CLO_012: Introductions II
Listen to this lesson, to learn what the following means:
Dialogue: Numbers
A: Wang2 Xian1sheng1 ni3 hao3.
B: Chen2 Tai4tai4 ni3 hao3.
A: Zhe4 shi4 wo3de peng2you3. Ta1de ming2zi jiao4 Tina Yang2.
B: Yang2 Xiao3jie3 ni3 hao3.
C: Hen3 gao1xing4 ren4shi4 ni.
B: Ni3 zen3me ren4shi4 Chen2 Tai4tai4?
C: Ta1 shi4 wo3de lao3ban3.
Dialogue: Tones
A: Wáng Xiānshēng nǐ hǎo.
B: Chén Tàitài nǐ hǎo.
A: Zhè shì wǒde péngyǒu. Tāde míngzi jiào Tina Yáng.
B: Yáng Xiǎojiě nǐ hǎo.
C: Hěn gāoxìng rènshì ni.
B: Nǐ zěnme rènshì Chén Tàitài?
C: Tā shì wǒde lǎobǎn.
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Hi
In this dialogue, when renshi is pronounced, it sounds like the shi has a falling tone, but it is spelled with a rising tone. Is it just my ear tricking me? When i look it up in the dictionary, it says that ren is “to know”, what does the shi part add informationally?
Thanks so much, I love your podcasts!
Hi Felicia,
You have a good ear! You’re right, even though the shí is spelled with a rising tone, it is actually pronounced with a neutral tone. There are a few points worth noting here:
1. Many words in Chinese have two syllables. This is to avoid confusion with similar sounding words when pronouncing.
2. Many times the second syllable is a synonym of the first. Here, both rèn and shí have a “know” meaning in them. But there are so many similar sound syllables that they are used together to form rènshí. Similarly, péngyǒu in this dialogue is also made up of two syllables that both have a “friend” meaning.
3. Many times, the second syllable in a disyllabic word adopts a neutral tone. Péngyǒu above falls in the same category and is usually pronounced as péngyou.
Hope that helps, and thanks for bringing this up!
-Adam
That really helps, thanks so much, your website is amazing!
Excellent question and excellent answer !
I had ’subconscioulsy’ realised a lot of bisyllables didn’t pronounce the second sysllable as defined. eg., duoshao.
Some books removes the tone indicator, which just confused me more.
It’s nice to see it explained.
Thanks.
I have previously learned to say “ren-shi ni hen gao-xing” I guess either way works right?
This would be literally “recognize you very high mood”.
Yup Daniel, that works too!
How do you say, “I am happy to see you”?
Thanks
Hi Leaf,
That would be: Hěn gāoxìng kàndào nǐ (很高兴看到你）
Hi - in the word laoban - the second syllable sounds almost like a falling tone or even neutral. Is this correct? Xiexie
Hi Johan,
Technically the second syllable is a third tone, but as you mentioned, it isn’t stressed so you barely hear it.
Thanks for fast response. I will start to trust my ears better!
hello everyone!it’s so cool to know there are so many of us studying on the same material!
It would great also to know each other1
Hi Adam,
Sometimes I get a little confused for the pronunciation of some phrases. For example: Tā shì wǒde lǎobǎn
The word for boss has two third tone words in a row but when it’s being said, it almost sounds like ban is being said with a fourth tone. From my understanding, I’ve read that when there are two consecutive third tone phrases, the second turns into a rising tone or the second tone.
Can you please clarify this for me? I think one of my biggest problems with actually speaking the language is getting the tones right so I just want to make sure that I’m on the right track.
Thanks,
Hann
Hi Hann,
Yes you’re correct that when there are 2 third tones in a row, the first one usually changes to a second tone to make it easier to say them together. The second one should still stay as the third tone.
As a beginner, I’d recommend over emphasizing the tones to get your own mind used to this concept. Later, once you’re comfortable with them, you’ll find yourself automatically rattling off words quicker, where the untrained ear can’t spot the difference in tones, but where the trained ear (that native speakers have) can still hear the difference.
Hope that helps.
Hi Adam,
Thanks, yeah that helps a lot!