Learn pinyin the funny way!
Pinyin in 6 minutes
Initials
b p m
f d t
n l
g k
h
j q x
zh ch sh r
z c s
An
initials is the first consonant of a syllable.
Each initial
represent one sound.
Some initials are represented by
two-letters, e.g., ‘zh’ ‘ch’ and ‘sh’.
Most sounds are
similar to English sounds, but not exactly identical. For
example, the sound ‘b’ in Chinese is not voiced. It is a
voiceless sound as ‘p’ in English word ‘speak’. The sound ‘p’ is
an aspirated voiceless sound as ‘p’ in English word ‘peak’.
Please pay close attention to each sound when you learn. The
following sounds need more attention:
j a consonant, as
'j' in ‘jeep’ but not aspirated
q a consonant, as 'ch' in
‘cheek’
x a consonant, as 'sh' in ‘she’
zh a consonant, as
'j' in ‘jump’ with retroflexed tongue
ch a consomant, as 'ch'
in ‘church’, strongly aspirated and retroflexed
sh a
consonant, as 'sh' in ‘shore’, retroflexed
z a consonant, as
'ts' but not aspirated
c a consonant, as 'ts' in ‘bats’,
strongly aspirated
The Finals :
| |
i |
u |
ü |
| a |
ia |
ua |
|
| o |
|
uo |
|
| e |
ie |
|
üe |
| ai |
|
uai |
|
| ei |
|
uei |
|
| ao |
ia |
|
|
| ou |
iou |
|
|
| an |
ian |
uan |
üan |
| en |
in |
uen |
ün |
| ang |
iang |
uang |
|
| eng |
ing |
ueng |
|
| ong |
iong |
|
|
Finals are all sounds after initials.
Some finals
are single vowel, e.g., ‘a’ ‘o’ ‘e’ ‘i’ ‘u’ and ‘ü’.
Some
finals are compounds, e.g., ‘ai’ ‘ei’ ‘ao’ and ‘ou’.
Some
finals end with ‘n’ or ‘ng’, e.g., ‘in’ ‘en’ ‘ang’ and ‘iong’.
The pronunciation of vowels is similar to English or
some European languages. But the vowel ‘e’ needs special
attention. It is pronounced as 'ir' in ‘shirt’, or 'ur' in
'turn' without ‘r’ sound, not English 'e' [i:]
You don't
have to learn these individual sounds now.
Listen to
recording or your instructor carefully and pay close attention
to these sounds.
Sounds are best learned in a connected
speech.
|
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