Standard Chinese Phonology - Word Stress

Word Stress

The stress pattern of Chinese language is made up of three degrees of stress. There are three stress patterns, which commonly occur in the two-syllable compound words:

  1. Normal Stress + Primary Stress (\ + /)
    • 字画儿 zìhuàr
    • 音乐 yīnyuè
    • 学校 xuéxiào
    • 汽车 qìchē
  2. Primary Stress + Unstressed (/ + o)
    • 父亲 fùqin
    • 喜欢 xǐhuan
    • 东西 dōngxi
  3. Primary Stress + Normal Stress (/ + \)
    • 农村 nóngcūn
    • 社会 shèhuì
    • 热情 rèqíng

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