Pronunciation: 闷酒

yuechu

yuechu

Senior Member
Canada
Canadian English
大家好！

I was recently watching a Chinese TV show where a man wants his sister (who he lives with) to get out some 白酒. He is not happy because a neighbour's child just died and he's not happy about the situation of his 3 children either.

As he is drinking, the sister says "你每次都是这样。有什么话你说呀。不要只喝闷酒。"
闷 here means "depressed", right? Should it be pronounced mēnjiǔ or mènjiǔ? The lady seems to say mēnjiǔ yet the dictionary I use says that it should be mènjiǔ. Are both pronunciations possible here?

Thanks!
 
    • yuechu said:
    大家好！

    I was recently watching a Chinese TV show where a man wants his sister (who he lives with) to get out some 白酒. He is not happy because a neighbour's child just died and he's not happy about the situation of his 3 children either.

    As he is drinking, the sister says "你每次都是这样。有什么话你说呀。不要只喝闷酒。"
    闷 here means "depressed", right? Should it be pronounced mēnjiǔ or mènjiǔ? The lady seems to say mēnjiǔ yet the dictionary I use says that it should be mènjiǔ. Are both pronunciations possible here?

    Thanks!
    Click to expand...
    It is possible that some of Mandarin speakers may be influenced by their regional accents and pronounce "闷" with the 1st tone. I'd say that the majority of mainland Chinese are likely to pronounce it with the 4th tone.

    闷 can be pronounced differently depending on its usage. When it means "feeling low or depressed," it is pronounced with the 4th tone. When it refers to "in silence/not speaking," it is pronounced with the 1st tone. "闷" in the context of "喝闷酒" is primarily associated with a emotional state of unhappiness. The fourth tone seem to convey that meaning more effectively.
     
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