2 · Sounds and characters
Neutral tone and the r ending
the neutral tone inside words, and erhua
Many words end in an unstressed syllable, and some take an r sound on the end.
In many everyday words the last syllable is short and light and loses its tone: 朋友, 东西, 衣服, 知道, 喜欢. On its own the second character has a full tone — yǒu, xī, fú — but inside the word it is said quickly and lightly, and pinyin gives it no mark. Some groups are easy to spot: doubled family words (妈妈, 哥哥), nouns ending in 子 or 头 (桌子, 木头) and doubled verbs (看看). The rest are simply learned with the word.
Occasionally the light syllable is the only thing that separates two words. 东西, with a light second syllable, is “thing”; said with two full tones, dōngxī, it is “east and west”. 地道 means authentic, while dìdào is a tunnel. Such pairs are rare, but they show that the light syllable is part of the word, not careless speech.
The second feature is the r ending, called érhuà. In Beijing and much of the north, many words take an r on their last syllable, written with the character 儿: 哪儿, 这儿, 一点儿, 玩儿. The character is written, but it is not a syllable of its own: nǎr is one syllable with an r at the end. Before the r a final n or i drops out of the sound, so 一点儿 is said close to yìdiǎr and 一会儿 close to yíhuèr.
English speakers make two mistakes here. They stress the light syllables, which sounds foreign and in a pair like 东西 even changes the word; and they read 儿 as a full extra syllable, nǎ ér. Southern speakers use the r ending much less and say 哪里 and 这里 instead; both are standard. This site uses the r forms in a small set of very common words.
The form
| a light second syllable | 朋友、东西、衣服 |
| doubled family words | 妈妈、哥哥、妹妹 |
| the light ending zi | 桌子、杯子、孩子 |
| r ending: one syllable, not two | 哪儿、这儿、那儿 |
| r ending in common words | 一点儿、一会儿、玩儿 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
Many everyday words say their last syllable short and light, and pinyin then gives it no mark.
我的朋友很多。I have a lot of friends.
The ending zi on a noun is always light.
桌子上有两个杯子。There are two cups on the table.
A light syllable can be the only difference between two words.
我去超市买东西。I'm going to the supermarket to buy a few things.
The r ending joins the syllable before it: nǎr is one syllable, not nǎ plus ér.
你去哪儿？Where are you going?
Before the r ending a final n or i drops out of the sound, though pinyin keeps the letter.
请说慢一点儿。Please speak a little more slowly.
A closer look
When a light syllable changes the word
Most light syllables only change how a word sounds. A few change what it means, and they are worth knowing as pairs: 东西, a thing, against dōngxī, east and west; 地道, genuine or authentic, against dìdào, an underground passage. In each pair the everyday word is the light one.
In writing, the 儿 of the r ending is often left out: 一点 and 一点儿 mean the same, and so do 哪里 and 哪儿. When reading aloud, follow what is written; when speaking, either is correct, and a learner can choose one and keep to it.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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儿 means son or child, as in 儿子 or 女儿
it is a full syllable, ér, with its own tone.
他有一个儿子和一个女儿。He has a son and a daughter.
Only the r ending melts into the syllable before it. The word for son keeps its full sound, just as it does at the start of 儿子.
How to spot it
- 朋友
- 子
- 哪儿
- 一点儿
Example sentences
这件衣服很漂亮。This is a very pretty piece of clothing.
我不知道他的名字。I don't know his name.
我在这儿，你在哪儿？I'm here — where are you?
孩子们在公园里玩儿。The children are playing in the park.
请等一会儿。Please wait a moment.
我哥哥喜欢打篮球。My older brother likes playing basketball.
8 more example sentences
我妹妹今年十岁。My younger sister is ten this year.
这个菜有点儿辣。This dish is a bit spicy.
你的房间真干净。Your room is really clean.
我们明天在那儿见面吧。Let's meet there tomorrow.
他是一个很聪明的孩子。He is a very clever child.
别客气，多吃点儿！Don't be shy — have some more!
这是很地道的北京小吃。This is a very authentic Beijing snack.
谢谢你的帮助。Thank you for your help.
Worth knowing (1)
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Written or not
Whether the 儿 is written depends on the writer and the region. Northern speakers write it where they say it; others leave it out, and nothing is lost, because the word is the same.
我会说一点中文。I can speak a little Chinese.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
On its own 儿 is a full syllable meaning son or child, so it is tempting to read 哪儿 as two syllables, nǎ ér. Here it is not a syllable at all, only an r added to nǎ: one beat, nǎr.
Say light syllables short and unstressed, and fold the r ending into the syllable before it.
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.