20. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

1. `撇` is pronounced as `piē` when it means 'to cast away' (as in `撇下兒女`) or 'to scoop off' (as in `撇油`). Note it is a verb in both cases.
2. `撇` is pronounced as `piě` when it means 'left-downward stroke' (as a noun in `撇捺`), 'to throw (horizontally)' (as in `撇磚頭`), or 'to incline' (outwards, as in `八字腳向外撇`). `撇嘴` literally means to incline the ends of the lips downwards, usually to express discontent; so it must be pronounced in the third tone.
3. I suspect Pleco detected the first `撇` as a verb, then jumped to the conclusion it should be pronounced in the first tone. It failed to realise `撇` here is a detached verb and is collocated with `嘴`. After tone sandhi `撇了撇嘴` should be pronounced like `3023`.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/VOWI3m.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/VOWI3m.jpg)

Reference: 余培英（2012）《多音字學習手冊》。北京：商務。


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