<p>There are two ways of writing 朋友 for the simple reason that there are more than one way to pronounce the word. In mainland China, the standard is with a neutral tone, so <em>péngyou</em> (现代汉语词典，第7版).</p>
<p>However, as is often the case, it can also be okay to pronounce the word with a full tone on the second syllable. For example, the standard in Taiwan is with a third tone, so <em>péngyǒu</em> (<a href="https://www.moedict.tw/%E6%9C%8B%E5%8F%8B" rel="nofollow noreferrer">國語辭典</a>). Please note that this may or may not reflect how actual people talk, and you'll find variations across regions, age groups and so on.</p>
<p>For communicative purposes, it doesn't matter which of these you use since the risk of being misunderstood is insignificant.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-16T10:56:13.740Z
Thanks for the explanation :)
KrJpnLinguistNoob
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2022-03-15T17:32:52.340Z
2022-03-15T17:38:03.233Z
2022-03-15T17:38:03.233Z
Olle Linge
<p>I've only been learning Chinese for three days so this may be a very stupid question. I'm seeing the pronunciation for 朋友 sometimes written as [péngyou] and sometimes written as [péngyǒu]. Please could somebody clarify which is the correct pronunciation and why there are two ways of writing it?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance! :)</p>

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2022-03-15T15:36:40.347Z
There are no two ways of writing it. The correct way is Péngyǒu. Any other way is just plain wrong. A dictionary should help? :)
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-15T17:33:51.833Z
Not sure if your comment was meant seriously or not, but checking authoritative dictionaries here indeed gives two different pronunciations (see my reply)!
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-16T04:02:44.793Z
Thanks for the heads up. Perhaps it's just me, but pronouncing it with a neutral tone as "Péngyou" sounds kind of "foreign". I can understand regional "pronouncing" idiosyncrasies, but actually found as a written form in a dictionary is surprising. You live and learn I suppose. Do we then find the same situation with 友谊 ? I wonder what happens in a Pinyin Exam? Perhaps people who have taken such exams could enlighten us?
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-16T17:25:30.783Z
As far as I'm aware, 现代汉语词典 is the most authoritative reference that will be used for official exams. I can add that it does make a difference between pure neutral tones and syllables that are 一般轻读. These are marked differently, and I don't know what formal exams consider acceptable in the second case, because presumably that wording means that it's also okay to use full tones. Still, 朋友 is not an example of this, but is instead listed only with a neutral tone!
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-17T02:56:32.873Z
So, I've been mouthing 朋友 wrong all my life and no one pointed it out to me :( As an old dog, (age 73 this March), I doubt I can learn any new tricks. I am not sure whether to thank OP or not because from now on I'll feel so self-conscious when the "P...y.." word comes up for re-visit.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-19T10:30:23.183Z
There's a difference between being "wrong" and "not following a given standard", so I wouldn't worry too much about it!
Olle Linge
<pronunciation><pinyin>
Pinyin / pronunciation for 朋友
# Pinyin / pronunciation for 朋友

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-03-15)

I've only been learning Chinese for three days so this may be a very stupid question. I'm seeing the pronunciation for 朋友 sometimes written as [péngyou] and sometimes written as [péngyǒu]. Please could somebody clarify which is the correct pronunciation and why there are two ways of writing it?

Thanks in advance! :)

**Tags:** pronunciation, pinyin

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There are no two ways of writing it. The correct way is Péngyǒu. Any other way is just plain wrong. A dictionary should help? :)  
> **username_2**: Not sure if your comment was meant seriously or not, but checking authoritative dictionaries here indeed gives two different pronunciations (see my reply)!  
> **username_1**: Thanks for the heads up. Perhaps it's just me, but pronouncing it with a neutral tone as "Péngyou" sounds kind of "foreign". I can understand regional "pronouncing" idiosyncrasies, but actually found as a written form in a dictionary is surprising. You live and learn I suppose. Do we then find the same situation with 友谊 ? I wonder what happens in a Pinyin Exam? Perhaps people who have taken such exams could enlighten us?  
> **username_2**: As far as I'm aware, 现代汉语词典 is the most authoritative reference that will be used for official exams. I can add that it does make a difference between pure neutral tones and syllables that are 一般轻读. These are marked differently, and I don't know what formal exams consider acceptable in the second case, because presumably that wording means that it's also okay to use full tones. Still, 朋友 is not an example of this, but is instead listed only with a neutral tone!  
> **username_1**: So, I've been mouthing 朋友 wrong all my life and no one pointed it out to me :( As an old dog, (age 73 this March), I doubt I can learn any new tricks. I am not sure whether to thank OP or not because from now on I'll feel so self-conscious when the "P...y.." word comes up for re-visit.  
> **username_2**: There's a difference between being "wrong" and "not following a given standard", so I wouldn't worry too much about it!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-03-15. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

There are two ways of writing 朋友 for the simple reason that there are more than one way to pronounce the word. In mainland China, the standard is with a neutral tone, so *péngyou* (现代汉语词典，第7版).

However, as is often the case, it can also be okay to pronounce the word with a full tone on the second syllable. For example, the standard in Taiwan is with a third tone, so *péngyǒu* ([國語辭典](https://www.moedict.tw/%E6%9C%8B%E5%8F%8B)). Please note that this may or may not reflect how actual people talk, and you'll find variations across regions, age groups and so on.

For communicative purposes, it doesn't matter which of these you use since the risk of being misunderstood is insignificant.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the explanation :)  

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