Exceptions to the rules of spelling, pronunciation and grammar are the bane of every language learner. English is particularly horrendous in having no relationship between how words are spelt and pronounced. Thankfully, English is more sensible than many other languages in the way it approaches gender. Hindi and French have two irrational genders. German has three, and randomly allocates genders to nouns without regard to biology. "Das Mädchen" (the girl) belongs to the neuter gender!
So far, I have found a refreshing consistency in pronunciation and grammar in Mandarin, but I have lately come across a few exceptions.
1. 得 is pronounced either dé or déi, depending on context.
a. 你 在说 得 太快 nǐ zài shuō dé tài kuài ("You're speaking too fast")
b. 我 得 买 票 wǒ déi mǎi piào ("I have to buy a ticket")
In fact, it's not just the pronunciation that changes. It's the meaning too.
2. 长 is pronounced either cháng or zhǎng, depending on context
This isn't actually too bad. When used as an adjective ("long"), 长 is pronounced cháng. When used as a verb ("to grow"), it's pronounced zhǎng.
a. 这条 裙子 太长 了 zhè tiáo qúnzi tài cháng le ("This skirt is too long")
b. 孩子 长 得 真快！háizi zhǎng dé zhēn kuài! ("Children grow up so fast!")
3. 了 can be pronounced either le or liǎo, depending on context
This is a bit more annoying, since a reader tends to read 了 as le most of the time, and would have to read ahead to the next character to understand that it's actually pronounced liǎo.
a. 我 忘记 了! wǒ wàngjì le! ("I forgot!")
b. 你 不 了解 我！nǐ bù liǎojiě wǒ! ("You don't understand me!")
4. 行 can be pronounced either xíng or háng, depending on context
This one is really annoying, because it's one of those exceptions one absolutely has to commit to memory.
a. 自行车 zìxíngchē (bicycle)
b. 银行 yínháng (bank)
5. 和 is pronounced either hé or huo, depending on context
a. 和 hé (with)
b. 暖和 nuǎnhuo (warm)
No comments:
Post a Comment