Difference between revisions of "Pinyin gotchas"
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Follow the links for more information. | Follow the links for more information. | ||
| − | # Pinyin "[[j-]]" does not sound like the English letter "j"; it may sound like that to you, but it's actually a whole different sound you have to learn | + | # Pinyin "[[j-]]" does not sound like the English letter <span class="enpron">"j"</span>; it may sound like that to you, but it's actually a whole different sound you have to learn |
| − | # Pinyin "[[q-]]" does not sound like the English | + | # Pinyin "[[q-]]" does not sound like the English letters <span class="enpron">"q"</span> or <span class="enpron">"k"</span>; it may sound like the English <span class="enpron">"ch"</span> sound to you, but it's a whole different sound you have to learn |
| − | # Pinyin "[[x-]]" does not sound like the English "x" or even the "sh" sound; it may sound like the English "sh" sound to you, but it's a whole different sound you have to learn | + | # Pinyin "[[x-]]" does not sound like the English <span class="enpron">"x"</span> or even the <span class="enpron">"sh"</span> sound; it may sound like the English <span class="enpron">"sh"</span> sound to you, but it's a whole different sound you have to learn |
| − | # Pinyin "[[r-]]" does not sound like the English "r"; it may sometimes sound like that to you, but it's actually a whole different sound you have to learn | + | # Pinyin "[[r-]]" does not sound like the English <span class="enpron">"r"</span>; it may sometimes sound like that to you, but it's actually a whole different sound you have to learn |
| − | # Pinyin "[[yan]]" sounds like the English word "yen" (as in "the Japanese yen") | + | # Pinyin "[[yan]]" sounds like the English word <span class="enpron">"yen"</span> (as in "the Japanese yen") |
| − | # Pinyin "[[h-]]" comes in two varieties: smooth and "raspy" (both are correct) | + | # Pinyin "[[h-]]" comes in two varieties: "smooth" and "raspy" (both are correct) |
| − | # Pinyin "[[r-]]" comes in two varieties: smooth and "buzzy" (both are correct) | + | # Pinyin "[[r-]]" comes in two varieties: "smooth" and "buzzy" (both are correct) |
# Pinyin "[[ying]]" comes in two varieties: the southern version (yi- + ng), and the northern version (yi + eng) | # Pinyin "[[ying]]" comes in two varieties: the southern version (yi- + ng), and the northern version (yi + eng) | ||
# Pinyin "[[-ui]]" (as in "[[dui]]" or "[[hui]]" is actually a "[[-uei]]" sound; the "e" is pronounced but not written | # Pinyin "[[-ui]]" (as in "[[dui]]" or "[[hui]]" is actually a "[[-uei]]" sound; the "e" is pronounced but not written | ||
| − | # Pinyin "i" is pronounced pretty consistently like English "ee, | + | # Pinyin "i" is pronounced pretty consistently like English <span class="enpron">"ee"</span>, except for the syllables "[[zi]], [[ci]], [[si]]", "[[zhi]], [[chi]], [[shi]]" and "[[ri]]" |
| − | # Pinyin "e" makes two sounds: one like English "uh" and one like English "e" (as in "pen") | + | # Pinyin "e" makes two sounds: one like English <span class="enpron">"uh"</span> and one like English <span class="enpron">"e"</span> (as in "pen") |
== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
Revision as of 15:46, 28 March 2015
If you're too lazy to read through the whole pinyin quick start guide (but you really should), or maybe if you're just looking to review what you've learned before, you should be well served by this simple list of all the little "gotchas" that confuse people when they first start learning pinyin.
Follow the links for more information.
- Pinyin "j-" does not sound like the English letter "j"; it may sound like that to you, but it's actually a whole different sound you have to learn
- Pinyin "q-" does not sound like the English letters "q" or "k"; it may sound like the English "ch" sound to you, but it's a whole different sound you have to learn
- Pinyin "x-" does not sound like the English "x" or even the "sh" sound; it may sound like the English "sh" sound to you, but it's a whole different sound you have to learn
- Pinyin "r-" does not sound like the English "r"; it may sometimes sound like that to you, but it's actually a whole different sound you have to learn
- Pinyin "yan" sounds like the English word "yen" (as in "the Japanese yen")
- Pinyin "h-" comes in two varieties: "smooth" and "raspy" (both are correct)
- Pinyin "r-" comes in two varieties: "smooth" and "buzzy" (both are correct)
- Pinyin "ying" comes in two varieties: the southern version (yi- + ng), and the northern version (yi + eng)
- Pinyin "-ui" (as in "dui" or "hui" is actually a "-uei" sound; the "e" is pronounced but not written
- Pinyin "i" is pronounced pretty consistently like English "ee", except for the syllables "zi, ci, si", "zhi, chi, shi" and "ri"
- Pinyin "e" makes two sounds: one like English "uh" and one like English "e" (as in "pen")
Sources and further reading
Books
- Books with Amazon links
Websites
- Sinosplice: Pronunciation of Mandarin Chinese: Setting the Record Straight
- Hacking Chinese: A guide to Pinyin traps and pitfalls
