Answers
Dec 01, 2010 - 10:12 AM
The difference between "dian" and "dianr" is simply one of accent. In fact, they are written the same way when using the Chinese character. Yet, pinyin can reflect pronunciation, which in Beijing emphasizes the R, and outside Beijing tends to be pronounced without the R.
Jan 13, 2016 - 01:25 AM
I also was confused by this at first but then found it was like Yi Wei said above a matter of accent. The regional Beijing accent pronounces yī diǎndiǎn as yī diǎrdiǎr. This can be very confusing. I understand that they are trying to expose us to multiple accents like one would find in China but it is really something that should be explained after the lesson in one of Sonia's grammar videos. You will find the same thing with the phrase "zhè ge" " [this one]. One accent, pronounces it zhay ge (Beijing perhaps) and other areas pronounce it similar to zhuh ge (the way we hear it on all of the earlier lessons).
Apr 26, 2016 - 09:03 PM
Yes, I lived in Shenzhen and heard the "N" as opposed to the "R", but am now moving to Shanghai and wonder which I should force myself to speak! I find myself variating depending on what else is in the sentence. Also I'm curious to know whether Mandarin is gonna cut it with all the Shanghai-ese I keep hearing about. ?
Nov 21, 2016 - 10:36 AM
My fiancé is Chinese and her parents (from and living in Lanzhou) corrected me (they are native Mandarin speakers as is she). The Correct Answer: EE-dee-en, dee-ar!