儿化 · -r
儿 adds an r to the syllable before it; it is not a new syllable
Structure
syllable + 儿 → -r
What it means
儿 at the end of a word adds an r sound to the syllable before it. It does not make a new syllable.
How it is built
Syllable + 儿 → -r: 哪儿 nǎr (where?), 这儿 zhèr (here). A final n drops before the r: 一点儿 sounds like yì diǎr. 他是哪儿人？ (Where is he from?)
When to use it
Curl the tongue back as you finish the syllable. It is very common in Beijing and the north; in the south many people drop it and say 哪里, 这里.
Watch out
✗ nǎ-ér (two syllables) ✓ nǎr (one). Watch the tone too: 哪儿 nǎr (3rd tone) asks “where?”, but 那儿 nàr (4th tone) means “there”.
Examples
他是哪儿人？
Where is he from? (nǎr)
这儿是北京。
This is Beijing. (zhèr)
我没事儿。
I’m fine. (shìr)
Learn this in 启蒙 · Lesson 3: 对不起 (Tones that change)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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