外国语中心

Chinese learning: neutral tones

We all know that there are four tones in Chinese language, but many people find out it’s very strange that there’s a neutral tone. When learning mandarin Chinese, you have to know:

In Chinese Pinyin System, the neutral tone (also said toneless) is a special sandhi for four tones, it's normally pronounced short and light in special conditions and it’s usually unmarked.

1. Auxiliary words like 的(de)、地(de)、得(de)、着(zhe)、了(le)、过(guo) and mood words 吧(ba)、嘛(ma)、呢(ne)、啊(a) are all in neutral tone.

For example:

领路的(lǐnglùde, lead the way); 愉快地(yúkuàide, agreeably);

学得(好)[xuéde(hǎo), learn (well)];

笑着(xiàozhe, on the laugh); 活了(huóle, living); 算了吧(suànleba, well, all right)

2. The ending word of the reduplicated words and the same double verbs are in neutral tone. For example:

妈妈(māma, mom); 弟弟(dìdi, little brother); 看看(kànkan, have a look);

3. Imaginary morpheme for word-building like 子(zi)、头(tou) and some words express group like 们(men) are in neutral tone. For example:

鸽子(gēzi, dove); 燕子(yànzi, swallow); 馒头(mántou, steamed bread);

木头(mùtou, wood); 我们(wǒmen, we); 女士们(nǚshìmen, ladies)

If you want to be understood in Chinese, don't forget to focus on the tones!