How to pronounce 你好吗？ (nǐ hǎo ma?)

Third tone sandhi: why 你好 sounds like ní hǎo

Understand the most common third-tone sandhi pattern, where the first of two third tones changes before the second.

你很好。 (nǐ hěn hǎo.)

The first two syllables both surface higher because each leads into another third-tone environment.

你好。 (nǐ hǎo.)

Practice 你好。 (nǐ hǎo.) as one phrase so the third-tone sandhi happens smoothly in connected speech.

很好吃。 (hěn hǎo chī.)

Practice 很好吃。 (hěn hǎo chī.) as one phrase so the third-tone sandhi happens smoothly in connected speech.

雨伞 (yǔ sǎn)

Keep yǔ rounded and forward, then let the first third tone rise into the next syllable.

你好 (nǐ hǎo)

Treat the first syllable as a light rise so the phrase flows naturally into hǎo.

水果 (shuǐ guǒ)

Let shuǐ rise into guǒ instead of dipping fully on both syllables.