Pinyin
- Also known as: 拼音 (pīnyīn) and 汉语拼音 (Hànyǔ pīnyīn).
This page lists all the articles on this wiki about pinyin, grouped by level.
If you're just learning pinyin, be sure to check out:
- Introduction to Pinyin
- Pinyin Quick Start Guide
- Interactive Pinyin Chart (with audio)
- List of all Chinese Syllables in Pinyin
Contents
Pronunciation Points Related to Pinyin
A1 Pinyin Points
Level | Pronunciation Point | Summary |
---|---|---|
A1 | Introduction to pinyin | Some background information about pinyin for absolute beginners. HINT: pinyin was not created as a pronunciation guide for foreigners! |
A1 | Pinyin chart | Learn all the sounds and individual syllables that make up all the words in Mandarin Chinese. |
A1 | Pinyin quick start guide | |
1. Easy sounds | Not all sounds in Mandarin are hard! This part covers "p", "m", "f", "d", "t", "n", "l", "s", "g", "k", "h". | |
2. The "a" vowel | The vowel "a" in Mandarin isn't too hard, so let's start with that one. Now you can make actual syllables! | |
3. The "e" vowel | The letter "e" in pinyin can represent several different vowel sounds, and it's important to learn them all. | |
4. The "i" vowel | In pinyin, "i" makes more than just one sound. Be sure to learn in what syllables it sounds different. | |
5. The "o" and "u" vowels | The "o" and "u" vowels in Chinese aren't quite as straightforward as one might hope, and the two get confused a bit, so it's useful to learn them together. | |
6. The "c" and "z" sounds | The letters "c" and "z" in pinyin can totally throw you off at first, but the sounds they make are not too difficult for most learners. | |
7. The "ch" "sh" and "zh" sounds | These similar sounds shouldn't be too hard for speakers of English, but it's important to pay close attention to the vowel sounds that they combine with. | |
8. The "r" sound | This is probably an "r" sound unlike any you've ever made before. It doesn't exist in English, but it can be learned! | |
9. The "ü" vowel | Not the same as "u", the "ü" sound might be familiar if you speak French or German, but it doesn't exist in English. | |
10. The "j" "q" and "x" sounds | The "j", "q", and "x" sounds are all foreign to speakers of English, but absolutely essential to master for good Chinese pronunciation. | |
A1 | Pinyin gotchas | There are certain seemingly inconsistent things about pinyin that trip everybody up at first. Here they all are, together in one convenient list. |
A2 Pinyin Points
Level | Pronunciation Point | Summary |
---|---|---|
A2 | Tough sounds (basic) | Certain sounds and sound combinations need extra attention. |
1. Tough sounds c-s-z- | Not all learners struggle with them, but the c- and z- initials can be tricky for some. | |
2. Tough sounds s-sh-, c-ch-, z-zh- | Although the sounds themselves aren't too bad, the way they're combined can be difficult. | |
3. Tough sounds x-sh-, q-ch-, j-zh- | The x-, q-, and -j initials are new and foreign. When mixed with the sh-, ch-, and zh- initials, the results can be downright brutal. | |
4. Tough sounds r- | The r- initial is an all-new sound for English-speakers, and it definitely requires practice. | |
5. Tough sounds -an-ang | The -an and -ang finals aren't too bad by themselves, but how they're pronounced can vary a bit depending on what comes before them. | |
6. Tough sounds -e | The Mandarin "e" sound, although not entirely alien to English speakers, does take some practice to get right consistently. | |
7. Tough sounds -ou-uo | The "ou" and "-uo" vowel sounds aren't difficult, but they're easy to mix up. | |
8. Tough sounds -ü-u | Those two dots make a difference, but sometimes they're "stealth." | |
9. Tough sounds -un | The key here is knowing when you're dealing with the "ü" vowel, since the two dots are not always written. | |
10. Tough sounds -uan | The key here is knowing when you're dealing with the "ü" vowel and when you're dealing with the "ü" vowel. | |
A2 | Pinyin spelling rules | Capitalization, apostrophes, punctuation... all good to know! |
A2 | Erhua | This is the "Beijinger R sound" that gives Mandarin Chinese its pirate flavor! |
B1 Pinyin Points
Level | Pronunciation Point | Summary |
---|---|---|
B1 | Tough sounds (advanced) | Certain sounds and sound combinations STILL need extra attention. |
1. Tough sounds x-sh-, q-ch-, j-zh- (phrases) | Hopefully the x-, q-, and -j initials are less foreign foreign now, But they undoubtedly still need practice! | |
2. Tough sounds r- (phrases) | English-speakers needs dedicate practice to master the r- initial sound. | |
3. Tough sounds -e (phrases) | Even at the intermediate level, most learners benefit from extra practice of the Mandarin "e" sound. | |
4. Tough sounds -ou-uo (phrases) | If you still occasionally get your "ou" and "-uo" vowel sounds mixed up, then it's time to master them. | |
5. Tough sounds -ü-u (phrases) | Intermediate learners should no longer be deceived by the "stealth ü" vowel, but often still need practice with it. | |
6. Tough sounds -un (phrases) | Sometimes the "-un" sound can still trip people up, even at the intermediate level. | |
B1 | Rare syllable | You won't find these in our chart, but if you're an intermediate learner, it's time to let you in on the little secret of these syllables' existence. |