Two other readings split off into compound-only territory. Capitalized
哈 is the proper-noun reading used as an abbreviation in country and city names —
哈萨克斯坦 (Kazakhstan) and
哈尔滨 (Harbin); same syllable, just flagged as a name. Third-tone hǎ appears almost exclusively in
哈巴狗 (pug / pekingese; figuratively a sycophant) and in dialect speech meaning to scold. For everything else — laughter, transliterations like Harvard / Harry / Manhattan / Häagen-Dazs, husky dogs, and
哈欠 (yawn) — use first-tone hā.
