<p>The Chinese pinyin system includes three parts: shengmu (initial), yunmu (final), and shenɡdiào (tones), and the tones in Mandarin are very important. Even if the initial and final are the same but have a different tone, the meaning will be different. So if you really want to master this language, you must learn to make each tone very clearly, otherwise you may not be understood by Chinese speakers.</p>

<p>There are four different tones and one “natural” tone in Mandarin. So pronouncing each distinctly is important.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/XxKij.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XxKij.png" alt="enter image description here"></a>
how to learn Chinese four tones</p>

<p>The first tone should be high and flat without any change. The mark is “-” .
The second tone should go up, as when asking a question. The mark is “/”.
The third tone goes down first then up. The mark is “√”.
The forth tone goes from top to bottom. The mark is “\”.
The natural tone should be very light and short; there is no mark for it.</p>

<p>When you practice the tones, here are some tips to help you:</p>

<ol>
<li>Practice the four tones one by one.</li>
</ol>

<p>Read all the same tones together in order to remember the position of tones. In the beginning should be a single word, then a phrase, and last the whole sentence.</p>

<p>For example, practice for the third tone:</p>

<p>Single word: wǒ 我(I); kǎ 卡(card); děnɡ 等(wait)
Phrase: nǐhǎo 你好 (hello); shǒubiǎo 手表 (watch); xiǎojiě 小姐 (Miss)
Sentence: Wǒ xiǎnɡ mǎi shuǐɡuǒ。我想买水果 。</p>

<ol start="2">
<li>After you understand how to pronounce each standard tone, the next step is learn how to pronounce them in combination within words.</li>
</ol>

<p>1+2: jīnnián 今年 (this year)
1+3: duōshǎo 多少 (how much)
1+4: jīpiào 机票 (ticket)
2+1: huíjiā 回家 (go home)
4+4+3: duìbùqǐ 对不起 (sorry)</p>

<ol start="3">
<li>Once you get a feel for the standard tones of Mandarin, try to read some simple Chinese essays. Listen to a recording or follow along with a video to make sure your pronunciation is correct. Also, watching a Chinese drama or other TV show will be helpful to develop listening skills.</li>
</ol>

<p>Listen to the tape and follow with the video to make sure your own pronunciation is correct. Watch Chinese drama and TV show, to see how did the Chinese talk.</p>

<ol start="4">
<li>Videos about how to master the Chinese four tones
<a href="http://www.hanbridgemandarin.com/course/demo/chinese-four-tones" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.hanbridgemandarin.com/course/demo/chinese-four-tones</a></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-20T16:17:30.503Z
This is **not answering the question** and also **advertizing**.
user21820
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-07T03:52:38.733Z
2017-07-07T03:52:38.733Z
katherine li
<p>I understand what to do if you have a series of 3 third tones, and the rules are well explained <a href="https://chinesefor.us/lessons/mandarin-three-third-tones-change-sandhi/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>. But what about 4 third tones in a row?</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>这件大衣很特别，<strong>我也想买</strong>一件。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I'm guessing it would be <strong>wó yě xiáng mǎi</strong> 
Would that be correct?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-05T02:38:09.373Z
Both _wó yě xiáng mǎi_ & _wǒ yé xiǎng mǎi_ are common.
xenophōn
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-05T02:39:49.140Z
If it is a three-character words, the first two may be second tone.
xenophōn
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-05T05:55:35.153Z
this Q has been answered several times before
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-05T06:48:34.850Z
search site using "three third tones"
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-05T21:45:12.380Z
Thank you to whoever linked the "Generalize consecutive third tones change rule" I tried a few wordings of my question but didn't come upon that post. I'm asking about a case like mine where it seems that the words are independent, and not linked.
Josh Wyss
<pronunciation><tones><sandhi>
What is the rule for a series of third tones?
# What is the rule for a series of third tones?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-05)

I understand what to do if you have a series of 3 third tones, and the rules are well explained [here](https://chinesefor.us/lessons/mandarin-three-third-tones-change-sandhi/). But what about 4 third tones in a row?

> 这件大衣很特别，**我也想买**一件。

I'm guessing it would be **wó yě xiáng mǎi**
Would that be correct?

**Tags:** pronunciation, tones, sandhi

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Both _wó yě xiáng mǎi_ & _wǒ yé xiǎng mǎi_ are common.  
> **username_1**: If it is a three-character words, the first two may be second tone.  
> **username_2**: this Q has been answered several times before  
> **username_2**: search site using "three third tones"  
> **username_0**: Thank you to whoever linked the "Generalize consecutive third tones change rule" I tried a few wordings of my question but didn't come upon that post. I'm asking about a case like mine where it seems that the words are independent, and not linked.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-07-07. Score: 3

The Chinese pinyin system includes three parts: shengmu (initial), yunmu (final), and shenɡdiào (tones), and the tones in Mandarin are very important. Even if the initial and final are the same but have a different tone, the meaning will be different. So if you really want to master this language, you must learn to make each tone very clearly, otherwise you may not be understood by Chinese speakers.

There are four different tones and one “natural” tone in Mandarin. So pronouncing each distinctly is important.
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/XxKij.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/XxKij.png)
how to learn Chinese four tones

The first tone should be high and flat without any change. The mark is “-” .
The second tone should go up, as when asking a question. The mark is “/”.
The third tone goes down first then up. The mark is “√”.
The forth tone goes from top to bottom. The mark is “\”.
The natural tone should be very light and short; there is no mark for it.

When you practice the tones, here are some tips to help you:

1. Practice the four tones one by one.

Read all the same tones together in order to remember the position of tones. In the beginning should be a single word, then a phrase, and last the whole sentence.

For example, practice for the third tone:

Single word: wǒ 我(I); kǎ 卡(card); děnɡ 等(wait)
Phrase: nǐhǎo 你好 (hello); shǒubiǎo 手表 (watch); xiǎojiě 小姐 (Miss)
Sentence: Wǒ xiǎnɡ mǎi shuǐɡuǒ。我想买水果 。

2. After you understand how to pronounce each standard tone, the next step is learn how to pronounce them in combination within words.

1+2: jīnnián 今年 (this year)
1+3: duōshǎo 多少 (how much)
1+4: jīpiào 机票 (ticket)
2+1: huíjiā 回家 (go home)
4+4+3: duìbùqǐ 对不起 (sorry)

3. Once you get a feel for the standard tones of Mandarin, try to read some simple Chinese essays. Listen to a recording or follow along with a video to make sure your pronunciation is correct. Also, watching a Chinese drama or other TV show will be helpful to develop listening skills.

Listen to the tape and follow with the video to make sure your own pronunciation is correct. Watch Chinese drama and TV show, to see how did the Chinese talk.

4. Videos about how to master the Chinese four tones
   <http://www.hanbridgemandarin.com/course/demo/chinese-four-tones>

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: This is **not answering the question** and also **advertizing**.  

---

