Tone change rule
Two dips can't share a seat
When two third tones meet, the first one turns into a rising tone.
Step 1 of 3
三声变调
When two third tones meet, the first one turns into a rising tone.
3 + 3 is spoken as 2 + 3
Written
Spoken
你好nǐ hǎoní hǎo
很好hěn hǎohén hǎo
可以kěyǐkéyǐ
所以suǒyǐsuóyǐ
洗澡xǐzǎoxízǎo
Tap a word, hear it happen
你好ní hǎo
很好hén hǎo
可以kéyǐ
所以suóyǐ
洗澡xízǎo
Tap anywhere for the next step
Written
Spoken
3 + 3 is spoken as 2 + 3
The third tone is a slow dip. Two slow dips in a row would take all afternoon, so Mandarin speeds the first one up into a rise. Nobody announces this; everybody does it.
Dictionaries and our word pages still write both as third tone. Your eyes see nǐ hǎo; your mouth says ní hǎo. Both are correct: one is the spelling, one is the sound.
Words you already know, doing it
你好nǐ hǎoní hǎohello
很好hěn hǎohén hǎovery good
可以kěyǐkéyǐcan, may
所以suǒyǐsuóyǐso, therefore
洗澡xǐzǎoxízǎoto shower
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