语法 · HSK 1–4
Chinese characters with multiple pronunciations (多音字): 长, 行, 得, 觉, 还, 乐
Dozens of common HSK 1–4 characters have two or more pronunciations (多音字) that change with meaning or grammar: 长 is cháng for "long" (长城) and zhǎng for "grow / chief" (长大, 校长); 行 is xíng for "walk / OK" (不行) and háng for "bank / line" (银行); 觉 is jué for "feel" (觉得) and jiào for "sleep" (睡觉). Always learn the reading as part of the whole two-character word.
句型Patterns
长: cháng (long) vs zhǎng (grow / head)很长, 长江 (cháng) vs 长大, 校长, 家长 (zhǎng).行: xíng (walk / OK) vs háng (bank / row / profession)旅行, 不行 (xíng) vs 银行, 行业 (háng).觉: jué (feel / sense) vs jiào (sleep)觉得, 感觉 (jué) vs 睡觉, 午觉 (jiào).还: hái (still / also) vs huán (return something)还有, 还是 (hái) vs 还书, 还钱 (huán).得: de (particle) vs dé (obtain) vs děi (must)跑得快, 觉得 (de) vs 得到, 得分 (dé) vs 你得去 (děi).乐: lè (happy) vs yuè (music)快乐, 可乐 (lè) vs 音乐, 乐器 (yuè).重: zhòng (heavy / important) vs chóng (again)重要, 体重 (zhòng) vs 重新, 重复 (chóng).发: fā (send / happen) vs fà (hair)发现, 出发 (fā) vs 头发, 理发 (fà).
例句Examples
- 孩子长得很快，衣服都小了。hái zi cháng de hěn kuài, yī fu dōu xiǎo le.The child is growing fast; the clothes are all too small now.
- 请问，这附近有中国银行吗？qǐng wèn, zhè fù jìn yǒu zhōng guó yín háng ma?Excuse me, is there a Bank of China nearby?
- 我今天得去图书馆把书还了。wǒ jīn tiān de qù tú shū guǎn bǎ shū hái le.I have to go to the library today to return the books.
- 听音乐能让人觉得很快乐。tīng yīn yuè néng ràng rén jué de hěn kuài lè.Listening to music can make people feel very happy.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我去银xíng取钱。
✓我去银行 (yínháng) 取钱。
In 银行 ("bank") and 行业 ("industry"), 行 is always pronounced háng.
-
✗我明天去图书馆hái书。
✓我明天去图书馆还 (huán) 书。
When 还 is a verb meaning "to return / give back", it is pronounced huán.
重点词语Words in this guide
Common questions
Do pinyin keyboards require the exact reading for polyphonic characters?
Yes, when typing a compound word: type yinhang for 银行 and shuijiao for 睡觉. Typing yinxing or shuijue may not show the word you want.