Guangxi Shane Posted January 31, 2015 at 10:35 PM Report Posted January 31, 2015 at 10:35 PM Both dictionaries I've checked say that the proper pronunciation of 夏威夷 is Xiàwēiyí. After dutifully learning this pronunciation, I was surprised when, a couple of nights ago, I met a native Chinese speaker from Shanghai who insisted 威 should be pronounced with 2nd tone. Which is correct? Quote
Hofmann Posted January 31, 2015 at 10:43 PM Report Posted January 31, 2015 at 10:43 PM Complicated answer: Both. Practical answer: You. Quote
Guangxi Shane Posted February 1, 2015 at 06:10 AM Author Report Posted February 1, 2015 at 06:10 AM So... either first or second tone is correct? Quote
Hofmann Posted February 1, 2015 at 07:20 PM Report Posted February 1, 2015 at 07:20 PM In Standard Mandarin, first tone. Maybe not in whatever variety that native speaker was speaking. Quote
ceciliamiao Posted March 31, 2015 at 03:35 AM Report Posted March 31, 2015 at 03:35 AM Maybe it's his accent. But first tone is definitely the right one. Quote
tooironic Posted April 4, 2015 at 10:55 AM Report Posted April 4, 2015 at 10:55 AM Mainland and Taiwan dictionaries all say Xiàwēiyí. Forvo.com, which has readings of actual native speakers from different regions, also only has xiàwēiyí. See here and here. Your friend is wrong. It happens. Even native speakers pronounce words wrong from time to time. Quote
Guangxi Shane Posted April 7, 2015 at 12:00 PM Author Report Posted April 7, 2015 at 12:00 PM Your friend is wrong. It happens. Even native speakers pronounce words wrong from time to time. Yeah, it happens in English as well. I've known native speakers of English who pronounced "aluminum" as "aluminin." One of our former presidents pronounced "nuclear" as "nucular." It's not surprising that it's the same in China. 1 Quote
lingo-ling Posted April 13, 2015 at 11:13 AM Report Posted April 13, 2015 at 11:13 AM I've only ever heard it pronounced Xiàwēiyí. Quote
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