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We use Chinese Pinyin to learn Chinese as we use phonetic symbol in learning English. Each Chinese pinyin is composed of an initial and a final, which is the smallest possible elements of the phonetics. For example,
ma = m + a (Pinyin= Initials + Finals)
Table 1. Initials (Click to sound)
Table 2. Finals (Click to sound)
Table 4. Special Rules
1. Standalone “zh, ch, sh, r, z, c, s” are written as “zhi, chi, shi, ri, zi, ci, si”
2. “iou, uei, uen” are written as “iu, ui, un”
3. Syllables starting with “i" are written as “y” in place of “i" (e.g. “iou” is written as you). Standalone “i" is written as “yi”.
4. Syllables starting with “u” are written as “w” in place of “u” (e.g. ueng is written as weng). Standalone “u” is written as “wu”.
5. Syllables starting with “ü” are written as “yu” in place of “ü” (e.g. üe is written as yue).
6. "ü" is written as "u" after j, q, x,.
7. Syllables “r” at the end of a word equals “er”
Table 5. Pronunciation techniques of initials (Click to sound)
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Location
Sound
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Upper Lip
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Upper Teeth
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The back of upper teeth
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Upper Gum
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Maxilla
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Maxilla
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Maxilla
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Bottom Lip
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Bottom Lip
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The tip of tongue
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The tip of tongue
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The tip of tongue
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Tongue
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Tongue Root
|
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Occlusive
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Unaspirated
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b
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|
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d
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|
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g
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Aspirated
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p
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t
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k
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Occlusive
and
Fricative
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Unaspirated
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|
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z
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zh
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j
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Aspirated
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|
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c
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ch
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q
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Fricative
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f
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s
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sh
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r
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x
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h
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Nasal
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m
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n
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ng
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Lateral
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l
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Table 6. Pronunciation techniques of finals (Click to sound)
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Finals
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Techniques
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a
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The mouth opens; the tongue declines; and the throat make voice and breathe out.
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o
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The mouth semi-opens; the tongue raises a little; the lips are round; and the throat makes voice and breathes out.
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e
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As above; not a round lips.
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i
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The mouth semi-opens; the tongue is raised; the lips are flat; and breathes out; the voice comes out from upper gum.
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u
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The mouth is slightly closed; the tongue raises a little; the lips are round; and breathe out; the voice comes out from mouth.
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ü
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The mouth is slightly closed; the tongue is raised; the lips are round; and breathe out; the voice comes out from mouth.
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ai
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As a + i
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ei
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As e + i
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ao
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As a + o
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ou
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As o + u
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er / r
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As e + r
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an
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Make “a” voice, then raise the tip of tongue to the gum and make nasal sound.
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en
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Make “e” voice, then raise the tip of tongue to the gum and make nasal sound.
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in
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Make “i” voice, then raise the tip of tongue to the gum and make nasal sound.
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ün
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Make “ü” voice, then raise the tip of tongue to the gum and make nasal sound.
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ang
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Make “a” voice, then raise the tip of tongue to the maxilla and make nasal sound.
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eng
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Make “e” voice, then raise the tip of tongue to the maxilla and make nasal sound.
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ing
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Make “i” voice, then raise the tip of tongue to the maxilla and make nasal sound.
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ong
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Make “o” voice, then raise the tip of tongue to the maxilla and make nasal sound.
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iu / iou / you
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As i + ou
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ie
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As i + e
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ia / ya
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As i + a
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iao / yao
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As i + ao
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ian / yan
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As i + an
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iang / yang
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As i + ang
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iong / yong
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As i + ong
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ue / üe
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As ü + e
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üan / uan
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As ü + an
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ui / uei / wei
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As u + ei
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ua / wa
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As u + a
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uai / wai
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As u + ai
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uo / wo
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As u + o
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un / uen
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As u + en
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uan / wan
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As u + an
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uang / wang
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As u + ang
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ueng / weng
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As u + eng
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happy for sound but mine was stuck.
This trick is really brilliant to pronounce the Chinese words…
I like it very helpful
Thanks
This is soo very very helpful.
Thank you.