Tough sounds

As a beginner (A1) learner of Mandarin Chinese, you need to learn all of the syllables of pinyin. You may not pronounce them like a native speaker at all, but you at least need to "know what's out there."

The Chinese Pronunciation Wiki has grouped all of these "tough sounds" into elementary (A2) words and intermediate (B1) phrases so that you can practice at your level.

A2 Tough Sounds

Tough sounds (basic) covers all of the main sounds that native speakers of English usually need extra practice with when learning Mandarin Chinese.

1. Tough sounds c-s-z-
2. Tough sounds s-sh-, c-ch-, z-zh-
3. Tough sounds x-sh-, q-ch-, j-zh-
4. Tough sounds r-
5. Tough sounds -an-ang
6. Tough sounds -e
7. Tough sounds -ou-uo
8. Tough sounds -ü-u
9. Tough sounds -un
10. Tough sounds -uan

B1 Tough Sounds

Tough sounds (advanced) covers many of the same sounds as the "basic" level, but focuses on more difficult sound combinations in the form of phrases.

1. Tough sounds x-sh-, q-ch-, j-zh- (phrases)
2. Tough sounds r- (phrases)
3. Tough sounds -e (phrases)
4. Tough sounds -ou-uo (phrases)
5. Tough sounds -ü-u (phrases)
6. Tough sounds -un (phrases)