Chinese Pinyin: Sandhi of the 3rd tone | Free Online Learning Chinese

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In the Mandarin Chinese Pinyin system, the third tone (the low dipping tone) has a unique characteristic. It retains its original contour only when it is the last syllable in a word, at the end of a sentence, or when read in isolation. When a third-tone syllable precedes another syllable with any of the four tones, it undergoes tone sandhi (tone change).

1. Third Tone Before Another Third Tone

When a third tone appears before another third tone, the first third tone changes to a second tone, and the pitch contour shifts from 214 to 35.

Examples:

水果 [fruit]：shuǐguǒ
了解 [understand]：liǎojiě
领导 [leadership]：lǐngdǎo
演讲 [speech]：yǎnjiǎng
早起 [early rising]：zǎoqǐ
等等 [etc.]：děngděng
讲讲 [to speak]：jiǎngjiǎng
想起 [recall]：xiǎngqǐ

2. Third Tone Before Non-Third Tone

When a third tone appears before a non-third tone (i.e., a first, second, fourth, or neutral tone), the first third tone becomes a half-third tone, and the pitch contour changes from 214 to 211.

Before a first tone:

首都 [capital city]：shǒudū [214 → 211]

Before a second tone:

改良 [improvement]：gǎiliáng [214 → 211]

Before a fourth tone:

解放 [liberation]：jiěfàng [214 → 211]

Before a neutral tone:

尾巴 [tail]：wěiba [214 → 211]

3. Three Third-Tone Syllables

For words or phrases composed of three third-tone syllables, the tone sandhi can vary depending on the structure and meaning.

Structure: Disyllabic + Monosyllabic

If the structure is "disyllabic + monosyllabic", the first two syllables change to a second tone, and the pitch contour changes from 214 to 35.

展览馆 [exhibition hall]：zhǎnlǎnguǎn
管理组 [management team]：guǎnlǐzǔ
种马场 [stud farm]：zhǒngmǎchǎng

Structure: Monosyllabic + Disyllabic

If the structure is "monosyllabic + disyllabic", the first syllable changes to a half-third tone with a pitch contour of 211, while the middle syllable changes to a second tone with a pitch contour of 35.

很勇敢 [very brave]：hěnyǒnggǎn
小老虎 [little tiger]：xiǎolǎohǔ
好母马 [good mare]：hǎomǔmǎ

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