Chinese Mandarin Pronunciation
Using Pinyin
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© B. J. Burford and E. J. Burford 2007-2013
Updated 16 June 2013
See also the associated language
document,
“Chinese Mandarin Introductory Course
Using Pinyin”.
USE
OF THIS FILE
This pronunciation course for Chinese
Mandarin in Mandarin is provided in Word ".htm" format with
hyperlinks to sound files. The Mandarin
Pinyin characters are in one of Jaspell's TrueType "ttf" fonts.
You need do the following:
·
Install the Pinyin font JPINNN01.ttf using Windows Start / (Settings
/) Control Panel / Fonts / File / Install New Font.
·
Open a webpage reader, such as "IExplorer" or
"Netscape", that handles ".htm" files with hyperlinks to
".wav" files.
The pronunciation course is similar to the
early part of the introductory language course "pinyin
introductory01.pdf". The "pdf" format only requires the use of
Acrobat Reader, a tool available by free download.
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STUDY
1 |
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Pronunciation
of individual and groups of characters |
PRONUNCIATION 1.1 (Individual Sounds and Their Writing in
Pinyin)
Pinyin script provides an approximate method
for representing the pronunciation of Mandarin Chinese using Roman characters
with accents. Some letters are pronounced as in English, but others have very
different sounds (as highlighted in the following chart). Pronunciation also
varies in different regions of
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INDIVIDUAL
SOUNDS |
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Letters |
Pronounciation |
Position |
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a as
in “father”, “atone” |
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b as
in “bag” |
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ts as
in “bats” |
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tsh as
in “hatshop” |
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d as
in “dog” |
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e as
in “her” |
generally |
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e as
in “yes”, “yeah” |
after “y” |
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f as
in “fun” |
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g hard
as in “get” |
(not soft as
in“gel”) |
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ch gutturally
as in “loch” |
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i as
in “sir”, “circle”, “chirp” |
after c, ch, r, s, sh, z, zh |
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ee as
in “been”; i as
in “bistro” |
after b, d, j, l, m, n, p, q, t, x, y |
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j as
in “jam” |
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k as
in “kitchen” |
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l as
in “love” |
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m as
in “mug” |
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n as
in “nibble” |
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o as
in “or” |
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p as
in “pun” |
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chh as
in “matchhead” |
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r rolled
as in “curl” |
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s as
in “sat” |
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sh as
in “rashly” |
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t as
in “top” |
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u as
in “boot” |
(See group
below) |
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w as
in “water” |
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oo as
in “pool” |
not
“wu” |
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s as
in “see”; hs as
in “aah, see!” |
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y as
in “yam” |
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ee as
in “been” |
yi is “i”, not “yi” |
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ds as
in “suds” |
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dge as
in “hedgeless” |
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See also the table below about groups of
vowels and syllables.
PRACTICE 1.1 (Pronunciation of Characters in Simple Syllables)
Read: ba, ca, cha, da, e, ye, er, fa, ga, ha, yi, bi, ci, ju, ka, la, ma, na, bo, pa, qu, re, sa, sha, ta, wu, bu, wa, xi, ya, yi, za, zha
PRONUNCIATION 1.2 (Pronunciation of Special Vowel Groups)
See the following table titled: “Some Special
Vowel Groups and Syllables”.
Some
groups are marked with an asterisk, “*”.
The following comments apply to these.
If
the vowel group starting in “i” occurs on its own, it needs to be written
beginning with “y” instead of “i”. So, “ian” would be written as “yan”.
Similarly,
a group on its own starting in “u” is written using a “w” instead of the “u”.
So, “uan” is written as “wan”.
Some
sound groups are easier recognizable for an English speaker: aisle; ban;
bang; naos (sounding like now); eight; tiara;
ring.
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SOME
SPECIAL VOWEL GROUPS AND SYLLABLES |
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Group |
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Sounds like… |
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urn or undo |
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bung |
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i (in ci, chi, ri, si, shi, zi,
zhi) |
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shirt (without r), zircon,
adze |
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been, deed, jeep, tee,
see, eel |
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* |
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yarn, try a
bit |
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* |
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yen, try any |
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* |
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young |
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* |
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yowl |
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* |
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the air; ee-ye |
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* |
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Jung (German) |
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* |
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yoyo |
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fore, door |
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ong (after d, t, n, l, z, c, s, zh, ch, r, g,
k, h) |
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jung (German); long |
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dough |
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* |
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shoe, gnu, do |
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* |
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chew your food |
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u (in ju, qu, xu) / yu |
* |
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chew your food |
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* |
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wax |
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* |
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wide |
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* |
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won |
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* |
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ú-yen; new end;
inuendo |
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* |
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wangle |
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* |
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ú-ye, new energy |
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ue (in jue,
que, xue) / yue |
* |
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ú-ye, new energy |
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* |
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weigh |
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un (after d, t,
n, l, z, c, s, zh, ch, sh, r, g, k, h)
/ wen |
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won, dun |
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* |
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swung |
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un (in jun,
qun, xun) / yun |
* |
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unique; German ú |
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wall |
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PRACTICE 1.2 (Pronunciation of Special Vowel Groups and Syllables)
With
the help of the table (of special vowel groups and syllables) given above
please read these syllables:
Read:
en, ben, beng, ci, bi, ya, jia, lia, yian, dian, dianr,
yang, liang, yao, biao, jiao, ye, bie, jie, xie, yong, jiong,
xiong, you, miu, jiu, o
Read:
bo, dong, rong, zhong,
wu,
bu,
yu,
nú,
lú,
ju,
qu,
wa,
zhua, hua, wai, guai, wan, duan, juan, quan, xuan, wang, huang, chuang, yue
Read:
lúe, núe, jue, xue, wei, dui, zui, wen, dun, hun, yun, jun, xun, wo, duo, shuo, huo, huor .
PRONUNCIATION 1.3 (Pronunciation of “i” Depending on Its
Context)
The
vowel “i” may occur after some, but not all consonants. If the sound of the
letter “i” occurs on its own, the sound is represented by “yi”.
The
letter “i” can be pronounced in two different ways, depending on which sort of
consonant it occurs with. It is easier
to remember which is right, if you register where in your mouth the first group
is pronounced.
Note:
c, ch, r, s, sh, z, and zh are a family of sounds. They are all pronounced in
the roof of the mouth towards the front of the palate with the help of
different amounts of pressure from the tongue.
With “r” the tongue barely touches the palate, whereas with “zh” the
tongue is folded back there somewhat painfully.
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WAYS TO
PRONOUNCE “I” |
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* |
what sir did |
been |
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* |
what churns around |
deed |
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* |
never irksome |
jeep |
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* |
sir |
leek |
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* |
shirt |
meek |
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* |
zircon |
need |
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* |
adjourn |
peek |
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cheek |
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tee |
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“aah, see!” |
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“eel” |
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*
If this “i” occurs with characters in the group in left hand column, but it
occurs without a tonal mark — especially at the tail end of a word — it tends
to be restrained. (Compare the end of English words like “sire”, “shire”,
“adze”, “badge”, etc., in which the final vowel “e” is almost lost.) For example, this applies to “shi”, but not
to sh, sh, sh, or sh.
PRACTICE 1.3 (Varying Pronunciation of “i”)
With
the help of the table given above please read these syllables:
Read: bi, ci, chi, di, ji, li, mi, ni, pi, qi, ri, si, shi, ti, xi, yi, zi, zhi.
PRONUNCIATION 1.4 (Vowel Tones and Their Tone Marks in Pinyin)
Mandarin is pronounced with tones. These are
indicated in Pinyin script by tone marks.
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Mandarin Tone |
Pinyin Tone
mark |
Description
of Tone |
Example |
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First tone |
à |
highest and level pitch |
må (mother) |
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Second tone |
á |
starts high and rises |
mæfan (trouble) |
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Third tone |
â |
falls first and then rises |
mç (horse) |
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Fourth tone |
ã |
starts high and then falls |
mè (scold) |
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(Toneless) |
(No mark) |
unstressed or neutral |
ma (eh, surely!) |
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NOTE 1
When
a third tone (…â) precedes another third tone, pronounce it as a second tone
(…á). Hence “hën hço”
is pronounced ‘hên hço’. Similarly, “nï
hço” is pronounced more like “nî hço”.
NOTE 2
Some
words like “bù” change before a fourth tone syllable ã or before a
toneless syllable. “bù” changes to “bö”.
PRACTICE 1.4 (Pronunciation of Vowel Tones)
Read the following verses (from Galatians 5:22-23).
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Lðng yð
fångmièn, |
shìnglîng de
guóshî |
yóu |
èixín, |
xïlì, |
hêpîng, |
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On the
other hand, |
the
fruitage of the spirit |
is /
have |
love, |
joy, |
peace, |
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jiånrën, |
rêncî, |
liængshèn, |
xðnxín, |
wénhê, |
zðzhð. |
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long-suffering, |
kindness, |
goodness, |
faith, |
mildness, |
self-control. |
PRACTICE 1.5 (Pronunciation of Vowel Tones)
Read:
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Please read this good news. |
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I'd like to give you this special
invitation. |
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See you soon! (Like very quickly get to see
you.) |
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‘Get well soon!’ |
DIALOGUE 1.1 (Pronunciation of Vowel Tones)
Read
this dialogue as two persons, A and B:
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Zçoshèng hço |
Good morning |
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Zçoshèng hço. |
Good morning |
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Hën gåoxðng jièndèo nï |
Nice to see you. |
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Wó yë hën gåoxðng jièndèo nï. |
Nice to see you too. |
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Wó jièo X. Nï jièo shênme
mîngzi? |
I'm called X. What name are you
called? |
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Wó jièo X. |
I'm called X. |
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Wómen xíwèng xiçngyóu hêpîng de
shéngmðng, këshð yóu duñ kùnnan. |
We'd like to enjoy a life of
peace, but we have much difficulty. |
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Duð! |
Correct! |
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Wó xíwèng gëi nï zhìfìn
qïngtië. |
I'd like to give you this
invitation. |
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Wìishênme? |
For what? |
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Mëi Xíngqíyí yóu pøtònghuè yông de tçolùn. |
Each Monday there's a discussion
using Mandarin. |
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Tçolùn de huètî shð shênme? |
What is the topic? |
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Wómen xuêxî Shèngdð de yùyæn. Tå shuñ le Tå
huð zënyèng bångzhù yðrên. |
We study God's prophecy. He
said how He will help righteous ones. |
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Zèi nçr? |
Where? |
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Wó nêng læi rèng nï dåché. |
I can come and give you a lift by
car. |
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Xiìxie. Këshð wó nêng zóulù. |
Thanks. However, I can go on
foot. |
DIALOGUE 1.2 (Pronunciation of Vowel Tones)
Read
this dialogue as two persons, A and B:
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Nï xiçng dö zhìge hço xiåoxi
ma? |
Would you like to read this
good news? |
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Hçode |
OK |
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Nï duð zhìge huètî gçn xðngqù
ma? |
Are you interested in this
topic? |
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Wó yóu xðngqù liçojië. Këshð guô yíhuïr. |
I'm interested in
understanding. But later. |
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Zhì shð wóde diènhuè hèomç. Zhì shð wóde yímìir dðzhï. |
This is my telephone number. This is my email address. |
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Xiìxie. |
Thanks. |
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Nï nêng gèosù wó nïde diènhuè
hèomç hê dðzhï ma? |
Could you tell me your
telephone number and address? |
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Hçode. Gëi nï. |
OK. Here you are. |
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Mîngtiån Yîngwên yông de tçolùn
huð shð: “Shèngdð duð nï hën zhôngshð ma?” |
Tomorrow the topic in English
will be: “Does God count you as
important?” |
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STUDY
2 |
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Greetings and
appreciation; read |
VOCABULARY 2.1 (Greetings, Request and Thanks)
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Huånyîng! * |
Welcome! |
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Hello! Hi! Howdy! How do you do! |
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Mandarin |
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Please! |
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[to] read |
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Thanks! |
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Thank you! (polite form) |
* See guidance on Mandarin pronunciation and
Pinyin script.
Check
especially “h” in Pronunciation 1.1.
Check
especially “q”, and “x” in Pronunciation 1.1.
Check
tones and tonal marks in Pronunciation 1.4.
Remember,
when a third tone (…â) precedes another third tone, pronounce it as a second
tone (…á). So, “nï hço” is pronounced
more like “nî hço”.
PRACTICE 2.1 (Greetings and Appreciation)
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STUDY
3 |
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Presenting a
message; style awareness |
VOCABULARY 3.1 (Messages)
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zhì; zhìi |
this (some person or thing here) |
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zhìge … |
this (particular) … |
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nè … |
that (some person or thing there) |
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nège … |
that (particular) … |
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well, good fine |
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news |
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information, message |
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invitation |
(Remember, “h” in “hço” is pronounced raspingly, like “ch” in Scottish “loch”)
(Pronounce “zh” in “zhì” like ‘dge’ in
‘hedgeless’. Curl back the tongue.)
GRAMMAR 3.1 (Style Awareness)
You may be able to discern subtle differences
in how a word feels according to context.
Observe in the following example that “zhì” would feel too vague and
general, so it’s good to add “-ge” to make the object in the sentence more
specific.
The
examples provided at the start of this course try to make meaningful sentences,
but with only a few words learned at this stage, it is almost unavoidable that
some of them lack some of the finer style you can achieve with a wider choice
of words.
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Qïng dö zhì[ge]. |
Please read this [item]. |
INCREMENTAL CONSTRUCTION 3.1 (Messages)
Learn
the following method or constructing a sentence incrementally.
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Hi! |
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Please read. |
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news |
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good news |
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this news |
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this good news |
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Read this good news |
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Please read this good news! |
INCREMENTAL CONSTRUCTION 3.2 (Messages)
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Hi! |
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Please read. |
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invitation |
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good invitation |
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this invitation |
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this nice invitation |
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read this nice invitation |
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Please read this nice invitation! |
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Thanks! |
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Thank you! (polite form) |
REVIEW 3.1
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Greetings! / ‘Hello!’ / ‘How are you?’ |
‘nï hço’!
[- h is pronounced like ch in loch] |
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Please! |
qïng!
[- q is lpronounced ike ch in chicken] |
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Read! |
dö! |
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Please read …! |
qïng
dö …! |
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information |
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this [a word used in place of a person or
thing] |
zhì [-
zh is pronounced like dge in fudge] |
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this particular … |
zhìge
… - g is like g in get |
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this information |
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Please read this invitation. |
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Please read this invitation. |
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Thanks! |
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Thank you! (polite form) |