<p>这个字/词怎么念? = How do you pronounce this character/word?</p>

<p>这个字的发音是第几声? = Which tone should I use for this character?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-22T01:55:32.713Z
2011-12-22T01:55:32.713Z
StarCub
<p>I have also used 第几声 and have had better success with it than anything else.  The real problem that you're up against is that most Chinese people know this intuitively rather than intellectually.  Many if not most native English speakers might be very hard pressed to tell you what a preposition was, even though they use them every single day.  I think it's like that for most native Chinese speakers who aren't language instructors. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-22T01:18:56.943Z
2011-12-22T01:18:56.943Z
2snacc
<p>Have you tried using <code>發音</code> or <code>念</code> as in <code>這個字你怎麼發音</code> or <code>這個字怎麼念</code>？</p>

<p>Sometimes, I think it's better to ask if it sounds like another character (by association).</p>

<p>E.g., <code>這個字像「心臟」的「心」嗎？</code></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-22T01:39:43.987Z
2011-12-22T01:39:43.987Z
Krazer
<p>这个字读几声？Zhège zì dú jǐ shēng?</p>
<p>I suggest you ask this question.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-11-09T06:24:07.137Z
2022-11-09T06:24:07.137Z
Henryfrombeijing
<p>Following on from this question <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/412/asking-for-transcription">Asking &quot;what&#39;s the pinyin/character for X?&quot;</a>.</p>

<p>I've had difficulty previously asking native speakers which tone I should use for a particular character if I can't pick it by just listening.</p>

<p>The problem is they don't understand what I'm asking in most instances.</p>

<p>How do I say "Which tone should I use for this character?"</p>

<p>In the past I've used "第几声" for which tone, but this doesn't seem to be commonly understood.</p>

<word-choice><pronunciation>
Which tone is it (in pinyin)?
# Which tone is it (in pinyin)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-12-21)

Following on from this question [Asking "what's the pinyin/character for X?"](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/412/asking-for-transcription).

I've had difficulty previously asking native speakers which tone I should use for a particular character if I can't pick it by just listening.

The problem is they don't understand what I'm asking in most instances.

How do I say "Which tone should I use for this character?"

In the past I've used "第几声" for which tone, but this doesn't seem to be commonly understood.

**Tags:** word-choice, pronunciation


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2011-12-22. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

这个字/词怎么念? = How do you pronounce this character/word?

这个字的发音是第几声? = Which tone should I use for this character?


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### Answer by username_2 on 2011-12-22. Score: 1

I have also used 第几声 and have had better success with it than anything else. The real problem that you're up against is that most Chinese people know this intuitively rather than intellectually. Many if not most native English speakers might be very hard pressed to tell you what a preposition was, even though they use them every single day. I think it's like that for most native Chinese speakers who aren't language instructors.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2011-12-22. Score: 0

Have you tried using `發音` or `念` as in `這個字你怎麼發音` or `這個字怎麼念`？

Sometimes, I think it's better to ask if it sounds like another character (by association).

E.g., `這個字像「心臟」的「心」嗎？`


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### Answer by username_4 on 2022-11-09. Score: 0

这个字读几声？Zhège zì dú jǐ shēng?

I suggest you ask this question.


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