23 Additional Tone Sandhi Rules

Tone sandhi rules for yī (one)

The word yī (one) bears a 1^st tone when it is pronounced alone or at the end of an utterance.

It is produced with the 4^th tone (yì) when it is followed by the 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd tone.  For example:

When yī is followed by any syllable bearing a 4^th tone, it is produced with a rising tone, with a pitch contour identical to that of the 2^nd tone (yí).  For example:

Listening Quiz

Tone sandhi rules for bù (not)

Bù (not) also changes its tone depending on the tone of the following syllable.  When it is standing alone, or being followed by a 1^st , 2^nd or a 3^rd tone syllable, it is pronounced with the 4^th tone (bù).  For example:

When it is followed by a 4^th tone syllable, it is pronounced with a 2^nd tone (bú). For example:

Listening Quiz