Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com All about Chinese pinyin The script of the Chinese language is Chinese characters. Chinese characters are used both in reading and writing. Chinese Pinyin is a set of phonetic symbols adopted several decades ago for indicating the pronunciation of Chinese characters. A syllable in Chinese usually consists of three parts: and initial, a final and a tone. For instance, in the syllable mā 妈 (as in “mom”), m is the initial, ɑ is the final and “-” over the final is the tone. Chinese Phonetic System (Chinese Pinyin System) includes a set of phonetic letters and relevant spelling rules which are adopted for standard Mandarin Chinese.In Chinese Pinyin, there are altogether 21 initials: 21 intials Initial Example Translation b bà 爸 dad like "b" in "bed" p pǎo 跑 run like "p" in "peach" m méi 没 not like "m" in "meat" f fēi 飞 like "f" in "foot" Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com fly d děi 得 should like "d" in "day" t tānɡ 汤 soup like "t" in "tea" n nán 难 difficult like "n" in "need" l lèi 累 tired like "l" in "leaf" g ɡāo 高 high like "g" in "get" k kāi 开 open like "k" in "kill" h hēi 黑 black like "h" in "hen" j jī 鸡 chicken close to "j" in "jeep"(without protruding the lips) Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com q qù 去 go close to "ch" in "cheap"(without protruding the lips) x xī 西 west close to "sh" in "shirt" zh zhù 住 live like "dr" in "drink" ch chá 茶 tea like "ch" in "match" sh shū 书 book close to "sh" in "shy" r rén 人 person close to "r" in "roll" z zì 字 character like "ds" in "words" c cū 粗 thick like "ts" in "rats" s sān 三 like "s" in "Sunday" Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com three 7 Simple Vowel Finals Vowel Example Translation ɑ tā 他 he like "a" in "father" e chē 车 car like "ir" in "dirty" i lǐ 里 inside like "i" in "in" o wǒ 我 I like "o" in "or" u cū 粗 thick like "u" in "blue" ü qù 去 go no equivalent in English.like "u" in "lune"(French pronunciation) er ěr 耳 ear no equivalent in English Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com 13 Complex Vowel Finals Vowel Example Translation ɑi kāi 开 open like "y" in "by" ɑo pǎo 跑 run like "ow" in "cow" ei fēi 飞 fly like "ei" in "eight" iɑ yā 鸭 jiā 家 duck home like "yar" in "yard" ie yě 也 xiè 谢 also thank like "ye" in "yes" iou yōu 优 qiú 球 excellent ball like "you" iɑo yào 要 piào 票 want ticket like "i" in "in" plus "ow" in "cow" Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com ou tóu 头 head like "oa" in "coat" uɑ wā 蛙 huā 花 frog flower like "wa" in "waft" uei wèi 卫 tuī 推 defend push like "way" uo wǒ 我 duō 多 I many like "war" uɑi wāi 歪 kuài 快 slanting fast like "why" üe yuē 约 xué 学 about learn no equivalent in English, like "u" in "lune"(French pronunciation) plus "e" in "pet" 16 Nasal Finals Vowel Example Translation ɑn kàn 看 look like "an" in "land" ɑng tānɡ汤 soup no equivalent in English, like "an" in "ancient"(French pronunciation) Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com en rén 人 person like "en" in "stolen" eng lěnɡ 冷 cold like "en" in "stolen" plus "ng" in "long" ong dōnɡ 东 east like "or" in "worn" plus "ng" in "long" in yīn 因 xīn 新 because new like "in" ing yīnɡ 英 xínɡ 行 hero OK like "ing" in "spring" iɑn yān 烟 tiān 天 smoke day like "yen" iɑng yānɡ 央 xiǎnɡ 想 center think like "young" iong yǒnɡ 勇 xiónɡ 熊 brave bear like "i" in "bin" plus "ong" in "long" uɑn wān 弯 ɡuān 关 like "wan" in "swan" Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com bend close uɑng wánɡ 王 huánɡ 黄 king yellow no equivalent in English, like "u" in "flute" plus "an" in "ancient"(French pronunciation) uen wēn 温 cún 存 warm deposit like "u" in "flute" plus "en" in "stolen" ueng wēnɡ 嗡 buzz like "u" in "flute" plus "ng" in "long" üɑn yuǎn 远 xuán 玄 far profound no equivalent in English, like "u" in "lune"(French pronunciation) plus "an" in "land" ün yún 云 qún 裙 cloud skirt no equivalent in English, like "u" in "lune"(French pronunciation) plus "n" in "stolen" 汉语有 4 种基本声调 名称 第一声 第二声 第三声 第四声 形式 “—” “/ ” “v ” “ \ ” 举例 mā 妈 xínɡ 行 yuǎn 远 piào 票 4 Tones Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com Name 1st Tone 2ed Tone 3rd Tone 4th Tone Form “—” “/ ” “v ” “ \ ” Example mom OK far ticket A tonemark should be placed over the main vowel. When the vowel i is marked with a tonemark, the dot over it should be omitted. Finals beginning with Finals beginning with i , u , or ü ① When finals beginning with i or ü have no initials preceding them, the quasi-initial y should be added; or i or u should be changed into y and the dots of ü should be omitted. For example, yīn 因 (because), yī 衣 (cloths), yū n 晕 (dizzy) and yú 鱼 (fish). ② When finals beginning with u have no initials preceding them, the quasi-initial w should be added or u should be changed into w . For example, wàn 万 (ten thousand) and wū 乌 (dark). ③ When the initials j , q or x precede a final beginning with ü , the two dots of ü should be omitted. For example, jù 句 (sentence), qù 去 (go), and xù 叙 (narrate). Tone changes: ① When a 3rd tone is followed by another 3rd tone, the first 3rd tone should be pronounced as a 2nd tone. For example, nǐhǎo 你好 (hello) is pronounced as níhǎo Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com Learn to speak Chinese like a native speaker by Mr.Peng http://www.tprsc.com ② When bù 不 (not) and yī 一 (one) are followed by other characters with a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd tone, 一 should be pronounced as a 4th tone; when preceding characters with a 4th tone, 不 and 一 should be pronounced as a 2nd tone. For example, bùkuài 不快 (upset) is pronounced as búkuài, yībiān 一边 (at the same time) pronounced as yìbiān, yīpánɡ 一旁 (one side) pronounced as yìpánɡ, yīdiǎnr 一点儿 (a few/little) pronounced as yìdiǎnr, yīɡònɡ 一共 (altogether) pronounced as yíɡònɡ. The retroflex ending r. As Beijing phonetics has been adopted as the standard pronunciation of Mandarin Chinese, there are many retroflex syllables. The spelling of a syllable with the retroflex ending requires adding r at the end of the original final. In terms of its function, the retroflex ending r may only indicate slight changes in pronunciation without changing meanings, for example wánr 玩儿 (play) and wán 玩 (play). In other cases, it may be used to differentiate meanings, such as tóu 头 (head) and tóur 头儿 (boss). Sound distinction symbol. When syllables beginning with ɑ , o or e go after other syllables, pronunciation confusion might occur. In such cases, the sound distinction symbol(') is used to distinguish the syllables, such as Tiān’ān Mén 天安门 (Tian’an Men).