Mandarin Chinese - An ExplanatoryGuide to Key Language Issues

1. Mandarin Chinese -
An Explanatory
Guide to Key Language Issues

2. The rules of changing of
tones in Chinese

3. Tone Change of the character
“不” (bù)
When it precedes a 4 th tone character, it changes to a
2nd tone.
For example, “不对 bú duì” (wrong ).
When there are two 3rd tones coming together,
the first one changes into a 2nd tone:
For instance, 你好 ní hǎo
Rule for 3rd tone change

4. Tone Change of the character
“一” (yī)
• As a single character, it is 1st tone.
• when followed by a 4th tone, it becomes a 2nd tone,
For instance, “一定 yí dìng”
• when it precedes a 1st tone, 2nd tone and 3rd tone, it
becomes a 4th tone,
For instance, “一些 yì xiē” (some), “一直 yì zhí” (always) and “一点 yì diǎn” (a little,
a bit)