Chinese Pinyin Learning

Master standard Mandarin pronunciation, starting with basic initials

Initial Sounds Practice

Click each initial to hear the standard pronunciation and learn the correct articulation method

b
Lips close tightly, release suddenly, no aspiration
Examples: b, p, m, f
p
Lips close tightly, release suddenly, strong aspiration
Examples: b, p, m, f
m
Lips close tightly, airflow through nasal cavity
Examples: b, p, m, f
f
Upper teeth touch lower lip, airflow friction
Examples: b, p, m, f
d
Tongue tip touches upper gums, no aspiration
Examples: d, t, n, l
t
Tongue tip touches upper gums, strong aspiration
Examples: d, t, n, l
n
Tongue tip touches upper gums, airflow through nasal cavity
Examples: d, t, n, l
l
Tongue tip touches upper gums, airflow from sides
Examples: d, t, n, l
g
Tongue root touches soft palate, no aspiration
Examples: g, k, h
k
Tongue root touches soft palate, strong aspiration
Examples: g, k, h
h
Tongue root approaches soft palate, friction
Examples: g, k, h

Final Sounds (Finals)

Click each final to hear the standard pronunciation and learn the correct vowel sounds

a
Open vowel, mouth wide open
Examples: b, p, m, f
o
Back rounded vowel, lips rounded
Examples: b, p, m, f
e
Mid vowel, tongue in middle position
Examples: b, p, m, f
i
High front vowel, tongue high and forward
Examples: b, p, m, f
u
High back rounded vowel, lips rounded
Examples: b, p, m, f
ü
High front rounded vowel, lips spread then rounded
Examples: b, p, m, f
ai
Diphthong, from 'a' to 'i'
Examples: b, p, m, f
ei
Diphthong, from 'e' to 'i'
Examples: b, p, m, f
ao
Diphthong, from 'a' to 'o'
Examples: b, p, m, f
ou
Diphthong, from 'o' to 'u'
Examples: b, p, m, f
an
Nasal vowel, 'a' plus nasal ending
Examples: b, p, m, f
en
Nasal vowel, 'e' plus nasal ending
Examples: b, p, m, f
ang
Nasal vowel, 'a' plus back nasal ending
Examples: b, p, m, f
eng
Nasal vowel, 'e' plus back nasal ending
Examples: b, p, m, f
er
Retroflex vowel, tongue curled back
Examples: b, p, m, f

Whole Syllable Recognition

These syllables are recognized as whole units without needing to spell out initials and finals separately

zhi
Retroflex 'zh' + 'i', pronounced as whole unit
Examples: zhi, chi, shi, ri
chi
Retroflex 'ch' + 'i', pronounced as whole unit
Examples: zhi, chi, shi, ri
shi
Retroflex 'sh' + 'i', pronounced as whole unit
Examples: zhi, chi, shi, ri
ri
Retroflex 'r' + 'i', pronounced as whole unit
Examples: zhi, chi, shi, ri
zi
Dental 'z' + 'i', pronounced as whole unit
Examples: zi, ci, si
ci
Dental 'c' + 'i', pronounced as whole unit
Examples: zi, ci, si
si
Dental 's' + 'i', pronounced as whole unit
Examples: zi, ci, si
wu
Semi-vowel 'w' + 'u', pronounced as whole unit
Examples: wu, ya, ye, you
ye
Semi-vowel 'y' + 'e', pronounced as whole unit
Examples: wu, ya, ye, you

Chinese Tones

Master the four basic tones and one neutral tone, which are key to Chinese pronunciation

a
First Tone
High and level tone, high and flat sound
á
Second Tone
Rising tone, sound goes from low to high
a
Third Tone
Falling-rising tone, sound goes down then up
à
Fourth Tone
Falling tone, sound goes from high to low
a
Neutral Tone
Light and short tone, sound is light and brief

Practice Pronunciation

Click on Chinese characters to hear their pronunciation. Each character's sound is formed by combining its pinyin initials and finals. For example, "你" (nǐ) is pronounced by combining "n" + "i" with the third tone.

你
Spell
Final
Second person pronoun
Pinyin: nǐ
好
Spell
Final
Adjective, good/well
Pinyin: hǎo
我
Spell
Final
First person pronoun, I/me
Pinyin: wǒ
是
Spell
Final
Verb, to be/is/am/are
Pinyin: shì
的
Spell
Final
Particle, possessive marker
Pinyin: de
人
Spell
Final
Noun, person/people
Pinyin: rén
大
Spell
Final
Adjective, big/large
Pinyin: dà
小
Spell
Final
Adjective, small/little
Pinyin: xiǎo
水
Spell
Final
Noun, water
Pinyin: shuǐ
吃
Spell
Final
Verb, to eat
Pinyin: chī
看
Spell
Final
Verb, to see/look/watch
Pinyin: kàn
说
Spell
Final
Verb, to speak/say
Pinyin: shuō
学
Spell
Final
Verb, to learn/study
Pinyin: xué
中
Spell
Final
Noun/Adverb, middle/in/China
Pinyin: zhōng
国
Spell
Final
Noun, country/nation
Pinyin: guó
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