One of the first Chinese phrases most learners study is:
nǐ hǎo
你好
hello
You learn:
nǐ = third tone
hǎo = third tone
So you carefully pronounce:
nǐ hǎo
But then you hear a native speaker.
And suddenly it sounds more like:
ní hǎo
Did you learn it wrong?
No.
Your textbook is not wrong either.
You have just discovered one of the most important pronunciation patterns in Mandarin:
Third Tone Sandhi
The word sandhi simply means that a sound or tone changes because of the sound next to it.
In Mandarin, when two third tones come together, the first one changes in pronunciation.
The rule is simple:
3rd tone + 3rd tone → 2nd tone + 3rd tone
So:
nǐ hǎo → ní hǎo
你好
hello
You still write:
nǐ hǎo
But in natural speech, it sounds like:
ní hǎo
Once you understand this rule, many everyday Chinese words suddenly become much easier to pronounce.
1. The Basic Rule
Let’s start with the most important pattern:
3 + 3 → 2 + 3
If two third-tone syllables appear next to each other, the first third tone changes to a rising tone, similar to the second tone.
For example:
Written
nǐ hǎo
Spoken
ní hǎo
你好
hello
The second syllable stays third tone.
The first one changes.
So instead of trying to pronounce two full third tones:
nǐ hǎo
you naturally say:
ní hǎo
2. Why Does This Happen?
Try saying two full third tones slowly:
nǐ — hǎo
It takes effort.
Your voice has to go low, rise, go low again, and rise again.
Mandarin makes the combination easier.
Instead of:
3 + 3
the first tone changes:
2 + 3
So the pronunciation flows more naturally.
This is not a special exception for 你好.
It happens again and again in Mandarin.
3. Start With 你好
This is the example almost every Chinese learner already knows.
Dictionary / written tones
nǐ hǎo
Natural pronunciation
ní hǎo
你好
hello
Try saying both versions.
First:
nǐ hǎo
Then:
ní hǎo
The second should feel smoother.
That smoothness is exactly why this tone change happens.
4. 很好 Works the Same Way
Look at:
hěn hǎo
很好
very good
Both characters are third tone:
hěn → 3rd tone
hǎo → 3rd tone
So in natural speech:
hěn hǎo → hén hǎo
很好
very good
Try it:
hén hǎo
not two strong dipping third tones:
hěn hǎo
5. 可以
Another word you will hear constantly:
kěyǐ
可以
can / may / okay
Both syllables are third tone.
So:
kěyǐ → kéyǐ
You still normally see it written:
kěyǐ
But natural speech sounds closer to:
kéyǐ
Example:
kěyǐ ma? → kéyǐ ma?
可以吗？
Is that okay? / Can I?
6. 水果
Here is another common word:
shuǐguǒ
水果
fruit
Both syllables are third tone.
So in natural speech:
shuǐguǒ → shuíguǒ
水果
fruit
Try saying:
shuíguǒ
This is much more natural than forcing two full third tones.
7. 老板
A very useful word when travelling, shopping, or eating in China:
lǎobǎn
老板
boss / shop owner
Both syllables are third tone.
So:
lǎobǎn → láobǎn
You may still see:
lǎobǎn
in Pinyin.
But listen carefully to native speech and the first syllable often sounds much more like:
láo
8. 手表
Another common example:
shǒubiǎo
手表
watch
3 + 3 again.
So:
shǒubiǎo → shóubiǎo
手表
watch
9. 雨伞
yǔsǎn
雨伞
umbrella
Both syllables are third tone.
Natural pronunciation:
yǔsǎn → yúsǎn
雨伞
umbrella
Try:
yúsǎn
10. 洗澡
This is another very useful everyday word:
xǐzǎo
洗澡
to take a shower / bath
Both syllables are third tone.
So:
xǐzǎo → xízǎo
洗澡
to shower
Example:
wǒ qù xǐzǎo.
我去洗澡。
I’m going to take a shower.
Inside 洗澡, you will hear:
xízǎo
11. 小狗
xiǎogǒu
小狗
small dog / puppy
3 + 3:
xiǎogǒu → xiáogǒu
小狗
puppy
12. 了解
liǎojiě
了解
to understand / know about
Again:
3 + 3
So:
liǎojiě → liáojiě
了解
to understand
Example:
wǒ liǎojiě.
我了解。
I understand.
The word itself is naturally pronounced closer to:
liáojiě
13. 保险
bǎoxiǎn
保险
insurance
Both syllables are third tone.
So:
bǎoxiǎn → báoxiǎn
保险
insurance
This is another good example of a word that may look like “3 + 3” on paper but sounds like “2 + 3” in speech.
14. 好久
hǎojiǔ
好久
a long time
Both syllables are third tone.
So:
hǎojiǔ → háojiǔ
For example:
hǎojiǔ bú jiàn!
好久不见！
Long time no see!
The beginning sounds closer to:
háojiǔ
15. 有点儿
A very common conversational expression is:
yǒudiǎnr
有点儿
a little / a bit
The first two syllables are both third tone:
yǒu + diǎn
So:
yǒudiǎnr → yóudiǎnr
For example:
yǒudiǎnr lèi.
有点儿累。
a little tired
yǒudiǎnr guì.
有点儿贵。
a little expensive
Listen for that rising first syllable:
yóudiǎnr
16. 挺好
Another very natural spoken expression:
tǐng hǎo
挺好
pretty good
Both are third tone.
So:
tǐng hǎo → tíng hǎo
For example:
zhège tǐng hǎo.
这个挺好。
This one is pretty good.
Natural pronunciation:
zhège tíng hǎo
17. 很冷
hěn lěng
很冷
very cold
Two third tones:
hěn lěng → hén lěng
For example:
jīntiān hěn lěng.
今天很冷。
It’s very cold today.
In natural speech:
jīntiān hén lěng
18. 很远
hěn yuǎn
很远
very far
3 + 3:
hěn yuǎn → hén yuǎn
For example:
tài yuǎn le.
太远了。
It’s too far.
Or:
nàge dìfang hěn yuǎn.
那个地方很远。
That place is very far.
Listen for:
hén yuǎn
19. 很晚
hěn wǎn
很晚
very late
Natural pronunciation:
hěn wǎn → hén wǎn
For example:
yǐjīng hěn wǎn le.
已经很晚了。
It’s already very late.
20. 想买
Tone sandhi does not only happen inside dictionary words.
It also happens when two third-tone words meet in a sentence.
For example:
xiǎng mǎi
想买
want to buy
Both are third tone.
So:
xiǎng mǎi → xiáng mǎi
Example:
wǒ xiǎng mǎi kāfēi.
我想买咖啡。
I want to buy coffee.
The phrase 想买 is naturally pronounced:
xiáng mǎi
21. 想走
xiǎng zǒu
想走
want to leave
Again:
3 + 3
So:
xiǎng zǒu → xiáng zǒu
Example:
wǒ xiǎng zǒu le.
我想走了。
I want to leave now.
22. 买酒
mǎi jiǔ
买酒
buy alcohol
Both syllables are third tone.
So:
mǎi jiǔ → mái jiǔ
Example:
wǒ qù mǎi jiǔ.
我去买酒。
I’m going to buy some alcohol.
23. 你想
Here is a pair you will hear constantly:
nǐ xiǎng
你想
you want / you think
Both are third tone.
So:
nǐ xiǎng → ní xiǎng
Example:
nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?
你想吃什么？
What do you want to eat?
The beginning naturally sounds closer to:
ní xiǎng...
24. 你有
nǐ yǒu
你有
you have
3 + 3:
nǐ yǒu → ní yǒu
Example:
nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?
你有时间吗？
Do you have time?
Listen for:
ní yǒu...
25. 我有
The same thing happens with:
wǒ yǒu
我有
I have
Both are third tone.
Natural pronunciation:
wǒ yǒu → wó yǒu
Example:
wǒ yǒu shíjiān.
我有时间。
I have time.
26. 我想
wǒ xiǎng
我想
I want / I think
Both are third tone.
So:
wǒ xiǎng → wó xiǎng
Example:
wǒ xiǎng hē chá.
我想喝茶。
I want to drink tea.
Notice What Is Happening
You may have learned these words separately:
wǒ
我
nǐ
你
yǒu
有
xiǎng
想
mǎi
买
They are all third tone.
But Chinese is spoken in phrases—not as isolated vocabulary cards.
So when two third tones meet:
我 + 有
becomes:
wó yǒu
and:
你 + 想
becomes:
ní xiǎng
This is why listening to whole phrases is so important.
27. Do I Change the Pinyin When I Write It?
Usually, no.
This is very important.
The word:
你好
is normally written:
nǐ hǎo
not:
ní hǎo
even though the natural pronunciation sounds like:
ní hǎo
Why?
Because Pinyin usually shows the original lexical tone of the syllable.
The pronunciation changes because of the surrounding tones.
So in this lesson, when you see:
nǐ hǎo → ní hǎo
the first version shows the normal dictionary / written tones.
The second version shows what you should listen for in natural speech.
Remember
Write:
nǐ hǎo
Say:
ní hǎo
You do not need to change every tone mark in your notes.
Instead, train your ears to recognize the sound change.
28. Why This Matters for Listening
Imagine you learned:
nǐ
你
you
only as a deep dipping third tone.
Then you hear:
ní hǎo
You may think:
What is “ní”?
But it is still:
nǐ
你
The tone changed because another third tone followed it.
The meaning did not change.
This is one reason beginner listening can feel harder than reading Pinyin.
The pronunciation you hear is not always exactly what the individual dictionary tones seem to predict.
29. Two Third Tones: Lots of Practice
Try reading these aloud.
Do not force two full third tones.
Let the first syllable rise.
你好
nǐ hǎo → ní hǎo
你好
hello
很好
hěn hǎo → hén hǎo
很好
very good
可以
kěyǐ → kéyǐ
可以
can / okay
水果
shuǐguǒ → shuíguǒ
水果
fruit
老板
lǎobǎn → láobǎn
老板
boss / shop owner
手表
shǒubiǎo → shóubiǎo
手表
watch
雨伞
yǔsǎn → yúsǎn
雨伞
umbrella
洗澡
xǐzǎo → xízǎo
洗澡
take a shower
小狗
xiǎogǒu → xiáogǒu
小狗
puppy
了解
liǎojiě → liáojiě
了解
understand
保险
bǎoxiǎn → báoxiǎn
保险
insurance
好久
hǎojiǔ → háojiǔ
好久
a long time
有点儿
yǒudiǎnr → yóudiǎnr
有点儿
a little
挺好
tǐng hǎo → tíng hǎo
挺好
pretty good
很冷
hěn lěng → hén lěng
很冷
very cold
很远
hěn yuǎn → hén yuǎn
很远
very far
很晚
hěn wǎn → hén wǎn
很晚
very late
想买
xiǎng mǎi → xiáng mǎi
想买
want to buy
想走
xiǎng zǒu → xiáng zǒu
想走
want to leave
你想
nǐ xiǎng → ní xiǎng
你想
you want / you think
你有
nǐ yǒu → ní yǒu
你有
you have
我有
wǒ yǒu → wó yǒu
我有
I have
我想
wǒ xiǎng → wó xiǎng
我想
I want / I think
30. Now Put Them Into Real Sentences
It is useful to practise tone pairs.
But eventually you need to hear them inside real sentences.
Try these.
你好！
nǐ hǎo! → ní hǎo!
你好！
Hello!
你好吗？
The pair 你好 still changes.
nǐ hǎo ma? → ní hǎo ma?
你好吗？
How are you?
这个很好。
Focus on 很好:
hěn hǎo → hén hǎo
zhège hěn hǎo.
这个很好。
This is very good.
可以吗？
Focus on 可以:
kěyǐ → kéyǐ
kěyǐ ma?
可以吗？
Is that okay?
我想走了。
Focus on 想走:
xiǎng zǒu → xiáng zǒu
wǒ xiǎng zǒu le.
我想走了。
I want to leave now.
你有时间吗？
Focus on 你有:
nǐ yǒu → ní yǒu
nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?
你有时间吗？
Do you have time?
我有一个问题。
Focus on 我有:
wǒ yǒu → wó yǒu
wǒ yǒu yí ge wèntí.
我有一个问题。
I have a question.
我想喝咖啡。
Focus on 我想:
wǒ xiǎng → wó xiǎng
wǒ xiǎng hē kāfēi.
我想喝咖啡。
I want to drink coffee.
我要买雨伞。
Focus on 雨伞:
yǔsǎn → yúsǎn
wǒ yào mǎi yǔsǎn.
我要买雨伞。
I want to buy an umbrella.
这个水果很好吃。
There are two useful tone pairs here:
shuǐguǒ → shuíguǒ
and:
hěn hǎo → hén hǎo
zhège shuǐguǒ hěn hǎochī.
这个水果很好吃。
This fruit is delicious.
Try saying the sentence smoothly instead of stopping after every character.
31. What If There Are Three Third Tones in a Row?
Now things become more interesting.
Consider:
wǒ hěn hǎo
我很好
I’m very well.
The tones shown in Pinyin are:
3 + 3 + 3
So should you simply change the first two into second tones?
Not always.
With three or more third tones, pronunciation can depend on how the words naturally group together.
That sounds complicated—but beginners do not need to panic.
The most useful strategy is:
Listen for natural word groups instead of trying to calculate the entire sentence tone by tone.
For example:
wǒ | hěn hǎo
我｜很好
The natural grouping is:
I | very good
Inside 很好, the two third tones meet:
hěn hǎo → hén hǎo
So the sentence is naturally heard approximately as:
wǒ hén hǎo
我很好。
I’m very well.
Do not try to pronounce three exaggerated full third tones:
wǒ hěn hǎo
That will sound slow and unnatural.
32. Another Three-Tone Example
Look at:
nǐ xiǎng wǒ
你想我
you miss me / you think of me
There are three third tones.
In natural speech, you may hear the phrase grouped so that:
xiǎng + wǒ
becomes:
xiáng wǒ
The important lesson for beginners is not to memorize a complicated “3 + 3 + 3 formula.”
Instead:
Learn words and short phrases in natural chunks.
That will give you a much more natural result.
33. Why We Are Not Memorizing a “Three Third Tones Rule”
You may find charts online showing different possible patterns for:
3 + 3 + 3
Those charts can be useful later.
But real Mandarin speech is organized into words and meaningful phrases.
That means three or more consecutive third tones can behave differently depending on how the sentence is grouped.
For beginners, this approach is much more useful:
Step 1
Master:
3 + 3 → 2 + 3
Step 2
Practise common words:
你好
很好
可以
水果
老板
Step 3
Practise short phrases:
你想
我有
想买
很远
Step 4
Listen to longer sentences in chunks.
You do not need to calculate every tone while speaking.
34. There Is One More Secret About the Third Tone
Many beginners are taught that the third tone looks like this:
fall → very low → rise
That is useful when learning the basic tone in isolation.
But in real speech, a third tone often does not make a dramatic fall-and-rise.
Very often, especially before another non-third tone, it stays low.
For example:
wǒ chī
我吃
I eat
The wǒ does not need a huge exaggerated dip and rise before chī.
Another:
hǎochī
好吃
delicious
The third tone in hǎo is often relatively low before the first-tone chī.
Another:
hěn máng
很忙
very busy
Again, the third tone does not need to be exaggerated.
This is sometimes called a half third tone.
35. Full Third Tone vs. Natural Third Tone
If you say a third-tone word by itself:
hǎo
好
good
you may hear the fuller dipping-and-rising shape.
But inside:
hǎochī
好吃
delicious
the pronunciation is usually much shorter and lower.
This is one reason natural Mandarin sounds smoother than tone diagrams might suggest.
A useful beginner habit is:
Do not try to perform a huge third-tone curve every time you see ˇ.
36. Three Situations to Remember
The third tone behaves differently depending on what follows.
Situation 1: By itself
hǎo
好
good
You can hear the fuller third-tone shape.
Situation 2: Before another third tone
hěn hǎo → hén hǎo
很好
very good
The first third tone changes to a rising tone.
Situation 3: Before another tone
hǎochī
好吃
delicious
The third tone is often lower and shorter, without a dramatic full rise.
This is much closer to the rhythm of natural Mandarin.
37. Common Beginner Mistake: Pronouncing Every Third Tone Fully
A beginner may pronounce:
nǐ hǎo
as two very large dipping tones.
It can sound slow and unnatural.
Instead:
nǐ hǎo → ní hǎo
The first syllable rises.
The second carries the third tone.
38. Common Beginner Mistake: Changing the Character’s Tone Permanently
After learning tone sandhi, you might think:
So 你 is actually ní?
No.
The dictionary tone of:
nǐ
你
is still third tone.
For example:
nǐ chī ma?
你吃吗？
Are you eating?
Here, 你 is not followed by another third tone.
So there is no 3 + 3 tone change.
The tone change depends on the sound that follows.
39. Common Beginner Mistake: Writing the Changed Tone Everywhere
Normally write:
nǐ hǎo
not:
ní hǎo
Write:
hěn hǎo
not:
hén hǎo
Write:
shuǐguǒ
not:
shuíguǒ
The changed versions are useful when we are teaching pronunciation, but they are not normally how standard Pinyin is written.
40. Common Beginner Mistake: Pausing Between Every Character
Tone sandhi is one reason this matters.
If you say every character separately:
nǐ... hǎo...
you may never develop the natural sound of:
ní hǎo
Instead, practise Chinese in short chunks.
For example, do not only practise:
你
想
Practise:
nǐ xiǎng → ní xiǎng
你想
you want
Do not only practise:
很
好
Practise:
hěn hǎo → hén hǎo
很好
very good
This is much closer to how you will actually speak.
41. Practice Set 1: Everyday Words
Read the written Pinyin first.
Then say the natural pronunciation.
你好
nǐ hǎo → ní hǎo
很好
hěn hǎo → hén hǎo
可以
kěyǐ → kéyǐ
水果
shuǐguǒ → shuíguǒ
老板
lǎobǎn → láobǎn
手表
shǒubiǎo → shóubiǎo
雨伞
yǔsǎn → yúsǎn
洗澡
xǐzǎo → xízǎo
42. Practice Set 2: Useful Phrases
你想
nǐ xiǎng → ní xiǎng
你想
you want
你有
nǐ yǒu → ní yǒu
你有
you have
我想
wǒ xiǎng → wó xiǎng
我想
I want / think
我有
wǒ yǒu → wó yǒu
我有
I have
想买
xiǎng mǎi → xiáng mǎi
想买
want to buy
想走
xiǎng zǒu → xiáng zǒu
想走
want to leave
很冷
hěn lěng → hén lěng
很冷
very cold
很远
hěn yuǎn → hén yuǎn
很远
very far
挺好
tǐng hǎo → tíng hǎo
挺好
pretty good
有点儿
yǒudiǎnr → yóudiǎnr
有点儿
a little
43. Practice Set 3: Short Sentences
Read slowly first.
Then say the sentence again without stopping between every word.
nǐ hǎo!
你好！
Hello!
Listen for:
ní hǎo
zhège hěn hǎo.
这个很好。
This is very good.
Listen for:
hén hǎo
nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?
你有时间吗？
Do you have time?
Listen for:
ní yǒu
wǒ yǒu yí ge wèntí.
我有一个问题。
I have a question.
Listen for:
wó yǒu
wǒ xiǎng hē kāfēi.
我想喝咖啡。
I want to drink coffee.
Listen for:
wó xiǎng
wǒ xiǎng zǒu le.
我想走了。
I want to leave now.
Listen for:
xiáng zǒu
zhège yǒudiǎnr guì.
这个有点儿贵。
This is a little expensive.
Listen for:
yóudiǎnr
jīntiān hěn lěng.
今天很冷。
It’s very cold today.
Listen for:
hén lěng
44. A Short Real-Life Dialogue
Try reading this conversation naturally.
A: nǐ hǎo!
A: 你好！
A: Hello!
Remember:
nǐ hǎo → ní hǎo
B: nǐ hǎo! nǐ jīntiān zěn me yàng?
B: 你好！你今天怎么样？
B: Hello! How are you today?
A: wǒ hěn hǎo.
A: 我很好。
A: I’m very well.
Inside:
hěn hǎo → hén hǎo
B: nǐ xiǎng hē diǎnr shénme?
B: 你想喝点儿什么？
B: What would you like to drink?
At the beginning:
nǐ xiǎng → ní xiǎng
A: wǒ xiǎng hē chá.
A: 我想喝茶。
A: I’d like tea.
At the beginning:
wǒ xiǎng → wó xiǎng
This is why tone sandhi matters.
It is not something that only appears in pronunciation exercises.
It appears in ordinary conversations constantly.
45. Try It Yourself
Which pair will change from:
3 + 3
to:
2 + 3?
1. 你好
nǐ hǎo
Answer:
Yes.
Natural pronunciation:
ní hǎo
2. 很忙
hěn máng
Answer:
No 3 + 3 sandhi.
The tones are:
3 + 2
The third tone is usually pronounced relatively low before the second tone.
3. 水果
shuǐguǒ
Answer:
Yes.
Natural pronunciation:
shuíguǒ
4. 想去
xiǎng qù
Answer:
No.
The tones are:
3 + 4
5. 想买
xiǎng mǎi
Answer:
Yes.
Natural pronunciation:
xiáng mǎi
6. 老板
lǎobǎn
Answer:
Yes.
Natural pronunciation:
láobǎn
7. 好吃
hǎochī
Answer:
No 3 + 3 sandhi.
The tones are:
3 + 1
8. 很远
hěn yuǎn
Answer:
Yes.
Natural pronunciation:
hén yuǎn
46. Can You Hear the Difference?
Try these pairs aloud.
3 + 1
hǎochī
好吃
delicious
No third-tone sandhi.
3 + 2
hěn máng
很忙
very busy
No 3 + 3 sandhi.
3 + 3
hěn hǎo → hén hǎo
很好
very good
Tone sandhi happens.
3 + 4
xiǎng qù
想去
want to go
No 3 + 3 sandhi.
This comparison is excellent listening practice.
47. A Better Way to Practise Third Tone Sandhi
Do not practise only isolated syllables:
nǐ
hǎo
wǒ
yǒu
xiǎng
mǎi
Instead, practise useful tone pairs:
ní hǎo
wó yǒu
ní xiǎng
xiáng mǎi
hén hǎo
yóudiǎnr
Then put them into short sentences.
This teaches your mouth the same combinations you will actually use in conversation.
48. Try Shadowing These Sentences
Read each sentence once.
Then say it again without looking at every individual tone mark.
Focus on the rhythm.
1
nǐ hǎo!
你好！
Hello!
2
wǒ hěn hǎo.
我很好。
I’m very well.
3
nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?
你有时间吗？
Do you have time?
4
wǒ xiǎng hē kāfēi.
我想喝咖啡。
I want coffee.
5
zhège yǒudiǎnr guì.
这个有点儿贵。
This is a little expensive.
6
jīntiān hěn lěng.
今天很冷。
It’s very cold today.
7
wǒ xiǎng mǎi yí ge shǒubiǎo.
我想买一个手表。
I want to buy a watch.
8
wǒ děi qù mǎi yǔsǎn.
我得去买雨伞。
I need to go buy an umbrella.
Do not try to make every third tone huge.
Listen for the words that naturally connect.
The Most Important Thing to Remember
If you only remember one rule from this lesson, remember:
3 + 3 → 2 + 3
So:
nǐ hǎo
is written with two third tones.
But it is naturally pronounced more like:
ní hǎo
The same happens in:
hěn hǎo → hén hǎo
很好
kěyǐ → kéyǐ
可以
shuǐguǒ → shuíguǒ
水果
lǎobǎn → láobǎn
老板
nǐ xiǎng → ní xiǎng
你想
wǒ yǒu → wó yǒu
我有
xiǎng mǎi → xiáng mǎi
想买
You normally keep the original tone marks when writing Pinyin.
The change happens in pronunciation.
You’re Making Progress
Tone sandhi can feel strange when you first discover it.
You may think:
“I just learned the four tones. Why are they changing now?”
But tone changes are not an extra problem added to Mandarin.
They are part of what makes natural Mandarin easier and smoother to speak.
Instead of fighting the change, start listening for it.
When you hear:
ní hǎo
recognize:
nǐ hǎo — 你好
When you hear:
hén hǎo
recognize:
hěn hǎo — 很好
When you hear:
wó yǒu
recognize:
wǒ yǒu — 我有
You do not need to calculate tone rules in the middle of every conversation.
Start with the most common words and phrases.
Say them aloud.
Repeat them as complete chunks.
Listen.
Shadow.
And little by little, the tone change will stop feeling like a rule you have to remember.
It will simply start to sound right.