【The "Angry" Fourth Tone】
The fourth tone is the most difficult one for most of the learners in the learning process.
The fourth tone is from scale 5 to scale 1 that means the tone changes from the highest 5 to the lowest 1, which is hard to find out the sense of declining. Many learners pronounced the fourth tone close to the first tone or the third tone, influenced by mutation in speech.
Let's see which kinds of jokes are made because of misreading of the fourth tone. For instance,
the learner wanted to express this is my secret "这是我的秘密。 (Zhè shì wǒde mìmi)" but turned out to "这是我的咪咪。(Zhè shì wǒde mīmī) - These are my boobs."
"我爱大家。 (Wǒ ài dàjiā) - I love you all." turned out to "我爱打架。 (Wǒ ài dǎjià) - I love fighting."
As for those who learn Chinese on their own, how to pronounce the fourth tone correctly?
Here is the tip for you.
The fourth tone is from scale 5 to scale 1 that means the tone changes from the highest 5 to the lowest 1, which is hard to find out the sense of declining. Imagine now you are furious, then how will you say "NO"? "NO!!!!", yes, that is the feeling of the fourth tone.
Many learners once asked me one same question that why Chinese people sounded angry, like they are quarreling. After you try this tip and find out the way to pronounce the fourth tone words, you will know why.
Give you some examples to try: 弟弟 dìdi, 被子 bèizi, 秘密 mìmi
That's all for today. I will share more interesting stories with you all, and the methods to practice as well. Stay tuned. If you enjoyed this or learned something, share this article with your friends, please.
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