What’s the Longest 4th-Tone Sentence?

|Chinese39 Comments

[Updated Rules 2011/04/30]

In Mandarin Chinese, some tones are more common than others; the 4th tone is the most common. The fourth tone is interesting: it’s sharp and abrupt, which makes it sound angry–almost like the person saying it is yelling. It can be fun to say, too. Words with more than one 4th tone are even more fun to say. Following that logic, sentences with lots of 4th-tones should be even more fun to say. It’s even possible to have sentences where every character’s tone is the 4th tone. What’s the longest 4th-tone only sentence you’ve seen? Can you make one longer than mine?

Introduction

A few weeks ago, I wrote about what the most common bi-syllable tone in Chinese was. 4th-tone/4th-tone was the most common combination. While crunching the numbers for that post, I looked at a list of common terms with that combination. Looking at the list reminded me of the first time I ever looked at Jun Da’s frequency list. Jun Da’s list has an interesting property: you can easily create sentences by reading down the list. I started trying the same thing for the list of 4-4 tone words. It wasn’t easy at first, but after a couple rounds with my fiance, we quickly had turned it into a game.

Rules

  • your sentence should make sense
  • single-4th-tone: 2 points (e.g. 做[zuo4: do]、是[shi4: is, be]、去[qu4: go])
  • double-4th tones: 5 points (e.g. 睡觉[shui4jiao4: sleep]、电视[dian4shi4: television]、但是[dan4shi4: but]）
  • triple-4th tones: 7 points (e.g. 数据库[shu4ju4ku: database])
  • quad-4th-tones: 9 points (e.g.气候变化[qi4hou4bian4hua4: climate change]社会主义[she4hui4zhu4yi4: socialism]）
  • 的、了: -3 points
  • punctuation:  -8 points (e.g. 、，：；…  etc. Excludes ！。？)
  • no quotes
  • must be spoken only, i.e. 不 can’t be used because of tone sandhi (unless you somehow put it at the end of the sentence).
  • No recursive phrases allowed, e.g. “xx下面的下面的下面的下面的……”

Beat My Sentence

Can you beat my sentence? If you need help, you might want to check out these lists of 4th tone only words (4th tone, 4/4 tone, 4/4/4 tone, 4/4/4/4 tone)

现在动物世界注意睡觉、锻炼、运动的重要作用。(9×5 – 8×2 – 3 = 26 points)

Got a good sentence: let me know in the comments or your sentence to the world


39 Responses to What’s the Longest 4th-Tone Sentence?

  • Quinten

    Here’s one that I just thought of:

    澳大利亞的意大利面的质量是个世界记录，但是按照字面意義，意大利面是在意大利制造的。
    Aòdàlìyà de Yìdàlìmiàn de zhìliàng shì gè shìjiè jìlù, dànshì ànzhào zìmiàn yìyì, Yìdàlìmiàn shì zài Yìdàlì zhìzào de.
    Which is supposed to mean “This the quality of Australia’s spaghetti is a world record, but according to the literal meaning, spaghetti (Italian noodles) are made in Italy.”
    54 points = 8 + -3 + 8 + -3 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 5 + 5 + -8 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + -8 + 8 + 2 + 2 + 7 + 5 + -3.

    But the exact score depends on how you count, and there are definitely longer sentences.

    Most 4-character groups are compounds made up of 2 characters; some useful 2 character groups:
    世界 各地 最大 政策 按照 字面 意義 教育 質量 教育 電視 電話 會議 計劃

    There are also a few chengyu: 對號入座, 自作自受

    P.S.
    The 主 of 社会主义 is third tone.

    • Steven Daniels

      I like the last part a lot. You actually left a few points on the table.
      意大利面就是意大利制造的面。

      I don’t think 质量 goes with 记录。

      • michael

        You are right.

  • daofeishi

    Posted this one on Chinese-forums:

    四位澳大利亚会计报道，据业内数据，瑞士社会现在面对巨大技术困境，势必被迫雇印度教授创造政策促進教育制度现代化。

    That should be 4*2 + 18*5 + 1*7 + 2*8 – 3*8 = 97 points.

    • Steven Daniels

      Pretty sweet sentence. I’m pretty sure it starts falling apart during the last part:
      势必被迫雇印度教授创造政策促進教育制度现代化

      创造现代化 –> This doesn’t make sense. Also the phrase seems to have one too many 主语

      • daofeishi

        No, it does not fall apart. 创造政策促進教育制度现代化 – create policies to promote the modernization of the education system.

    • passer_by

      really nice work!

    • Igotit

      “…势必要被迫雇用印度教授去创造…”, three more 4th tone chars: “要” “用” “去”

    • jeuxee

      LOL 笑抽了

      • Chao Qin

        真无聊。。。 连印度教授都搞出来了。 关键是看谁的4音的词语多。。。

  • seraph

    Well, most of these sentences make no sense for native chinese speaker and…”的” in “现在动物世界注意睡觉、锻炼、运动的重要作用” is the fifth tone.
    Just like other languages, in order to make sentence speakable, some of the characters in a sentence with all its characters are 4th tone would be tuned. The tone-tuning is more pronounced in some chinese dialects, in Mandarin Chinese, it’s not so obvious, but still exists.
    Bottom line, the sentences you guys present here don’t sound like you want to. Sorry for spoiling the fun~

    • Steven Daniels

      @seraph: True, 的 is the fifth tone, but it’s allowable by the rules.

      Do you have a sentence to add? it doesn’t have to be long.

  • zz

    As a stupid native speaker of Chinese, I have to show my respect to all of you guys…

  • up

    daofeishi 还是你厉害，绞尽脑汁还是没想出来一个长句。

    • Steven Daniels

      I agree, it is really hard to come up with good sentences. I’ve spent way more time than I’d like to admit!

  • Yue Liu

    如果规则不限制无限递归的话就没法比了吧，像是“xx下面的下面的下面的下面的……”。
    [If the rules don't restrict recursion, then there's no way to compare, e.g.“xx下面的下面的下面的下面的……”]

  • Steven Daniels

    下面是饭店让丽丽记住的事情：
    要是顾客是个意大利的顾客，丽丽就要订印度菜，但是要是顾客是个印度的，丽丽会订意大利面，但要是是个澳大利亚的顾客，丽丽该订澳大利亚菜。
    18+15+10+13+10+14+20 = 100 points!

    It pushes the boundaries of repetitiveness, though.
    Only 82 points if you count the first part as a separate sentence.

  • up

    二位教授批判澳大利亚教育政策，认定校内试卷测验太费力，最重要就是在校掌握做意大利菜技术，邓教授意见却是，印度菜是澳大利亚大众最爱，印度菜用蒜、酱、醋，邓教授最爱印度菜。

  • qaz

    guys,look at this one:
    路透社六月二号报道: 叙利亚社会陷入动荡状态，据内部透露：上将命令四万部队秘密进入阵地大会战，重炮立即速射，透过夜视设备目测看到：对面阵地大片绿色，确定炸掉炸弹制造设备，对面愤怒抗议：靠！太龌蹉！定位太差，动用战列舰舰炮，战斗继续！不会放弃！

    it’s from here:
    http://www.newsmth.net/bbscon.php?bid=63&id=2721101&ftype=11

    • peng

      立即 li4ji2
      不会：must be spoken only, i.e. 不 can’t be used because of tone sandhi (unless you somehow put it at the end of the sentence).

    • 南

      不bu2会hui4

      “不会放弃”替换成“不能放弃”这个句子就都是4声了。

      【不、不能、不懂、不说、不理、不可能、不吃、不给……】“不”都是4声,
      【不会、不要、不算、不看、不就、不够、不下(100人)……】“不”都是2声。

      另外“龌蹉”错了,是“龌龊”。^^

      • 南

        我也错了,不能也不行。

  • up

    小资料：
    二四六个万亿那就是在这上要不地最用认列字大占汉象立日月木兔目玉面气汽正肉笑任代变适应特又秀丽意义握自绣富阔傲物候类热越肆夜陆布绿岸翠茂沃跃际兽叫壮畜圈旺牧业燥烫漠旱骆世界乐爱到处色下烈禁画栋故寺庙观释幻梦岳愤悼去病逝墓赵县卧映怒俊渗赤壁触境塞瀑峪纳串寨域藏躁定静焰照泰各太献亚镜碧素巨够密库暮道怪异洞废灭蜡戒益历灿烂帝舜继晋宋建毙乱丧陷害奉间趁便惑视线隶性怕硬榨祸吓秩混贿赂勒贱犬倒逆更横讯罪状辟狱造蔑诱供惯计未负叛脉贯续辈谓问辨细爸父舅弟妹育费力第孝顺妇分盾策恋忆互励翼社会似必健净秽话润志悦畅困欠债坏见恶让巷岔跪或撞辆数趟饲喂哨送赴屑档矿罢号碌匠论悟进向技尽律竞纪甚路受惠奋斗莫忘谢怨辩旷荡右误绩勿作耐谅誉众靠共耗剩信创善纵遇示厚错隙报辱记挣赚付税季誓愿愧怠慢劣货骗借被速戴帽顿站序带队迅对帜傅肃唱致训练确动再闹命令绪魄顾锻炼赛事冠咐惕惰克虑姓快驾望验毅智慧告诉但按判径入馆缎绢浪杠吊闭控劲碳住射箭蹦跳棍弹撤迈跨避碰悄晃救退却钓递扇震叙念沸助战柜赠件袜塑幸浴室泡沫浸漫皂液拌市假镇弄户少驻校配套凳菜饭座炕购钥寄票券币蓄贷扛帐慰劝刺斥骂歉散步闷转遍过颂洽伴奏译贝把赋浩瀚孟阅诵艺殿趣扩减贸份售践贩卖测价副页订册注铸荐捺竖电绘像录键固段试卷至重胜算淡墨愈授课猎鉴度概括料例证据倡恨盗窃制议办外厉护仗势霸络内政迫炮舰济治派犯耀冒毕露妄诞胀畏惧败现拜构难较量拒尚唤帅率兆著御将待旦锐部务稼岁末嫁系寿庆贺具设宴客盼获赞预备睡葬饰羡慕店透况艳厕另样瓣扮次看瑞窜颤凑掉挂棒桂彻倍汇丈句覆框届放聚哗圣调位干侍幕后橡絮袋锈式役杏酱醋蒜胃肺脆辣蛋恰案捏做罩灶卸缸罐剑利刃锯馅架炭味贵戏剧韵绕宪换切忌限探皱醉厌盛易范幼貌俱佩项链敬辫衬半剃既介绍眷砌障碍筑瘦胖迹暗傍蔽矮弃扣秘裤略破袖断柱抱坐轿距近挎逗渐倦饿竟效怖寇械士笨宙爆炸沌化奥妙默酿昼替冻叹酷夏暴骤降坝泄泛滥抗涝渡慎暂漏振翅雀雁阵燕落泪杜印宿凤盖嫩茎附僻亮种豆灌溉粪尿臭晒背麦穗舍粒患孕块垫碎药剂捡寸卫片疫摄滤泻嗽痛雾鹿叶拓赖喷器咽裂症弊肾裕郑

    • Steven Daniels

      Thanks. There’s also a list of words using 4th tones at near the bottom of the post.

  • Frenky

    話說平時說話還真不怎麼注意聲調的問題……
    Tones seems not important in daily conversation..

    • Steven Daniels

      I agree with your statement in Chinese, and I completely disagree with your English statement.

      Native Chinese speakers don’t really pay attention to their tones when speaking in daily conversation. The tones have already been ingrained into their speech patterns. Unfortunately for those of us learning Chinese, it takes a long time for this to be true (and most people never get to this level). Saying “tones aren’t that important” is one of the biggest mistakes a Chinese learner could make.

  • Bonnie

    看到you guys為這個事費神在下甚是快慰

    kan4dao4 you guys wei4 zhe4 ge4 shi4 fei4 shen4 zai4 xia4 shen4 shi4 kuai4 wei4

  • jacob

    上个月爸爸在看动物世界，画面播放大象在自慰，刹那间，乐乐（四岁大）跳进来，看到这个场面，大叫——”看！荡象！“——爸爸大愕。

    • Bonnie

      你這個不成立：

      播放 bo1 fang4

    • jacob

      更正一下：
      上个月爸爸在看动物世界，画面放映大象在自慰，刹那间，乐乐（四岁大）跳进去，看到那个场面，大叫——”看！荡象！“——爸爸大愕。

      shanggeyue baba zai kan dongwushijie, huamian fangying daxiang zai ziwei, shanajian, lele (sisui da) tiaojinqu, kandao nage changmian, dajiao — kan! dang xiang! baba da’e.

      • Bonnie

        我這個絕對比你長：

        靠！！二貨！！！看劍！！！哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿哼哼哈嘿！！！

        Reference：

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HsoqeWyQ_A

        • Bonnie

          是：哼哼哈兮 heng4 heng4 ha4 hi4

  • hujd

    really really Awsome.
    some nlp tools will get us a lot of interesting sentences like this.

  • 飘零叶

    你们真蛋疼！！！真的！！！

  • Shu

    “圣上驾到。”
    “贱婢叩见陛下，万岁万岁万万岁。”
    “朕要泄欲，速速褪去内裤。”
    “贱婢近日不净，陛下要干必须戴套。”
    “放肆！朕最痛恨避孕套，朕要内射，内射！！！快，睡下，让朕看看下面。”
    。
    。
    。
    （圣上在日，太监退下）
    。
    。
    。
    “啊，啊啊啊~~~操，又是太快。”
    “不不，陛下技术最赞，样貌特帅，干事带劲又畅快，贱婢大爱。”
    “去去去，就会放屁。快退下，朕要睡觉。”
    “那，贱婢告退。”

    • farter

      赢了……彻底赢了

  • Joshua

    How come you can say 的? Isn’t that toneless?
    Anyway, here’s my shot:
    正式和重要次序確定地是具大量意義，但是就算這樣次序是具大量意義卻會創造惡性錯誤態樣。
    By the way, the 和 in this sentence would be pronounced han4 in Taiwan.

  • liu zheng

    Hi Steven,

    I’m a reporter from Beijingnews（新京报）,I want to write a story about the heavenly hilarious “What’s the Longest 4th-Tone Sentence?”, and thus the stories about how foreigners learn Chinese. So I want to have a interview with you, questions as below:
    1 How long have you learn Chinese? What’s your motive to learn it?
    2 What do you think is the biggist difficulty in the learning of Chinese? Why do you so emphasize on the four tones?
    2 Have you been in China? Is your job related to Chinese language?
    3 Have you some friends who learn Chinese? What jobs are they doing?

    Please write you answers to my email: [Editor: Removed for privacy]

    Thank you very much!

    Yours
    Liu Zheng