trying Posted April 9, 2007 at 05:23 AM Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 at 05:23 AM According to a book, 不 bu4 is pronounced in the 4th tone. But when it precedes another 4th tone word, it pronounced in the 2nd tone. Ex. 不対(bu2 dui4), 不(bu2 shi4). But I'm a little confused about 不要。 I heard Chinese using tone 4 (bu4 yao4) when they use 不要 in the beginning of the sentence, but they use tone 2 when it's in the middle of a sentence, like 我不要再想下去 （bu2 yao4). So, can anyone kindly tell me what tone does the 不 take in 不要? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HashiriKata Posted April 9, 2007 at 07:31 AM Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 at 07:31 AM I'd say it should always be /bu2 yao4/, even at the beginning of the sentence, but remember that our articulation of the first sound (and the last sound) of a sentence may be slightly different from that when the sound is in the middle of the sentence, and this may give you the impression that it's not in 2nd tone. Another thing is in a different sense, 要 is a 1st tone character, so when combined with 不, you'd have /bu4yao1/. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
againstwind Posted April 9, 2007 at 01:26 PM Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 at 01:26 PM HashiriKata is right. As a fixed phrase, 不要 should always be /bu2 yao4/. And 要 is a polyphone, yao4 and yao1. e.g. 不要求 /bu4 yao1 qiu2/ Considering there are so many people in China who speak Chinese in their own accents, it's not a surprise to hear someone make nonstandard tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trying Posted April 10, 2007 at 07:47 AM Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 at 07:47 AM Thank you everyone for your replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heifeng Posted April 10, 2007 at 07:54 AM Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 at 07:54 AM don't forget, 'bu' also has a qingsheng in some instances... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trying Posted April 10, 2007 at 10:02 AM Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 at 10:02 AM Hi Heifeng, Can you kindly give me a few examples? Thank you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heifeng Posted April 11, 2007 at 02:54 AM Report Share Posted April 11, 2007 at 02:54 AM Usually when it is wedged between stufff like this, it's pronounced with a 轻声 了不起 吃不了 去不去 要不要 Overall, here are some practice exercises for you 不信鬼神 不相上下 看不清 不算高明 不痛不痒 不听劝告 想不通 不见不散 不怕困难 不大可能 来不来 不干不净 不懂外语 不太合适 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trying Posted April 12, 2007 at 11:39 AM Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 at 11:39 AM Thank you Heifeng. That's a lot of practice for me. Thanks BTW, do anyone know where I can find info about counters for things. For example, counting horse would use 一匹、counting snake is 一篠 （？）。 So, what about counting cats, dogs, elephant and so forth? Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raincoat Posted April 18, 2007 at 04:08 AM Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 at 04:08 AM Can try this Chinese - English Dictionary of Measure Words http://www.chinesemall.com/chindicofmea.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trying Posted April 18, 2007 at 05:37 AM Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 at 05:37 AM Thank you. I hope they have it in Hong Kong. I'm visiting HK in summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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