Pinyin shows each character's dictionary tone, but in speech some tones change. Paste Chinese text to see the tones as they are written and as they are actually said, with every change explained.
Loading pinyin…
Top line written pinyin · bottom line spoken pinyin, highlighted where the tone changes
No tone changes in this text.
When two third tones come together, the first one is said as a second tone: 你好 is written nǐ hǎo but said ní hǎo, and 可以 is written kěyǐ but said kéyǐ. In a longer run of third tones, every one except the last usually rises: 我也很好 is said wó yé hén hǎo at normal speed.
一 keeps its first tone when you count, in dates and numbers, and at the end of a word: 一、二、三, 第一, 统一. Before a fourth tone it becomes second tone: 一定 yídìng, 一个 yí ge. Before the other tones it becomes fourth tone: 一起 yìqǐ, 一天 yì tiān. Between two copies of a verb it is light: 看一看 kàn yi kàn.
不 becomes second tone before a fourth tone: 不是 búshì, 不要 búyào. Before other tones it stays bù: 不好 bù hǎo. In a yes-no question like 去不去 it is light: qù bu qù.
Dictionaries write the original tone so you always know a character's own tone. Textbooks are mixed: many mark the changes for 一 and 不 but not for third tones. That is why the same word can look different in two books. This page shows both, so you can see which is which.
Practise the tones of the HSK words: pinyin and tone practice →