Understand Mandarin Accents | Beijing Accent

In this video, you'll learn 5 characteristics of the Beijing Mandarin Accent. With so many Chinese speakers worldwide, it's no surprise we encounter a variety of accents. If you're looking to communicate more smoothly in Chinese, understanding and adapting to these varying Mandarin accents is a must. Let's get started!

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(Traditional and Simplified characters included)

(Traditional and Simplified characters included)

(Traditional and Simplified characters included)

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[lotodaily]

I'm from Beijing, and I can confirm these differences mentioned are mostly not exclusive to Beijing accent but more like northern accent. And I agree that Beijing has them all and it is indeed more common for us to talk like that than other places. One more thing to note is that fewer and fewer beijingers are really talking in Beijing accent or with Beijing dialect... There are so many interesting sayings that is not mentioned here, I guess it's because ppl stopped speaking like that

[GraceMandarinChinese]

This video was inspired by one of your comments on my previous video, where I talked about the Cantonese accent in Mandarin. I really appreciate all your suggestions and feedback—thank you so much! 💛 I'd love to hear which accent you'd like me to analyze next! Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments below! 😉

[rasa]

I like how you show video clips so we can listen for the expressions you mention. It's particularly useful how you talk about reduced sounds and shortening, because those things are hard to understand when there seem to be syllables missing.

[Antares]

I really like when you use examples from movies/tv shows. It really helps to hear it with different voices and in different circumstances.

[LZ]

Wow! As an ABC who grew up speaking 北京话 at home, and learned 普通话 at an international school in Shanghai, I don’t think I’ve ever seen/heard such a good and short explanation of the differences before! I think the extensive erhua is the most obvious identifier, but I’m glad you pointed out the w before e and a sounding like a v. Because I’ve hardly spoken to any Beijingers or northerners for years I feel like I’ve naturally softened the Beijing influences in my Mandarin, but somehow I always do the first thing you talked about. Saying Zhongwen instead of Zhongven or Taiwan instead of Taivan just feels unnatural to me 😅

[imwcbnv]

Thank you for theorizing the Beijing local accent from a formal linguistic perspective. I lived in Beijing until 24 years old. For forty years primarily speaking in English, I can still engage in a smooth conversation in the pure Beijing local dialect provided my interlocutor responds to me with the same.

[ABChinese]

I was always confused by the "v" sound! Because I didn't know any Beijing people in real life but I hear it in dramas all the time. Also didn't know that "zhei ge/nei ge" are a contraction of "zhe yi ge" and "na yi ge" 😛So cool!

[ReignFrostedHeavens]

My husband is from Tianjin, only 30 minutes from Beijing, there is such a distinct difference between the Beijing accent vs. Tianjin accent. It's really so interesting to hear the linguistics and how they are so different. Beijing seems to be much more of a short cut when talking. Thank you for sharing!

[quaetaru]

I really enjoy watching these types of videos, specifically the ones that delve into accents and include real-life examples to illustrate the explanations. Another fantastic video, as usual!

[georgeherzog]

Beijing accent certainly helps with listening to movies and mass media as it likely has the largest portion of Mandarin speakers, so It's worth knowing.

But I began learning in Kaohsiung from tapes back in 1994 and actually using a Beijing accent generally ended conversations.

I have had to pick up a Kaohsiung accent by ear.

Now people won't stop talking to me.

In sum, if you want friendly conversations - adapt to where you are.

[gobystalker]

I married a Chinese woman from Guangdong. I started trying to learn Mandarin and discovered I could distinguish her northern Chinese friends by the erhua sounds. Thanks for explaining it. What really became confusing was that she goes between 3 languages. Leizhouhua, Cantonese and Mandarin! The secret was first language was with family, Cantonese with Guangdong people not from her home, and mandarin with those from outside Guangdong!

[kevinhu]

While growing up as an ABC child of one parent from Taiwan, the other from Beijing, I was always being told by my Beijing extended relatives that my speech sounded Taiwanese. But even in my studies, no one has addressed the basic patterns and tendencies of northern versus southern Chinese accents in as detailed and helpful of a way as you have. So much fun! 🙏多谢多谢多谢！

[tcwyman]

Grace, this is another excellent video. You've done an excellent job explaining some things I have HEARD in my lessons, but could only surmise was accent or regional differences. Your "J Q X" vs. "Z C S" example - I have heard it, you explained it wonderfully! Ditto for "na ge" vs. "nei ge" - sounds like an American "long a".

Your examples of the reductions were excellent too, and I agree that it is vital for good comprehension of everyday speech. Your English is quite good, but depending on how much exposure to everyday English you've had, you might not be familiar with some of ours. I'll give a few examples:

"Wontcha gimme a bite?" = "won't you give me a bite?"
"Dontcha wanna lemme go?" = "don't you want to let me go?"
"We're gonna win" = "we're going to win"

And here is a PERSONAL "reduction" story which you'll NEVER guess the answer. It is from 42 years ago when I was an exchange student in Sweden. Shortly after arriving, my host parents kept asking me what "unka" meant. I had no idea what they meant, and the mystery went on for about 2-3 days. Finally my host mother caught me on the spot and said "There, you just said it!" I laughed so hard, "Unka" was a very fast, mumbled "OK" (okay), in response to something she had said.

Thanks, and take care! -Tim

[KelvinSG]

I've heard most of these examples whilst watching films growing up but watching you break it down so clearly just blows my mind. Helps me to appreciate the differences and nuances more. Well done.

[yxjl]

this is so informative!

A little addition about the erhua (rhotacisation) section 7:34 : the n ending is often dropped when pronouncing erhua and the ng is nasalised (akin to Hokkien’s nasalisation). So 聊天 liáotiān becomes liáotiār instead of liáotiānr and 景jǐng becomes jǐⁿr instead of jǐnger (even though the official pinyin guide prescribes that it be written with the n and ng still intact).

[gojimoji]

Just came upon your videos, your use of examples through movies & tv shows is really smart & gives excellent context to your talking points.
Keep up the good work

[der_Kirschbaum]

I just took HSK and this is how it sounded like in the listening part. It’s a bit difficult to me cuz all my teachers and friends are from the south, but in the end, it’s still the same language. You just need to pay more attention and it will get easier.

[gabrielalima]

I'd love to see a video about the Mandarin accent from Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia), if there are many differences between each country's etc

[hulidong]

1:51 i've been trying to learn mandarin because of Yang Mi so seeing this particular clip here made me happy 😆

[breadman]

so cool.. I really like the use of the film footage.. I didn’t realize the neutralization of 2nd tone before but now that I think of it — I can remember the difference