Obs. i. In the example standing last but two, if 經 is accented, it preserves its proper character, but if, as is often the case, 三 is accented, 經 becomes even and falls in pitch.
Obs. ii. The accent often varies between the first and the last syllable. In regard to position, it is the latter that should receive it. But in reference to tone, that now under illustration admitting emphasis freely, overbears the accent of position.
17. Examples of upper first tone standing last in a combination of two or three.
| Tones. | Accent. | ||
| p.p. | 當心 | tong sing, take care, | pen. |
| 燒香 | sau h’iáng, burn incense, | ult. | |
| s.p. | 祖宗 | tsú tsóng, ancestors, | pen. |
| 頂多 | ting tú, greatest number of, | „ | |
| 講書 | kong sû, explain books, | „ | |
| 水晶 | sz tsing, rock crystal, | ult. | |
| k.p. | 貴庚 | kwé káng, your honourable age? | „ |
| 放心 | fong sing, be content, | „ | |
| j.p. | 插花 | ts’ah hwó, insert flowers, | „ |
| 忒多 | t’uk tú, too many, | „ | |
| p.p. | 明朝 | ming tsau, to-morrow, | pen. |
| 良心 | liáng sing, good heart, conscience, | „ | |
| k.p.p. | 啥晨光 | sá zun-kwong, what time, | ant. |
| s.p. | 母親 | mú ts’ing, mother, | ult. |
| 老兄 | lau hiúng, venerated brother, | „ | |
| k.p. | 地方 | tí fong, a place, | „ |
| 念經 | nian kiung, chant sacred books, | „ | |
| j.p. | 逆風 | niuh fóng, contrary wind, | „ |
Obs. In the groups p.p., s.p., and p.p. in this table, the tone of the last word falls and becomes even. In such cases, the initial consonants remain unaffected. Thus, 工夫 kúng fú cannot become kúng vú, though, fú falls in key. The same change may sometimes be observed after the third and fourth tones.
18. Examples of this tone, as the second in a group, of three.
| Tones. | Accent. | ||
| s.p.k. | 小生意 | siau sáng-í, small retail trade, | pen. |
| k.p.p. | 雇工人 | kú-kóng niun, workman, | „ |
| j.p.k. | 束腰帶 | sóh-yan tá, waist-band, | „ |
| p.p.k. | 文昌殿 | vun-ts’áng díen, temple of the patron of Literature, | „ |
| s.p.p. | 軟心腸 | niön sing-dzáng, merciful heart, | ult. |
| k.p.j. | 大英國 | ta-yung kóh, England, | ant. |
| j.p.p. | 讀書人 | tók-sû niun, educated man, | ult. |
Obs. i. There is a secondary accent on some other syllable in groups of three, which sometimes predominates over the other. We have not attempted to record more than one. E.g. 讀 the antepenultimate of the last example is often heard with a decided accent.
Obs. ii. An inspection of these tables will shew that the first tone attracts the accent to itself in many instances, and that through rapidity of pronunciation, or from the accent being placed on the word before, it tends to fall in key and become even.
Obs. iii. In regard to position the accent prefers the last syllable.