Pīnyīn

Pronounce this initial: b

buuh

Pronounce this initial: p

puuh

Pronounce this initial: m

muuh

Pronounce this initial: f

fuuh

Pronounce this initial: g

guuh

Pronounce this initial: k

kuuh

Pronounce this initial: h

huuh

Pronounce this initial: j

jeee

Pronounce this initial: q

cheee

Pronounce this initial: x

sheee

Pronounce this initial: z

dz

Pronounce this initial: c

ts

Pronounce this initial: s

sss

Pronounce this initial: zh

ggrr (hard g)

Pronounce this initial: ch

chrr

Pronounce this initial: sh

shrr

Pronounce this initial: r

rr (flat r)

If an initial is is written as such: “ji”, “ci”, “chi”, etc., how is it pronounced?

The “i” is not pronounced and they stand alone

Pronounce this simple final: a

aaa

Pronounce this simple final: o

ooo

Pronounce this simple final: e

eee (back of the tongue)

Pronounce this simple final: i

iii

Pronounce this simple final: u

uuu (où)

Pronounce this simple final: ü

üüü (french u)

Pronounce this simple final: er

errr

Pronounce this compound final: ai

eye

Pronounce this compound final: ei

aee/ayee

Pronounce this compound final: ao

ow (ah~oh)

Pronounce this compound final: ou

(oh~ooh)

Pronounce this compound final: an

annn (“and” without the d)

Pronounce this compound final: en

euhnnnn

Pronounce this compound final: ang

annng (don’t pronounce g)

Pronounce this compound final: eng

ughhnng

Pronounce this compound final: ong

ongggg (don’t pronounce g)

Which letters precede a final sound when it is to be pronounced by itself?

y or w

Pronounce this compound final: ia

yaaa (karate chop style)

How is this pronounced and why: ya

yaaa ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: iao

iiyaaoo

How is this pronounced and why: yao

iiyaaoo ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: ie

iiyee

How is this pronounced and why: ye

iiyee ; It is a complete final and the “i” before the “e” changes the pronunciation of the vowel

Pronounce this compound final: iu

iyouuuu (soulja boy tell em)

How is this pronounced and why: you

iyouuuu ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: ian

yeeeen (like the currency)

How is this pronounced and why: yan

yeeeen ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: in

yiiiing (but don’t pronounce the g sound)

How is this pronounced and why: ying

yiiiin ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: iang

iiyannng (don’t pronounce the g sound)

How is this pronounced and why: yang

iiyannng ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: ing

innnnnngg (back of the throat sound)

How is this pronounced and why: ying

innnng ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: iong

yooong

How is this pronounced and why: yong

yooong ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: ua

waaaa

How is this pronounced and why: wa

waaaa ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: uo

woooo (open mouth back throat o sound)

How is this pronounced and why: wo

woooo ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: uai

whyyyy

How is this pronounced and why: wai

whyyyy ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: ui

waiiii (like wait but without pronouncing the t)

How is this pronounced and why: wei

waiiii ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: uan

waaaaan (almost like you are saying won)

How is this pronounced and why: wan

waaaaan ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: un

weeeen (almost like you are saying one)

How is this pronounced and why: wen

weeeen ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: uang

wannnngg

How is this pronounced and why: wang

wannnngg ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: ueng

weeeeng (back of the throat sound)

How is this pronounced and why: weng

weeeeng ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: üe

üeeeee

How is this pronounced and why: yue

üeeee ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: üan

üaaaaan

How is this pronounced and why: yuan

üaaaaan ; it is a complete final

Pronounce this compound final: ün

üiiingg

How is this pronounced and why: yun

üiiingg ; it is a complete final

Which tone is this and how do you pronounce it: ā

1st tone ; flat

Which tone is this and how do you pronounce it: á

2nd tone ; exaggerated question (whaaaat)

Which tone is this and how do you pronounce it: ǎ

3rd tone ; low and then rise

Which tone is this and how do you pronounce it: à

4th tone ; angry and direct

What is “thank you” in mandarin?

xièxie

What is “goodbye” in mandarin?

zài jiàn (tr: again ; too see)

What is “hello” in mandarin?

nǐ hǎo (tr: you ; good)

What is “I love you” in mandarin?

wô ài nǐ