Tone Change Rules (Changed Tones)

變調規則

About this concept

Systematic tone changes in Cantonese: pinjam (changed tone) where high-rising tone marks semantic shifts (e.g., diminutive, familiar). Some tone changes indicate colloquial vs literary readings. 女 neoi5 → neoi2 (casual).

In Settemila Lingue, this concept generates a practice deck of ~35 cards at level C1.

Examples

朋友 pang4 jau5 → 老友 lou5 jau2friend → buddy (tone 5 → tone 2 for familiarity)

女 neoi5 (literary) → neoi2 (casual)girl/daughter: literary vs colloquial tone

雞蛋 gai1 daan2 (changed tone)egg (daan6 → daan2 in compound)

星期日 → 禮拜日 lai5 baai3 jat6Sunday: literary vs colloquial reading

Prerequisite

The Six TonesA1

More C1 concepts

Particle Stacking and Combinations語氣詞疊加 Classical and Literary Expressions文言同書面表達 Focus and Cleft Constructions焦點同分裂句 Slang and Internet Cantonese俚語同網絡用語 Advanced Complement Patterns進階補語結構

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