Questions about the erhua 儿话！

Questions about the erhua 儿话！
Jul 26, 2011 02:25
JOHNSON8013 Points: Join Date: Jul 21, 2011 Status: offline	I was wondering how common using Erhua (adding 儿 to the endings of certain words) was in Mandarin? Is it solely a Beijing thing or for North Chinese in general? I'm doing my third semester of Chinese study and the answer seems to be a toss up depending on who you ask. We're using Integrated Chinese in my course, and in the book, certain words will be listed as having the option to add 儿 pronunciation, but lately I'm hearing words pronounced with the r sound that aren't listed as having this option in my book. Ex: 公园儿 gōngyuánr, which is listed as just gōngyuán in the text. I enjoy this pronunciation, so I use it whenever possible, but sometimes when I've been talking to a South Chinese or Taiwanese person they will correct a 儿 sound and tell me it's not necessary. Other times, there will be an 儿 listing in the text that my professor will tell us is strange to use, like saying 明儿 instead of 明天. So, what's the deal with 儿？When is it okay to use? Who uses it? Will my Chinese sound more native using this accent?

Jul 26, 2011 02:25

JOHNSON8013
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Join Date: Jul 21, 2011
Status: offline

I was wondering how common using Erhua (adding 儿 to the endings of certain words) was in Mandarin? Is it solely a Beijing thing or for North Chinese in general? I'm doing my third semester of Chinese study and the answer seems to be a toss up depending on who you ask.

We're using Integrated Chinese in my course, and in the book, certain words will be listed as having the option to add 儿 pronunciation, but lately I'm hearing words pronounced with the r sound that aren't listed as having this option in my book. Ex: 公园儿 gōngyuánr, which is listed as just gōngyuán in the text.

I enjoy this pronunciation, so I use it whenever possible, but sometimes when I've been talking to a South Chinese or Taiwanese person they will correct a 儿 sound and tell me it's not necessary. Other times, there will be an 儿 listing in the text that my professor will tell us is strange to use, like saying 明儿 instead of 明天.

So, what's the deal with 儿？When is it okay to use? Who uses it? Will my Chinese sound more native using this accent?

Jul 26, 2011 21:23	#1
LINGYUXISU Points: Join Date: Dec 3, 2010 Status: Offline	I'm not quite clear about the rules behind the using of '儿' either. But One thing is sure that Beijingers use '儿' more often than people in other places of China. Just like '明儿' is acceptable and used a lot by local Beijiners. But it is avoided in the News brodcast, for it is not Standard Chinese.

Aug 13, 2011 17:44

ALEX_XU89
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Join Date: Aug 13, 2011
Status: Offline

I don't think there is a accurate rule in using 儿. Actually, 儿 is commonly used by north Chinese people. And most of the south Chinese people are not accept this rule since they don't have such custom in their daily speaking. So it won't sound more native using this accent for most of Chinese people but maybe for Beijingers. For most situation, you don't need to follow this rule.

The most important thing if you want to speak Chinese more native is improving your tone. As my option, the main reason for people whose Chinese sounds strange is tone since there are no difference in tone in most of other languages.

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