<p>There is a very interesting phenomenon in Chinese, called 语音变调（tone sandhi).</p>

<p>Here are the rules. (Note: all the rules apply only characters in the same word/phrase)</p>

<p><strong>Tone Rule #1: 3-3 to 2-3</strong></p>

<p>When there are 2 third tones in a row <strong>in the same word/phrase</strong>, the first one becomes second tone. This rule is always followed automatically, even though it will not be reflected in the pinyin.</p>

<p>The reason of this tone sandhi, I personaly believe, is because 3rd tone needs a little bit more time to pronounce than any other tones, and if multiple 3rd tones roll in a row, a lot extra time will be needed if pronounce them all in 3rd tone, and that will break down the speech fluency. So in order to keep the speech speed nomal and speak natually and fluently, we drop the lowering part of the 3rd tone, and just keep the rising part, which makes it 2nd tone.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Like 你好，很好，买米，好酒，土改，检举，冷水，and many more.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Note this rule doesn't apply if the two third-tone characters in a row are not in the same word. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>For example: 中午我出去吃饭。午 and 我 both are still 3rd tone in normal speed, and there will be a very short gap between 午 and 我. But when speak very fast, again 午 will become 2nd tone.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>When 3 third tones in a row <strong>in the same word/phrase</strong>, both 1st and 2nd character will have 2nd tone. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>For example: 你好早啊。Tone pattern is: 2-2-3. This is a greeting used in the morning, used to the peope who arrive before you.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>When 4 third tones in a row <strong>in the same word/phrase</strong>, the tone pattern is: 2-3-2-3. like 剿匪手本。</p>

<p>When 5 third tones in a row in the same word/phrase: 2-3-2-2-3. Like 剿匪手本好.</p>

<p>When 6 third tones in a row in the same word/phrase: 2-3-2-3-2-3. Like 剿匪手本挺好.</p>

<p><strong>Tone Rule #2: 不</strong></p>

<p>When the word 不 (bù) precedes a fourth tone, 不 changes to second tone (bú). This rule is always followed, automatically, even though it will not be reflected in the pinyin.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Like 不对，不去，不错，不坏，and many more.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>Tone Rule #3: 一</strong></p>

<p>3.1 The character 一 (yī), meaning "one," is first tone when alone, or at the end of a word.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Like 一，第一，始终如一。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>3.2 It becomes second tone when followed by a fourth tone。 </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Like 一个 (yí gè) 一次 (yí cì) 一寸(yí cùn) 一夜(yí yè) </p>
</blockquote>

<p>But This rule is NOT always followed, for example, 一月一号(Jan 1), some people say yí yuè yí hào, but others say yī yuè yī hào. </p>

<p>3.3 It becomes fourth tone when followed by any other tone. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Like 一斤(yì jīn) 一天(yì tiān) 一杯(yì bēi) 一般 (yì bān) 一些 (yì xiē) 一直 (yì zhí) 一条 (yì tiáo) 一起 (yì qǐ) 一点 (yì diǎn)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>But This rule is NOT always followed, for example, (第)一期工程, it is (第)yī qī 工程, not (第)yì qī工程. Another example: 一条, when used in Mahjong for "one stick" tile, it should be pronounced as yī tiáo, not yì tiáo. Some people say 一鸡 (yī jī) for "one stick" tile. </p>

<p>3.4 It becomes a Neutral Tone when in the pattern of X一X.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Like 听一听 (tīng yi tīng) 看一看 (kàn yi kàn) 走一走 (zǒu yi zǒu) 等一等 (děng yi děng)</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>The last but not least, DO NOT TRY TO REMEBMER ALL THESE RULES. You just need to listen to native speakers and imitate, until it becomes your natural speaking habit.</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-11T02:59:59.207Z
Downvote because this answer is neither categorical, comprehensive, nor correct. There are many more examples of tone changes [such as this](http://www.hy123.org/res/other_detail.jsp?tid=20328). In particular, your rule number 3 is not correct: the first tone is used when referring to the number one, the fourth tone is used when part of a word. One never uses the fourth tone with "一期".
congusbongus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-11T04:18:44.300Z
In addition, the rules given for many consecutive third tones aren't right either. It's simply not true that you can just count the number of third tones and determine which should change. It depends on much more than that, such as semantic units and rate of speech.
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-11T06:37:56.773Z
@OlleLinge I hear there's this thing where you can post answers. And then people can upvote them. Nawww, probably not a real thing.
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-11T07:03:53.773Z
I thought this answer is good, just not perfect because the rules are quite complicated. But good effort overall.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-11T14:57:40.613Z
@StumpyJoePete: I haven't really figured out what's common practice here. Is it okay to just edit someone else's answer? I mean, I don't want to write my own answer if I simply don't agree with one part of this one.
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-11T18:06:47.070Z
@CongXu Some rules in my answer are NOT always followed. For example, in "这本杂志我只订了一期" 一 is forth tone, but in "花园小区一期工程结束了" it is first tone. In "一条鱼" 一 is forth tone, but in "我打的是一条，你吃还是碰？" it is first tone.
孤影萍踪
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-11T18:10:21.153Z
@OlleLinge The rules in my answer apply only characters in the SAME word/phrase. I think in the SAME word/phrase, the rule for consecutive third tones still holds the water. You are very welcome to provide examples falsifying the rules.
孤影萍踪
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-11T20:45:25.700Z
@OlleLinge I'm not entirely sure when it's "OK" to edit someone's answer. Worst case, you can always make your own. In any event, it's better to have answer-information in an answer, rather than in comments.
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-11T22:59:44.130Z
@孤影萍踪 (第)一期 is always first tone because the word is 第一. The tone in the phrase "这本杂志我只订了一期" depends on whether it's really "这本杂志我只订了(第)一期" or not.
congusbongus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-12T01:52:24.407Z
@StumpyJoePete Hm... this isn't perhaps the right place to discuss this, but I was under the impression that answers should strive to be complete. Is it really a good idea to post an answer that only targets a small fraction of the question?
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-12T01:55:29.360Z
@OlleLinge My take: If you have a small change, edit it into the answer. If the answerer _really_ disagrees with you, they can reject the edit. If it's a big enough change (in your own opinion), make your own (complete) answer.
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-12T02:44:11.700Z
@StumpyJoePete: Ok, sounds reasonable, thanks!
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-13T02:08:23.027Z
@OlleLinge Edit *whenever you want*...your edit will need approval anyway, so you may as well. When you have more rep some day and no longer need approval, then maybe by then you'll figured out by experience when to edit and when to answer.
temporary_user_name
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-13T05:54:56.787Z
@CongXu Yes, you are right. When 这本杂志我只订了一期 means "I only subscribed one issue of this magazine", 一 is forth tone. When 这本杂志我只订了一期 means "I only subscribed the first issue of the magazine", then 一 is first tone.
孤影萍踪
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-10T20:37:57.013Z
2013-05-14T17:14:54.270Z
2013-05-14T17:14:54.270Z
孤影萍踪
<p>To elaborate, although <em>ni3 hao3</em> has a double third tone, when I hear native speakers say it, it's said so quickly that they definitely are not using that tone, nor is there feasibly <em>time</em> to use the third tone when it's said that quickly; I mean there isn't time to lower and then raise pitch when the syllables are practically spat out.</p>

<p>So the question is whether tones are sometimes, to some extent, omitted? Especially in extremely common phrases like <em>ni hao</em>?</p>

<p>Listening to native pronunciation clips on many sites (for example, one among many: <a href="http://www.learnchineseez.com/lessons/mandarin/pinyin/index.html">http://www.learnchineseez.com/lessons/mandarin/pinyin/index.html</a>), take for example the clip of <em>wǒ hěn hǎo</em>. To my uneducated ear, <em>none</em> of those syllables have a full third tone pronounced on them, <em>especially</em> "hen3." It just sounds like no tone.</p>

<tones>
Are tones sometimes glossed over?
# Are tones sometimes glossed over?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-05-10)

To elaborate, although *ni3 hao3* has a double third tone, when I hear native speakers say it, it's said so quickly that they definitely are not using that tone, nor is there feasibly *time* to use the third tone when it's said that quickly; I mean there isn't time to lower and then raise pitch when the syllables are practically spat out.

So the question is whether tones are sometimes, to some extent, omitted? Especially in extremely common phrases like *ni hao*?

Listening to native pronunciation clips on many sites (for example, one among many: <http://www.learnchineseez.com/lessons/mandarin/pinyin/index.html>), take for example the clip of *wǒ hěn hǎo*. To my uneducated ear, *none* of those syllables have a full third tone pronounced on them, *especially* "hen3." It just sounds like no tone.

**Tags:** tones


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-05-10. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

There is a very interesting phenomenon in Chinese, called 语音变调（tone sandhi).

Here are the rules. (Note: all the rules apply only characters in the same word/phrase)

**Tone Rule #1: 3-3 to 2-3**

When there are 2 third tones in a row **in the same word/phrase**, the first one becomes second tone. This rule is always followed automatically, even though it will not be reflected in the pinyin.

The reason of this tone sandhi, I personaly believe, is because 3rd tone needs a little bit more time to pronounce than any other tones, and if multiple 3rd tones roll in a row, a lot extra time will be needed if pronounce them all in 3rd tone, and that will break down the speech fluency. So in order to keep the speech speed nomal and speak natually and fluently, we drop the lowering part of the 3rd tone, and just keep the rising part, which makes it 2nd tone.

> Like 你好，很好，买米，好酒，土改，检举，冷水，and many more.

Note this rule doesn't apply if the two third-tone characters in a row are not in the same word.

> For example: 中午我出去吃饭。午 and 我 both are still 3rd tone in normal speed, and there will be a very short gap between 午 and 我. But when speak very fast, again 午 will become 2nd tone.

When 3 third tones in a row **in the same word/phrase**, both 1st and 2nd character will have 2nd tone.

> For example: 你好早啊。Tone pattern is: 2-2-3. This is a greeting used in the morning, used to the peope who arrive before you.

When 4 third tones in a row **in the same word/phrase**, the tone pattern is: 2-3-2-3. like 剿匪手本。

When 5 third tones in a row in the same word/phrase: 2-3-2-2-3. Like 剿匪手本好.

When 6 third tones in a row in the same word/phrase: 2-3-2-3-2-3. Like 剿匪手本挺好.

**Tone Rule #2: 不**

When the word 不 (bù) precedes a fourth tone, 不 changes to second tone (bú). This rule is always followed, automatically, even though it will not be reflected in the pinyin.

> Like 不对，不去，不错，不坏，and many more.

**Tone Rule #3: 一**

3.1 The character 一 (yī), meaning "one," is first tone when alone, or at the end of a word.

> Like 一，第一，始终如一。

3.2 It becomes second tone when followed by a fourth tone。

> Like 一个 (yí gè) 一次 (yí cì) 一寸(yí cùn) 一夜(yí yè)

But This rule is NOT always followed, for example, 一月一号(Jan 1), some people say yí yuè yí hào, but others say yī yuè yī hào.

3.3 It becomes fourth tone when followed by any other tone.

> Like 一斤(yì jīn) 一天(yì tiān) 一杯(yì bēi) 一般 (yì bān) 一些 (yì xiē) 一直 (yì zhí) 一条 (yì tiáo) 一起 (yì qǐ) 一点 (yì diǎn)

But This rule is NOT always followed, for example, (第)一期工程, it is (第)yī qī 工程, not (第)yì qī工程. Another example: 一条, when used in Mahjong for "one stick" tile, it should be pronounced as yī tiáo, not yì tiáo. Some people say 一鸡 (yī jī) for "one stick" tile.

3.4 It becomes a Neutral Tone when in the pattern of X一X.

> Like 听一听 (tīng yi tīng) 看一看 (kàn yi kàn) 走一走 (zǒu yi zǒu) 等一等 (děng yi děng)

**The last but not least, DO NOT TRY TO REMEBMER ALL THESE RULES. You just need to listen to native speakers and imitate, until it becomes your natural speaking habit.**

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Downvote because this answer is neither categorical, comprehensive, nor correct. There are many more examples of tone changes [such as this](http://www.hy123.org/res/other_detail.jsp?tid=20328). In particular, your rule number 3 is not correct: the first tone is used when referring to the number one, the fourth tone is used when part of a word. One never uses the fourth tone with "一期".  
> **username_3**: In addition, the rules given for many consecutive third tones aren't right either. It's simply not true that you can just count the number of third tones and determine which should change. It depends on much more than that, such as semantic units and rate of speech.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 I hear there's this thing where you can post answers. And then people can upvote them. Nawww, probably not a real thing.  
> **username_5**: I thought this answer is good, just not perfect because the rules are quite complicated. But good effort overall.  
> **username_3**: @username_4: I haven't really figured out what's common practice here. Is it okay to just edit someone else's answer? I mean, I don't want to write my own answer if I simply don't agree with one part of this one.  
> **username_1**: @CongXu Some rules in my answer are NOT always followed. For example, in "这本杂志我只订了一期" 一 is forth tone, but in "花园小区一期工程结束了" it is first tone. In "一条鱼" 一 is forth tone, but in "我打的是一条，你吃还是碰？" it is first tone.  
> **username_1**: @username_3 The rules in my answer apply only characters in the SAME word/phrase. I think in the SAME word/phrase, the rule for consecutive third tones still holds the water. You are very welcome to provide examples falsifying the rules.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 I'm not entirely sure when it's "OK" to edit someone's answer. Worst case, you can always make your own. In any event, it's better to have answer-information in an answer, rather than in comments.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 (第)一期 is always first tone because the word is 第一. The tone in the phrase "这本杂志我只订了一期" depends on whether it's really "这本杂志我只订了(第)一期" or not.  
> **username_3**: @username_4 Hm... this isn't perhaps the right place to discuss this, but I was under the impression that answers should strive to be complete. Is it really a good idea to post an answer that only targets a small fraction of the question?  
> **username_4**: @username_3 My take: If you have a small change, edit it into the answer. If the answerer _really_ disagrees with you, they can reject the edit. If it's a big enough change (in your own opinion), make your own (complete) answer.  
> **username_3**: @username_4: Ok, sounds reasonable, thanks!  
> **username_0**: @username_3 Edit *whenever you want*...your edit will need approval anyway, so you may as well. When you have more rep some day and no longer need approval, then maybe by then you'll figured out by experience when to edit and when to answer.  
> **username_1**: @CongXu Yes, you are right. When 这本杂志我只订了一期 means "I only subscribed one issue of this magazine", 一 is forth tone. When 这本杂志我只订了一期 means "I only subscribed the first issue of the magazine", then 一 is first tone.  

---

