The special “third tone”

As we have learned, when two third tones are placed next to each other, the first one is pronounced as the second tone. The third tone however also changes when it is followed by other tones.

When a third tone is followed by first tone, second tone and fourth tone, we don’t pronounce it fully. Only the first part is pronounced. Please look at the words bellow, listen to the audio and repeat.Audio

• hǎochī — delicious lǎoshī — teacher yǔyán — language lǚxíng — travel
• hǎokàn — beautiful mǐfàn — cooked rice