Difference between revisions of "Tough sounds c-s-z-"
 
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{{stub}}
 
 
{{Pronunciation Box}}
 
{{Pronunciation Box}}
  
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Not all learners struggle with them, but the c- and z- initials can be tricky for some. Practice the following words and phrases to be sure that you've got a good handle on these tough sounds.
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Not all learners struggle with them, but [[The "c" and "z" sounds|the "c-" and "z-" initials]] can be tricky for some. Practice the following words and phrases to be sure that you've got a good handle on these tough sounds.
  
 
== Pronunciation Tips for c-s-z- (A2) ==
 
== Pronunciation Tips for c-s-z- (A2) ==
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Revisit our page on [[The "c" and "z" sounds|the "c-" and "z-" initials]] if you need to. Some reminders from that page:
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=== On the "c-" Initial ===
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<blockquote>
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[[File:AllSet-PronWiki-c-diagram.jpg|200x150px|thumb|right|C-Diagram]]
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Pinyin's [[c-]] initial is simply a <span class="enpron">"ts"</span> sound. It's like the "ts" you hear in the English words <span class="enpron">"ca<strong>ts</strong>"</span> and <span class="enpron">"Wa<strong>ts</strong>on"</span> and <span class="enpron">"robo<strong>ts</strong>"</span>. The only thing that makes this Chinese sound challenging is that in English the <span class="enpron">"ts"</span> ''always appears in the middle or at the end of words, whereas in Chinese it is an initial sound''. For this reason, some learners need some time to get used to making this sound.
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</blockquote>
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=== On the "z-" Initial ===
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<blockquote>
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[[File:AllSet-PronWiki-z-diagram.jpg|200x150px|thumb|right|Z-Diagram]]
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Very similar to the [[c-]] initial, the [[z-]] initial sounds very similar to an English <span class="enpron">"dz"</span> sound (although the "d" is not [[voiced]]). It's like the "ds" you hear in the English words <span class="enpron">"ki<strong>ds</strong>"</span> and <span class="enpron">"loa<strong>ds</strong>"</span> and <span class="enpron">"o<strong>dds</strong>"</span>. The main thing that makes this Chinese sound challenging is that in English the <span class="enpron">"dz"</span> ''always appears in the middle or at the end of words, whereas in Chinese it is an initial sound''. For this reason, some learners need some time to get used to making this sound.
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</blockquote>
  
 
== Tough Sound Words: c-s-z- (A2) ==
 
== Tough Sound Words: c-s-z- (A2) ==
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</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
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         <td>{{Audio-player|zuo4|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
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         <td>{{Audio-player|ci4|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
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<td>做</td>
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<td>次</td>
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<td>zuò</td>
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<td>cì</td>
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<td>to do; to make; to be</td>
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<td>time(s) [something happens]</td>
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</tr>
 
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<tr>
 
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        <td>{{Audio-player|zou3|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
 
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<td>走</td>
 
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<td>zǒu</td>
 
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<td>to walk, to go, to leave</td>
 
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</tr>
 
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<tr>
 
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        <td>{{Audio-player|zai4|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
 
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<td>再</td>
 
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<td>zài</td>
 
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<td>again; another; then</td>
 
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</tr>
 
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<tr>
 
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        <td>{{Audio-player|zui4|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
 
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<td>最</td>
 
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<td>zuì</td>
 
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<td>most, -est</td>
 
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</tr>
 
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<tr>
 
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        <td>{{Audio-player|zao3|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
 
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<td>早</td>
 
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<td>zǎo</td>
 
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<td>early; morning</td>
 
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</tr>
 
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<tr>
 
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        <td>{{Audio-player|zuo3|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
 
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<td>左</td>
 
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<td>zuǒ</td>
 
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<td>left (opposite of right)</td>
 
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</tr>
 
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<tr>
 
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        <td>{{Audio-player|zong3shi4|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
 
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<td>总是</td>
 
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<td>zǒngshì</td>
 
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<td>always</td>
 
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
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<td>从</td>
 
<td>从</td>
 
<td>cóng</td>
 
<td>cóng</td>
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<td>from; via</td>
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<td>from</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
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<td>菜</td>
 
<td>菜</td>
 
<td>cài</td>
 
<td>cài</td>
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<td>vegetable; dish (of food); cuisine (of a region)</td>
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<td>vegetable; dish (of food)</td>
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</tr>
 
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<tr>
 
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        <td>{{Audio-player|ci2|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
 
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<td>词</td>
 
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<td>cí</td>
 
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<td>word</td>
 
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
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<td>错</td>
 
<td>错</td>
 
<td>cuò</td>
 
<td>cuò</td>
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<td>mistake, fault; mistakenly</td>
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<td>mistake, fault</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
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        <td>{{Audio-player|cong1ming|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
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<td>聪明</td>
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<td>cōngming</td>
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<td>smart, intelligent</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
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         <td>{{Audio-player|ci4|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
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         <td>{{Audio-player|zuo4|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
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<td>次</td>
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<td>做</td>
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<td>cì</td>
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<td>zuò</td>
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<td>[measure word for how many times something happens]</td>
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<td>to do; to make</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
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        <td>{{Audio-player|zou3|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
 +
<td>走</td>
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<td>zǒu</td>
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<td>to walk, to leave</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
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         <td>{{Audio-player|cao3|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
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         <td>{{Audio-player|zai4|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
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<td>草</td>
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<td>再</td>
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<td>cǎo</td>
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<td>zài</td>
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<td>grass</td>
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<td>again</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
 +
        <td>{{Audio-player|zui4|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
 +
<td>最</td>
 +
<td>zuì</td>
 +
<td>most, -est</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
−
         <td>{{Audio-player|cong1ming|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
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         <td>{{Audio-player|zao3|a2-tough-sounds}}</td>
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<td>聪明</td>
+
<td>早</td>
−
<td>cōngming</td>
+
<td>zǎo</td>
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<td>smart, intelligent</td>
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<td>early</td>
 
</tr>
 
</tr>
 
</table>
 
</table>
  
 
== Tough Sound Video Practice: c-s-z- (A2) ==
 
== Tough Sound Video Practice: c-s-z- (A2) ==
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<div class="YT-container"><youtube>vA03XvuLw3c</youtube></div>
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
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{{Number in Series|1|Tough sounds}}
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''More sources and other links coming soon...''
 +
 
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{{Number in Series|1|Tough sounds (basic)}}
  
 
[[Category:Pinyin]]
 
[[Category:Pinyin]]

Latest revision as of 10:00, 20 May 2020

Not all learners struggle with them, but the "c-" and "z-" initials can be tricky for some. Practice the following words and phrases to be sure that you've got a good handle on these tough sounds.

Pronunciation Tips for c-s-z- (A2)

Revisit our page on the "c-" and "z-" initials if you need to. Some reminders from that page:

On the "c-" Initial

C-Diagram

Pinyin's c- initial is simply a "ts" sound. It's like the "ts" you hear in the English words "cats" and "Watson" and "robots". The only thing that makes this Chinese sound challenging is that in English the "ts" always appears in the middle or at the end of words, whereas in Chinese it is an initial sound. For this reason, some learners need some time to get used to making this sound.

On the "z-" Initial

Z-Diagram

Very similar to the c- initial, the z- initial sounds very similar to an English "dz" sound (although the "d" is not voiced). It's like the "ds" you hear in the English words "kids" and "loads" and "odds". The main thing that makes this Chinese sound challenging is that in English the "dz" always appears in the middle or at the end of words, whereas in Chinese it is an initial sound. For this reason, some learners need some time to get used to making this sound.

Tough Sound Words: c-s-z- (A2)

The words in the following table are designed to give you a good pronunciation workout. Practice them on your own and practice them with your teacher.

Audio Chinese Pinyin English
次 cì time(s) [something happens]
从 cóng from
菜 cài vegetable; dish (of food)
错 cuò mistake, fault
聪明 cōngming smart, intelligent
做 zuò to do; to make
走 zǒu to walk, to leave
再 zài again
最 zuì most, -est
早 zǎo early

Tough Sound Video Practice: c-s-z- (A2)

Sources and further reading

More sources and other links coming soon...



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