Pinyin tones

regiluvs2read
December 11, 2011, 03:33 AM posted in General Discussion

Hello, can someone explain to me how to input tones when writing pinyin?  When I took the placement test, I missed all the dictation questions because I didn't know to input the tones over the vowels.  Thanks.

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bodawei
December 11, 2011, 03:54 AM

Below the box here you will see a Convert Tone Marks button. When writing pinyin, add the number that corresponds to the number of tone, 1 - 5, then click the button. The numbers disappear and you are left with tone marks. For example, write ma1, ma2, ma3, ma4 and ma5 and you will get:

mā má mǎ mà ma

I can't recall whether this function is available on the Placement Test. From what you say I'm guessing it must be. In dictation if you write the characters, not the pinyin, you avoid this problem.   

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bababardwan

good stuff mate, except it is not necessary to type 5's

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bodawei

Now Baba I am unsure which of us is the biggest pedant - me for telling regiluvs2read to type '5' or you for telling me that 'it is not necessary to type 5's'. I am joking, I win, and you are entirely right.

It wasn't always available, was it? It is a cool system - wish it worked in Word. There is probably an app somewhere that does it.

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markt

I wrote a COM server that converts tone numbers to tone marks. A short macro in Word or Excel assigned to a hotkey makes converting a snap. I can post it if there is interest.

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bababardwan

I fear I'm the biggest [actually I'm not sure I've spotted this in you before and I think I was the first accused of it] particularly if you knew how many I let go through to the keeper, hehe. In my defense in this instance I was trying to save regi the occasional keystroke....something some folk store a lot by it seems, hehe.

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xueny

markt,

If you could post the macro for Word and Excel that would great! Thanks!

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jenny.ca

When I used Windows, I used a program called Pinyinput. In Ubuntu, I just have a keyboard shortcut to switch between Language Inputs.

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bodawei

markt

Sorry I missed your post - I'm sure a lot of people would be interested in your Word/Excel macro that converts numbers to tone marks - for me that would be amazing. I write pretty much every day using the number system, had never thought to research alternatives.

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bodawei

Hi jenny

I'm not clear about what you are saying - do you mean you can write pinyin with tone marks, in Word or Excel? Can you clarify for us? I don't know what Ubuntu is.

Pinyin input (there are many different programs - I don't think I have used Pinyinput) normally refers to the system of writing characters, which of course do not have tone marks.

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hamshank

Hey bodawei

Ubuntu is an open source Linux operating system. A free alternative to windows. It also happens to be one of the most user friendly Linux distributions so beginners can easily get to grips with it.

I am a windows man myself mainly due to some of the programs I need that have no Linux alternative but every few months I seem to go back for a brief affair.

As for PINYIN input, I am lazy and will go with the numbering system if I need to use it when not selecting Hanzi so will not be much help on this thread.

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Texan

I've always used the macro at Pinyin Joe - http://www.pinyinjoe.com/pinyin/pinyin_macro.htm - to get the numbers converted to marks in Word and Excel. :-)

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bodawei

hamshank - thanks for the info. I have never explored Linux, I should, no doubt about it. A semi-retired person has no excuse. :)

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bodawei

And thanks Texan for that tip - I will have to explore that too. It looks very inviting.

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jenny.ca

I'm pretty sure this is the one I used to use: http://pinyinput.sourceforge.net/

I remember it being pretty easy to open up the program and type the numbers, but it's been awhile. For all I know, I might have been using the Pinyin Joe one too, that link looks awfully familiar.

Linux terrified me, until my computer warned me that the hard-drive was failing; and I didn't really want to buy another computer, so I bought another HD, installed Ubuntu, and have been so happy I installed it on two other computers since.

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jennyzhu
December 16, 2011, 05:13 AM

When doing the exercise, please indicate pinyin tones using numbers, e.g. ni3hao3. Neutral tones should be marked "5". You don't need to put the tone mark symbols. 

BTW, the "Convert Tone Marks" function in ChinesePod comments and discussion sections help you put in tone marks. Type in numbers and hit "Convert Tone Marks".