中文
Listening: https://www.chinesepod.com/tools/pronunciation/section/1
Course: Hello Chinese
| Tone | Name | Mark | Pitch Pattern | Example (ma) | Meaning |
|---|
| 1st | High Level | ¯ | ˉ (55) | mā | mother (妈) |
| 2nd | Rising | ˊ | ˊ (35) | má | hemp (麻) |
| 3rd | Falling-Rising | ˇ | ˇ (214) | mǎ | horse (马) |
| 4th | Falling | ˋ | ˋ (51) | mà | scold (骂) |
| 5th | Neutral | (none) | (varies) | ma | question particle (吗) |
| Pinyin | Pronounced Like | Example | Notes |
|---|
| b | "p" in "spin" | | Unaspirated "p" |
| p | "p" in "pin" | | Aspirated p |
| d | "d" in | | |
| t | | | |
| q | "ch" in "cheese" | qī (七) = 7 | Soft and high-pitched |
| x | "sh" in "she" | xiè (谢) = thank | But with the tongue flatter |
| zh | "j" in "judge" | zhōng (中) = middle | Not like "z-h" |
| ch | "ch" in "church" | chī (吃) = eat | Stronger than English "ch" |
| sh | "sh" in "shoe" | shū (书) = book | Tongue curled back |
| r | Like French "j" or "s" in "measure" | rèn (认) = recognize | Not like English "r" |
| z | "ds" in "kids" | zǒu (走) = walk | Unaspirated |
| c | "ts" in "cats" | cài (菜) = dish | Aspirated |
| j | "j" in "jeep" | jī (鸡) = chicken | Softer than English "j" |
| Pinyin | Pronunciation Hint |
|---|
| a | like "father" |
| o | like "or" (but shorter) |
| e | like "duh" (a low back unrounded sound) |
| i | like "ee" in "see" (varies slightly after different initials) |
| u | like "oo" in "boot" |
| ü | like German "ü" or French "u" (round lips, say "ee") |
| Pinyin | English Similar | How to Combine |
|---|
| ai | "eye" (like "my") | Start with "a" (as in father) and slide to "i" (as in machine) |
| ei | "ay" (like "say") | Start with "e" (as in get, but more open), then glide into "i" |
| ao | "ow" (like "cow") | Start with "a" (as in father), round your lips into "o" |
| ou | "oh" (like "go") | Start with a short "o" and glide into "u" (as in who) |
| ia | no exact match | Say "i" (like ee), then move quickly into "a" (like father) |
| ie | "yeah" (almost) | Start with "i", then slide into a soft "e" (like bed) |
| ua | no exact match | Start with "u" (like boot), glide into "a" |
| uo | "woah" (close) | Start with "u" (as in boot), then go into "o" |
| üe | French "huit" | Say "ü" (tight-lipped ee), then glide into "e" (like bed) |
| Pinyin | English Similar | How to Combine |
|---|
| iao | “yaow” (like “meow”) | Say "i" (like ee), then "a", then close quickly with "o" |
| iu (really iou) | “yo” or “you” | Start with "i", then glide into "o", end in "u" — fast and smooth |
| uai | "why" | Start with "u" (as in boot), then into "a", then "i" |
| ui (really uei) | "way" | Start with "u", then "e" (as in bed), glide into "i" |