Difference between revisions of "The "r" sound"
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This may seem strange, but the Mandarin [[r-]] sound really is very similar to the [[ch-]], [[sh-]], and [[zh-]] sounds. | This may seem strange, but the Mandarin [[r-]] sound really is very similar to the [[ch-]], [[sh-]], and [[zh-]] sounds. | ||
| + | [[File:AllSet-PronWiki-r-diagram.jpg|200px|thumb|left|R-Diagram]] | ||
* [[r-]] is pronounced by making the "French j" sound like in the words <span class="enpron">"lei<strong>s</strong>ure"</span> and <span class="enpron">"plea<strong>s</strong>ure"</span>. While making that sound, slowly pull the tip of your tongue further into the back of your mouth. The sound will start to sound less "buzzy" and more like an "r" sound. That's the Mandarin [[r-]] sound. | * [[r-]] is pronounced by making the "French j" sound like in the words <span class="enpron">"lei<strong>s</strong>ure"</span> and <span class="enpron">"plea<strong>s</strong>ure"</span>. While making that sound, slowly pull the tip of your tongue further into the back of your mouth. The sound will start to sound less "buzzy" and more like an "r" sound. That's the Mandarin [[r-]] sound. | ||
* [[ri]] is an odd syllable because it almost feels like you're not making a vowel sound at all, or if you are, you're doing it kind of ''at the same time'' as the "r" sound. This sound rhymes with the [[zhi]], [[chi]], [[shi]] sounds of last section, and there's certainly no <span class="enpron">"ee"</span> sound in it. | * [[ri]] is an odd syllable because it almost feels like you're not making a vowel sound at all, or if you are, you're doing it kind of ''at the same time'' as the "r" sound. This sound rhymes with the [[zhi]], [[chi]], [[shi]] sounds of last section, and there's certainly no <span class="enpron">"ee"</span> sound in it. | ||
There is actually a range of acceptable "buzziness" for the [[r-]] sound in Chinese. You can't actually make the sound in the words <span class="enpron">"lei<strong>s</strong>ure"</span> and <span class="enpron">"plea<strong>s</strong>ure"</span>; that's ''too'' "buzzy." But you don't have to pull your tongue so far back that the buzziness fades entirely. | There is actually a range of acceptable "buzziness" for the [[r-]] sound in Chinese. You can't actually make the sound in the words <span class="enpron">"lei<strong>s</strong>ure"</span> and <span class="enpron">"plea<strong>s</strong>ure"</span>; that's ''too'' "buzzy." But you don't have to pull your tongue so far back that the buzziness fades entirely. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Key "r" Syllables == | ||
| + | |||
| + | If you're just getting the hang of the Mandarin "r" sound, these are some good syllables to concentrate on initially: | ||
| + | |||
| + | <table class="table table-striped table-bordered table-hover"> | ||
| + | <tr> | ||
| + | <th width="8%">Audio</th> | ||
| + | <th width="42%">Pinyin</th> | ||
| + | <th width="8%">Audio</th> | ||
| + | <th width="42%">Pinyin</th> | ||
| + | </tr> | ||
| + | <tr> | ||
| + | <td>{{Audio-player|re1|pinyin-audio}}</td> | ||
| + | <td>re</td> | ||
| + | <td>{{Audio-player|ren1|pinyin-audio}}</td> | ||
| + | <td>ren</td> | ||
| + | </tr> | ||
| + | <tr> | ||
| + | <td>{{Audio-player|ri1|pinyin-audio}}</td> | ||
| + | <td>ri</td> | ||
| + | <td>{{Audio-player|ru1|pinyin-audio}}</td> | ||
| + | <td>ru</td> | ||
| + | </tr> | ||
| + | <tr> | ||
| + | <td>{{Audio-player|rou1|pinyin-audio}}</td> | ||
| + | <td>rou</td> | ||
| + | <td>{{Audio-player|rong1|pinyin-audio}}</td> | ||
| + | <td>rong</td> | ||
| + | </tr> | ||
| + | </table> | ||
== Pinyin Chart Fragment == | == Pinyin Chart Fragment == | ||
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This is just a part of the full [[pinyin chart]], limited to the sounds we've covered so far. | This is just a part of the full [[pinyin chart]], limited to the sounds we've covered so far. | ||
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Next up: [[the "ü" vowel]] (you're almost finished!). | Next up: [[the "ü" vowel]] (you're almost finished!). | ||
Latest revision as of 07:41, 14 May 2020
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In series Pinyin quick start guide
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Referenced Initials
Have you every noticed that the "r" sound is different in many foreign languages? English, Spanish, Russian, French, Japanese, German... the "r" sound is different in every one. Well, guess what? It's also different in Mandarin Chinese. Pinyin "r-" does not make the same sound as "r" in English. In fact, the Mandarin Chinese "r-" sound does not exist in English, so you're going to have to train yourself to make the sound.
Contents
Pinyin's "r" Sound
Like the ch-, sh-, and zh- sounds of last section, Mandarin Chinese's r- sound is also retroflex. That means the tip of your tongue should be pointed up toward the roof of your mouth, and also be rather far back in your mouth. That makes it quite different from the typical American "r" sound, which is pronounced by raising the middle of the tongue in the back of the mouth.
This may seem strange, but the Mandarin r- sound really is very similar to the ch-, sh-, and zh- sounds.
- r- is pronounced by making the "French j" sound like in the words "leisure" and "pleasure". While making that sound, slowly pull the tip of your tongue further into the back of your mouth. The sound will start to sound less "buzzy" and more like an "r" sound. That's the Mandarin r- sound.
- ri is an odd syllable because it almost feels like you're not making a vowel sound at all, or if you are, you're doing it kind of at the same time as the "r" sound. This sound rhymes with the zhi, chi, shi sounds of last section, and there's certainly no "ee" sound in it.
There is actually a range of acceptable "buzziness" for the r- sound in Chinese. You can't actually make the sound in the words "leisure" and "pleasure"; that's too "buzzy." But you don't have to pull your tongue so far back that the buzziness fades entirely.
Key "r" Syllables
If you're just getting the hang of the Mandarin "r" sound, these are some good syllables to concentrate on initially:
| Audio | Pinyin | Audio | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| re | ren | ||
| ri | ru | ||
| rou | rong |
Pinyin Chart Fragment
This is just a part of the full pinyin chart, limited to the sounds we've covered so far.
Tone: 1 2 3 4 1234 [Show more Settings]
Additional Settings
Show Text: IPA Zhuyin Wade-Giles
Text Size: Small Medium Large
Chart Mode: Audio Links (disables audio)
| -a- | -a | -ai | -ao | -an | -ang | -e- | -e | -ei | -en | -eng | -er | -o- | -o | -ou | -ong | -i- | -i | -i* | -ia | -iao | -ie | -iou | -ian | -iang | -in | -ing | -iong | -u- | -u | -ua | -uai | -uei | -uo | -uan | -uang | -uen | -ueng | -ü- | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| zh- | [tʂɑ] cha | [tʂaɪ̯] chai | [tʂɑʊ̯] chao | [tʂan] chan | [tʂɑŋ] chang | [tʂɯ̯ʌ] che | [tʂeɪ̯] chei | [tʂən] chen | [tʂəŋ] cheng | [tʂɤʊ̯] chou | [tʂʊŋ] chung | [tʂʅ] chih | [tʂu] chu | [tʂu̯ɑ] chua | [tʂu̯aɪ̯] chuai | [tʂu̯eɪ̯] chui | [tʂu̯ɔ] cho | [tʂu̯an] chuan | [tʂ̯u̯ɑŋ] chuang | [tʂu̯ən] chun | zh- | |||||||||||||||||||
| ch- | [tʂʰɑ] ch'a | [tʂʰaɪ̯] ch'ai | [tʂʰɑʊ̯] ch'ao | [tʂʰan] ch'an | [tʂʰɑŋ] ch'ang | [tʂʰɯ̯ʌ] ch'e | [tʂʰən] ch'en | [tʂʰəŋ] ch'eng | [tʂʰɤʊ̯] ch'ou | [tʂʰʊŋ] ch'ung | [tʂʰʅ] ch'ih | [tʂʰu] ch'u | [tʂʰu̯ɑ] ch'ua | [tʂʰu̯aɪ̯] ch'uai | [tʂʰu̯eɪ̯] ch'ui | [tʂʰu̯ɔ] ch'o | [tʂʰu̯an] ch'uan | [tʂʰu̯ɑŋ] ch'uang | [tʂʰu̯ən] ch'un | ch- | ||||||||||||||||||||
| sh- | [ʂɑ] sha | [ʂaɪ̯] shai | [ʂɑʊ̯] shao | [ʂan] shan | [ʂɑŋ] shang | [ʂɯ̯ʌ] she | [ʂeɪ̯] shei | [ʂən] shen | [ʂəŋ] sheng | [ʂɤʊ̯] shou | [ʂʅ] shih | [ʂu] shu | [ʂu̯ɑ] shua | [ʂu̯aɪ̯] shuai | [ʂu̯eɪ̯] shui | [ʂu̯ɔ] sho | [ʂu̯an] shuan | [ʂu̯ɑŋ] shuang | [ʂu̯ən] shun | sh- | ||||||||||||||||||||
| r- | [ʐɑʊ̯] jao | [ʐan] jan | [ʐɑŋ] jang | [ʐɯ̯ʌ] je | [ʐən] jen | [ʐəŋ] jeng | [ʐɤʊ̯] jou | [ʐʊŋ] jung | [ʐʅ] jih | [ʐu] ju | [ʐu̯ɑ] jua | [ʐu̯eɪ̯] jui | [ʐu̯ɔ] jo | [ʐu̯an] juan | [ʐu̯ən] jun | r- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| -a- | -a | -ai | -ao | -an | -ang | -e- | -e | -ei | -en | -eng | -er | -o- | -o | -ou | -ong | -i- | -i | -i* | -ia | -iao | -ie | -iou | -ian | -iang | -in | -ing | -iong | -u- | -u | -ua | -uai | -uei | -uo | -uan | -uang | -uen | -ueng | -ü- |
Next up: the "ü" vowel (you're almost finished!).
Sources and further reading
- Sinosplice: Chinese Pronunciation
- ChinesePod: A, O with ZH, CH, SH, R, E with Z, C, S, ZH, CH, SH, R, I with Z, C, S, ZH, CH, SH, R, U with ZH, CH, SH, R
