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.


 

STUDY 1

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 China, but the following guidance is generally acceptable.


 

INDIVIDUAL SOUNDS

Letters

Pronounciation

Position

 a 

a           as in “father”, “atone”

 

 b 

b          as in “bag”

 

 c 

ts         as in “bats”

 

 ch 

tsh      as in “hatshop”

 

 d 

d          as in “dog”

 

 e 

e           as in “her”

generally

 e 

e           as in “yes”, “yeah”

after “y”

 f 

f           as in “fun”

 

 g 

g          hard as in “get”

(not soft as in“gel”)

 h 

ch       gutturally as in “loch”

 

 i 

i            as in “sir”, “circle”, “chirp”

after c, ch, r, s, sh, z, zh

 i 

ee        as in “been”;

i            as in “bistro”

after b, d, j, l, m, n, p, q, t, x, y

 j 

j            as in “jam”

 

 k 

k          as in “kitchen”

 

 l 

l            as in “love”

 

 m 

m        as in “mug”

 

 n 

n          as in “nibble”

 

 o 

o          as in “or”

 

 p 

p          as in “pun”

 

 q 

chh    as in “matchhead”

 

 r 

r           rolled as in “curl”

 

 s 

s           as in “sat”

 

 sh 

sh        as in “rashly”

 

 t 

t            as in “top”

 

 u 

u          as in “boot”

(See group below)

 w 

w         as in “water”

 

 wu 

oo       as in   “pool”

not “wu”

 x 

s           as in “see”; 

hs        as in “aah, see!”

 

 y 

y          as in “yam”

 

 yi 

ee        as in “been”

yi is “i”, not “yi”

 z 

ds        as in “suds”

 

 zh 

dge    as in “hedgeless”

 

 

 

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

 

Repeat

 

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.


 

SOME SPECIAL VOWEL GROUPS AND SYLLABLES


Group

 

 

Sounds like

en

 

 

urn or undo

eng

 

 

bung

 i  (in ci, chi, ri, si, shi, zi,  zhi)

 

 

shirt (without r), zircon, adze

 i  (in bi, di, fi, ji, li, mi, ni, qi, ti, xi, yi)

 

 

been, deed, jeep, tee, see, eel

ia / ya

*

 

yarn, try a bit

ian / yan

*

 

yen, try any

iang / yang

*

 

 young

iao / yao

*

 

yowl

ie / ye

*

 

the air; ee-ye

iong / yong

*

 

Jung (German)

iu / you

*

 

yoyo

 o 

 

 

fore, door

ong (after d, t, n, l, z, c, s, zh, ch, r, g, k, h)

 

 

jung (German); long

ou

 

 

dough

u / wu

*

 

shoe, gnu, do

 u  (in lú, nú ) / yu

*

 

chew your food

 u  (in ju, qu, xu) / yu

*

 

chew your food

ua / wa

*

 

wax

uai / wai

*

 

wide

uan / wan

*

 

won

uan (after j, q, x) / yuan

*

 

ú-yen; new end; inuendo

uang / wang

*

 

wangle

ue (in lúe, núe) / yue

*

 

ú-ye, new energy

ue (in jue, que, xue) / yue

*

 

ú-ye, new energy

(uei) / ui / wei

*

 

weigh

un (after d, t, n, l, z, c, s, zh, ch, sh, r, g, k, h) / wen

 

 

won, dun

(ueng) / weng

*

 

swung

un (in jun, qun, xun) / yun

*

 

unique; German ú

uo / wo

 

 

wall

 


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

 

Repeat

 

Read:

bo,  dong,  rong,  zhong,  wu,  bu,  yu,  ,  ,  ju,  qu,  wa,  zhua,  hua,  wai,  guai,  wan,  duan,  juan,  quan,  xuan,  wang,  huang,  chuang,  yue 

 

Repeat

 

Read:

lúe,  núe,  jue,  xue,  wei,  dui,  zui,  wen,  dun,  hun,  yun,  jun,  xun,  wo,  duo,  shuo,  huo,  huor .

 

Repeat

 


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.

 

WAYS TO PRONOUNCE “I”

 

 

 

 

 ci 

*

what sir did

bi

been

 chi 

*

what churns around

di

deed

 ri 

*

never irksome

ji

jeep

 si 

*

sir

li

leek

 shi 

*

shirt

mi

meek

 zi 

*

zircon

ni

need

 zhi 

*

adjourn

pi

peek

 

 

 

qi

cheek

 

 

 

ti

tee

 

 

 

xi

“aah, see!”

 

 

 

yi

eel”

Repeat

 

 

Repeat

 

 

* 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.

 

Repeat


 

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.

 

Mandarin

Tone

Pinyin

Tone mark

Description of Tone

Example

First tone

  à

highest and level pitch

(mother)

Second tone

  á

starts high and rises

mæfan (trouble)

Third tone

  â

falls first and then rises

(horse)

Fourth tone

  ã

starts high and then falls

(scold)

(Toneless)

(No mark)

unstressed or neutral

ma (eh, surely!)

 

 

 

Repeat

 

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, “ 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).

 

Lðng yð fångmièn,

shìnglîng de guóshî

yóu

èixín,

xïlì,

hêpîng,

On the other hand,

the fruitage of the spirit

is / have

love,

joy,

peace,

 

 

 

 

 

 

jiånrën,

rêncî,

liængshèn,

xðnxín,

wénhê,

zðzhð.

long-suffering,

kindness,

goodness,

faith,

mildness,

self-control.

 

Lðng yð fångmièn, shìnglîng de guóshî yóu èixín, xïlì, hêpîng, jiånrën, rêncî, liængshèn, xðnxín, wénhê, zðzhð.

 

PRACTICE 1.5 (Pronunciation of Vowel Tones)

 

Read:

 

Qïng dö zhìge hço xiåoxi.

Please read this good news.

Wó xíwèng gëi nï zhìge tìbiê qïngtië.

I'd like to give you this special invitation.

Xíwèng hën kuèi jièndèo nï!

See you soon! (Like very quickly get to see you.)

Zhù nï zço rð kångfù!

‘Get well soon!’

 


DIALOGUE 1.1 (Pronunciation of Vowel Tones)

 

Read this dialogue as two persons, A and B:

 

 A 

Zçoshèng hço

Good morning

 B 

Zçoshèng hço.

Good morning

 A 

Hën gåoxðng jièndèo nï

Nice to see you.

 B 

Wó yë hën gåoxðng jièndèo nï.

Nice to see you too.

 A 

Wó jièo X. Nï jièo shênme mîngzi?

I'm called X. What name are you called?

 B 

Wó jièo X.

I'm called X.

 A 

Wómen xíwèng xiçngyóu hêpîng de shéngmðng, këshð yóu duñ kùnnan.

We'd like to enjoy a life of peace, but we have much difficulty.

 B 

Duð!

Correct!

 A 

Wó xíwèng gëi nï zhìfìn qïngtië.

I'd like to give you this invitation.

 B 

Wìishênme?

For what?

 A 

Mëi Xíngqíyí yóu pøtònghuè yông de tçolùn.

Each Monday there's a discussion using Mandarin.

 B 

Tçolùn de huètî shð shênme?

What is the topic?

 A 

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.

 B 

Zèi nçr?

Where?

 A 

Wó nêng læi rèng nï dåché.

I can come and give you a lift by car.

 B 

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:

 

 A 

Nï xiçng dö zhìge hço xiåoxi ma?

Would you like to read this good news?

 B 

Hçode

OK

 A 

Nï duð zhìge huètî gçn xðngqù ma?

Are you interested in this topic?

 B 

Wó yóu xðngqù liçojië. Këshð guô yíhuïr.

I'm interested in understanding. But later.

 A 

Zhì shð wóde diènhuè hèomç.

Zhì shð wóde yímìir dðzhï.

This is my telephone number.

This is my email address.

 B 

Xiìxie.

Thanks.

 A 

Nï nêng gèosù wó nïde diènhuè hèomç hê dðzhï ma?

Could you tell me your telephone number and address?

 B 

Hçode. Gëi nï.

OK. Here you are.

 A 

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?”

 


 

STUDY 2

Greetings and appreciation; read

 

VOCABULARY 2.1 (Greetings, Request and Thanks)

 

Huånyîng!  *

Welcome!

Nï hço!

Hello! Hi! Howdy! How do you do!

pøtñnghuè

Mandarin

 

 

Qïng

Please!

[to] read

Xiìxie!

Thanks!

Xiìxie nîn!

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)

 

Nï hço!

Hi!

qïng

please

Qïng dö

Please read.

Xiìxie

Thanks!

pøtñnghuè

Mandarin

Huånyîng

Welcome!

 


 

STUDY 3

Presenting a message; style awareness

 

VOCABULARY 3.1 (Messages)

 

zhì; zhìi

this (some person or thing here)

zhìge

this (particular) …

nè …

that (some person or thing there)

nège …

that (particular) …

hço

well, good fine

xiåoxi

news

xðnxí

information, message

qïngtië

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.

 

Qïng dö zhì[ge].

Please read this [item].

 


INCREMENTAL CONSTRUCTION 3.1 (Messages)

 

Learn the following method or constructing a sentence incrementally.

 

Nï hço!

Hi!

Qïng dö

Please read.

xiåoxi

news

hço xiåoxi

good news

zhìge xiåoxi

this news

zhìge hço xiåoxi

this good news

dö zhìge hço xiåoxi

Read this good news

Qïng dö zhìge hço xiåoxi!

Please read this good news!

 

INCREMENTAL CONSTRUCTION 3.2 (Messages)

 

Nï hço!

Hi!

Qïng dö

Please read.

qïngtië

invitation

hço qïngtië

good invitation

zhìge qïngtië

this invitation

zhìge hço qïngtië

this nice invitation

dö zhìge hço qïngtië

read this nice invitation

Qïng dö zhìge hço qïngtië!

Please read this nice invitation!

Xiìxie!

Thanks!

Xiìxie nîn!

Thank you! (polite form)

 


REVIEW 3.1

 

Greetings! / ‘Hello!’ / 

‘How are you?’

nï hço’! [- h is pronounced like ch in loch]

 

 

Please!

qïng! [- q is lpronounced ike ch in chicken]

Read!

!

Please read …!

qïng dö …!

 

 

information

xðnxí

this [a word used in place of a person or thing]

zhì [- zh is pronounced like dge in fudge]

this particular …

zhìge … - g is like g in get

this information

zhìge xðnxí

Please read this invitation.

Qïng dö zhìge xðnxí.

 

 

Please read this invitation.

Qïng dö zhìge qïngtië.

 

 

Thanks!

xiìxie!

Thank you! (polite form)

xiìxie nîn!