<![CDATA[Mandarin Chinese phonetics consists of initials, finals, and tones. Among these components, tones are considered the most difficult for learners because they distinguish meaning through pitch variations. Of the four Mandarin tones, the third tone is often regarded as the most challenging due to its complex pronunciation and tone sandhi rules. This study analyzes third-tone pronunciation errors among Chinese Language Education students in the 2022 cohort at Tanjungpura University. The research employed a quantitative approach using tests and questionnaires. Test data were analyzed using Praat software to assess pronunciation accuracy, while questionnaires identified factors influencing pronunciation errors. The results show that, out of seven tone combinations, five had error rates above 50%, namely (third tone + third tone) + third tone, third tone + (third tone + third tone), (third tone + third tone), (third tone + second tone), and (third tone + neutral tone). These findings indicate that students have not yet mastered third-tone pronunciation. Furthermore, questionnaire results reveal that the main cause of errors is an insufficient understanding of third-tone sandhi rules. The similarity between the second and third tones also contributes to students’ confusion. These linguistic difficulties are further influenced by first-language interference and a lack of consistent practice in spoken Mandarin. Overall, the findings suggest that students’ difficulties in producing the third tone are related not only to theoretical understanding but also to practical application in communication. Therefore, Mandarin teaching should place greater emphasis on systematic practice of third-tone sandhi rules in communicative contexts. Increasing students’ exposure to spoken Mandarin and providing more pronunciation practice may help improve pronunciation accuracy and overall fluency in Mandarin phonetics.Keywords: Pronunciation, Third tone, Error analysis]]>
