Pronunciation of 因为

[Apollys]

At first I thought it was only correct to pronounce 因为 as 1-4, then I heard it pronounced 1-2.  Are they both correct?

[stapler]

In terms of what Chinese speakers themselves use, yes, both are correct. In terms of what is "official", only 1-4 is correct. I'd recommend only using 1-4 but be aware that some Chinese speakers will use 1-2.

 

Many Chinese themselves are confused about this. Just go google 因为的为是第几声 and you'll see it's a common question.

 

 

[Apollys]

You're quite knowledgeable for a stapler.

[dwq]

 

Quoting from one of the "因为的为是第几声" results:

 

Quote

 

我们看看《现代汉语词典》就明白了。

 

【因为】yīn·wèi

那么中间的“·”又是干什么的呢？看看词典前面的<凡例>就明白了。

 

“<凡例>三、11.一般轻读、间或重读的字，注音上标调号，注音前再加圆点，如【因为】注作yīn·wèi，表示‘为’字一般轻读，有时也可以读去声”。

 

看了就明白了，“因为”的“为”标第四声，主要读轻声，有时读第四声。

 

 

 

 

现代汉语词典 does indeed say that.  So both 1-5 and 1-4 are "officially" correct.

 

[Publius]

To add to the confusion, I think I've heard it realized as 1-1 in "因为所以，科学道理" (children's limerick, sometimes used as a retort to a question of why: Why? Because reasons. Because science.)

[Shelley]

6 hours ago, Apollys said:

You're quite knowledgeable for a stapler.

Haha made my morning, laughing out loud over my breakfast tea.

Thanks.

[nicklinjm]

Just to chip in my .02, can't speak for other parts of China but here in Shanghai I would say the Yin1wei2 pronunciation is very common, if not in the majority.