普通话 Mandarin notes

普通话

1 -> -
2 -> /
3 -> \/
4 -> \
5(neutral)-> nothing (ex: xuésheng)

ā á ǎ à é ě è ī í ǐ ì ō ó ǒ ò ú ǔ ù

你好、我叫克里斯。 十九岁。 我是巴西人。 我是学生。 我喜欢语言。 普通话是困难的。 (哈哈)

nǐhǎo, wǒ jiào kèlǐsī. shíjiǔ suì. wǒ shì bāxīrén. wǒ shì xuésheng. wǒ xǐhuan yǔyán. pǔtōnghuà shì kùnnande (hāhā)

Mandarin tone change rules:

1.  The third tone rule:

A 3rd tone (\/) followed by another 3rd tone (\/) becomes 2nd tone (/) and 3rd tone (\/)

A 3rd tone (\/) followed by a 1st tone (-), 2nd tone (/), 4th tone (\) or neutral becomes a 1/2 3rd tone (`)

Examples:

nǐhǎo 你好 is pronounced as níhǎo

你妈妈 nǐ māma is pronounced as nì māma;  note* (1/2 3rd not to be confused with 4th tone)

2.  The 不 bù rule

bù 不 is 4th tone (\) but when followed by another 4th tone (\) it becomes 2nd tone (/).

Examples:

bù shì 不是 is pronounced as bú shì

3.  The 一 yī rule

一 yī is 1st tone (-) when used as a number or part of a number.

一 yī becomes 4th tone (\) when followed by a 1st tone (-), 2nd tone (/), or 3rd tone (\/). (What about neutral??)

一 yī becomes 2nd tone (/) when followed by a 4th tone (\)

Examples:

一、二、三、etc
yī, èr, sān, etc

一天 yītiān is pronounced as yìtiān

一次 yīcì is pronounced as yícì

Note: all tones are still written as they are originally and are pronounced differently when the tone changes.