Pinyin lessons :
 Introduction
Initials
Finals
Spelling rules Combination tables Tones
Change of tone |
Initials
A Chinese character has only one syllable,
which consists of two parts: an initial (consonant)
and a final (vowel). The consonants always appear
initially in a syllable. There are 21 initials for
the standard Chinese pronunciation and they fall into
six groups as follows:
| Pronunciation Hint: |
| The initials of 'm', 'f', 'n',
'l', 'h', 's', and 'sh' are pronounced the same
as their corresponding ones in English. |
| 'b' is analogous to the sound
of 'p' in the English word 'spin'. (unaspirated) |
| 'd' is analogous to the sound
of 't' in the English word 'straight'.(unaspirated) |
| 'j' is analogous to the sound
of 'g' in the English word 'genius'. (unaspirated)
|
| 'z' is analogous to the sound
of 'ds' in the English word 'beds'. |
| 'zh' is analogous to the sound
of 'j' in the English word 'job'. |
| 'g' is analogous to the unaspirated
sound 'g' in the English word 'get'. |
| 'x' is analogous to the sound
of 'sh' in the English word 'sheep', but with
the lip corners tightened up backwards. |
| 'r' is analogous to the sound
of 'dge' in the English word 'lodge'. |
| Please pay attention to the
six aspirated 'p', 't', 'k', 'q', 'q', 'c', and
'ch' sounds. |
| Attentions must be paid to the
differences between unaspirated sounds and aspirated
sounds. |
|
| b/p d/t g/k j/q z/c zh/ch |
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