Difference between revisions of "The "a" vowel"

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== Pinyin's Main "a" Vowel Sound ==
 
== Pinyin's Main "a" Vowel Sound ==
  
This is some temporary holder text to move the pinyin chart down. This is some temporary holder text to move the pinyin chart down. This is some temporary holder text to move the pinyin chart down. This is some temporary holder text to move the pinyin chart down.  
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Although the "a" sound in Chinese can vary a little bit, and is slightly changed when followed by a "[[-n]]" or a "[[-ng]]" sound, it should sound more or less consistent in the syllables introduced in this section. Remember that you can click on the sounds in the chart fragment to hear audio.
  
== Pinyin's Alternate "a" Vowel Sounds ==
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* [[-a]] sounds like the "a" sound in the English words <span class="enpron">"<strong>a</strong>h"</span> or <span class="enpron">"h<strong>a</strong>"</span> or <span class="enpron">"f<strong>a</strong>ther"</span>.
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* [[-ai]] sounds like the "ai" in the English words <span class="enpron">"Th<strong>ai</strong>"</span> and <span class="enpron">"<strong>ai</strong>sle"</span>.
 +
* [[-ao]] sounds pretty much like the word <span class="enpron">"T<strong>ao</strong>"</span>/<span class="enpron">"D<strong>ao</strong>"</span> which we've imported into English from Chinese, or the <span class="enpron">"ow"</span> in the English word <span class="enpron">"how"</span>, but with a rather muted “w” sound at the end.
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* [[-an]] sounds similar to <span class="enpron">“on”</span> (minus a strong <span class="enpron">“aw”</span> sound like in <span class="enpron">“lawn”</span>) but you may also hear a hint of the vowel sound in the English word <span class="enpron">“can”</span>. This sound doesn't match up to English sounds perfectly, but it's not hard to approximate.
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* [[-ang]] sounds similar to the <span class="enpron">"ong"</span> sound in the word <span class="enpron">"King K<strong>ong</strong>"</span>. Because you have the nasalized "[[-ng]]" ending, the "a" vowel changes slightly, but that's not something you should have to worry about too much.
  
This is some temporary holder text to move the pinyin chart down. This is some temporary holder text to move the pinyin chart down. This is some temporary holder text to move the pinyin chart down. This is some temporary holder text to move the pinyin chart down.
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== Pinyin Chart Fragment ==
  
{{#widget: Pinyin chart settings}}
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This is just a part of the full [[pinyin chart]], limited to the sounds we've covered so far.
<div class="pinyin-table-audio-container"></div>
 
<div class="table-container"><table class="pinyin-table medium" id="pinyin-table">
 
<tr><!--  TABLE HEADERS  -->
 
<th class="first-row first-col"></th>
 
<th title="Click to expand" class="col-a col-placeholder first-row"><strong>-a-</strong></th>
 
<th title="Click to collapse" class="first-row col-a" id="-a"><strong>-a</strong></th>
 
<th title="Click to collapse" class="first-row col-a" id="-ai"><strong>-ai</strong></th>
 
<th title="Click to collapse" class="first-row col-a" id="-ao"><strong>-ao</strong></th>
 
<th title="Click to collapse" class="first-row col-a" id="-an"><strong>-an</strong></th>
 
<th title="Click to collapse" class="first-row col-a" id="-ang"><strong>-ang</strong></th>
 
<th class="first-row last-col"></th>
 
</tr>
 
  
<tr><!--  B- ROW  -->
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{{#widget: Pinyin chart
<th class="row-bpmf first-col" id="b-"><strong>b-</strong></th>
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| exclude_col_e
<td class="row-bpmf col-a col-placeholder"></td>
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| exclude_col_o
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="ba"><div class="table-pinyin">ba</div><div class="table-link">[[ba]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[pɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄅㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">pa</div></td>
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| exclude_col_i
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="bai"><div class="table-pinyin">bai</div><div class="table-link">[[bai]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[paɪ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄅㄞ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">pai</div></td>
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| exclude_col_u
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="bao"><div class="table-pinyin">bao</div><div class="table-link">[[bao]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[pɑʊ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄅㄠ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">pao</div></td>
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| exclude_col_v
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="ban"><div class="table-pinyin">ban</div><div class="table-link">[[ban]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[pan]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄅㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">pan</div></td>
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| exclude_row_null
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="bang"><div class="table-pinyin">bang</div><div class="table-link">[[bang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[pɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄅㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">pang</div></td>
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| exclude_row_jqx
<th class="row-bpmf last-col" id="b-"><strong>b-</strong></th>
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| exclude_row_zhchshr
</tr>
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}}
  
<tr><!--  P- ROW  -->
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== Pinyin's Alternate "a" Vowel Sounds ==
<th class="row-bpmf first-col" id="p-"><strong>p-</strong></th>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a col-placeholder"></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="pa"><div class="table-pinyin">pa</div><div class="table-link">[[pa]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[pʰɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄆㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">p'a</div></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="pai"><div class="table-pinyin">pai</div><div class="table-link">[[pai]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[pʰaɪ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄆㄞ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">p'ai</div></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="pao"><div class="table-pinyin">pao</div><div class="table-link">[[pao]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[pʰɑʊ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄆㄠ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">p'ao</div></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="pan"><div class="table-pinyin">pan</div><div class="table-link">[[pan]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[pʰan] </div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄆㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">p'an</div></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="pang"><div class="table-pinyin">pang</div><div class="table-link">[[pang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[pʰɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄆㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">p'ang</div></td>
 
<th class="row-bpmf last-col" id="p-"><strong>p-</strong></th>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr><!--  M- ROW  -->
 
<th class="row-bpmf first-col" id="m-"><strong>m-</strong></th>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a col-placeholder"></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="ma"><div class="table-pinyin">ma</div><div class="table-link">[[ma]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[mɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄇㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">ma</div></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="mai"><div class="table-pinyin">mai</div><div class="table-link">[[mai]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[maɪ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄇㄞ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">mai</div></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="mao"><div class="table-pinyin">mao</div><div class="table-link">[[mao]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[mɑʊ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄇㄠ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">mao</div></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="man"><div class="table-pinyin">man</div><div class="table-link">[[man]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[man]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄇㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">man</div></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="mang"><div class="table-pinyin">mang</div><div class="table-link">[[mang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[mɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄇㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">mang</div></td>
 
<th class="row-bpmf last-col" id="m-"><strong>m-</strong></th>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr><!--  F- ROW  -->
 
<th class="row-bpmf first-col" id="f-"><strong>f-</strong></th>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a col-placeholder"></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="fa"><div class="table-pinyin">fa</div><div class="table-link">[[fa]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[fɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄈㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">fa</div></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a"></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a"></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="fan"><div class="table-pinyin">fan</div><div class="table-link">[[fan]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[fan]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄈㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">fan</div></td>
 
<td class="row-bpmf col-a" id="fang"><div class="table-pinyin">fang</div><div class="table-link">[[fang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[fɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄈㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">fang</div></td>
 
<th class="row-bpmf last-col" id="f-"><strong>f-</strong></th>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr><!--  D- ROW  -->
 
<th class="row-dtnl first-col" id="d-"><strong>d-</strong></th>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a col-placeholder"></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="da"><div class="table-pinyin">da</div><div class="table-link">[[da]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[tɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄉㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">ta</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="dai"><div class="table-pinyin">dai</div><div class="table-link">[[dai]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[taɪ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄉㄞ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">tai</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="dao"><div class="table-pinyin">dao</div><div class="table-link">[[dao]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[tɑʊ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄉㄠ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">tao</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="dan"><div class="table-pinyin">dan</div><div class="table-link">[[dan]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[tan]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄉㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">tan</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="dang"><div class="table-pinyin">dang</div><div class="table-link">[[dang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[tɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄉㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">tang</div></td>
 
<th class="row-dtnl last-col" id="d-"><strong>d-</strong></th>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr><!--  T- ROW  -->
 
<th class="row-dtnl first-col" id="t-"><strong>t-</strong></th>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a col-placeholder"></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="ta"><div class="table-pinyin">ta</div><div class="table-link">[[ta]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[tʰɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄊㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">t'a</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="tai"><div class="table-pinyin">tai</div><div class="table-link">[[tai]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[tʰaɪ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄊㄞ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">t'ai</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="tao"><div class="table-pinyin">tao</div><div class="table-link">[[tao]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[tʰɑʊ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄊㄠ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">t'ao</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="tan"><div class="table-pinyin">tan</div><div class="table-link">[[tan]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[tʰan]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄊㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">t'an</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="tang"><div class="table-pinyin">tang</div><div class="table-link">[[tang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[tʰɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄊㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">t'ang</div></td>
 
<th class="row-dtnl last-col" id="t-"><strong>t-</strong></th>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr><!--  N- ROW  -->
 
<th class="row-dtnl first-col" id="n-"><strong>n-</strong></th>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a col-placeholder"></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="na"><div class="table-pinyin">na</div><div class="table-link">[[na]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[nɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄋㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">na</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="nai"><div class="table-pinyin">nai</div><div class="table-link">[[nai]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[naɪ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄋㄞ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">nai</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="nao"><div class="table-pinyin">nao</div><div class="table-link">[[nao]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[nɑʊ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄋㄠ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">nao</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="nan"><div class="table-pinyin">nan</div><div class="table-link">[[nan]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[nan]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄋㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">nan</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="nang"><div class="table-pinyin">nang</div><div class="table-link">[[nang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[nɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄋㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">nang</div></td>
 
<th class="row-dtnl last-col" id="n-"><strong>n-</strong></th>
 
</tr>
 
  
<tr><!--  L- ROW  -->
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The letter "a" in pinyin can actually make different sounds as well, when it is part of the "[[-ian]]" and "[[-üan]]" finals. Those sounds will be covered in later sections of this guide.
<th class="row-dtnl first-col" id="l-"><strong>l-</strong></th>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a col-placeholder"></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="la"><div class="table-pinyin">la</div><div class="table-link">[[la]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[lɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄌㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">la</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="lai"><div class="table-pinyin">lai</div><div class="table-link">[[lai]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[laɪ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄌㄞ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">lai</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="lao"><div class="table-pinyin">lao</div><div class="table-link">[[lao]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[lɑʊ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄌㄠ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">lao</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="lan"><div class="table-pinyin">lan</div><div class="table-link">[[lan]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[lan]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄌㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">lan</div></td>
 
<td class="row-dtnl col-a" id="lang"><div class="table-pinyin">lang</div><div class="table-link">[[lang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[lɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄌㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">lang</div></td>
 
<th class="row-dtnl last-col" id="l-"><strong>l-</strong></th>
 
</tr>
 
  
<tr><!--  S- ROW  -->
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For now, let's move on to [[the "e" vowel]].
<th class="row-zcs first-col" id="s-"><strong>s-</strong></th>
 
<td class="row-zcs col-a col-placeholder"></td>
 
<td class="row-zcs col-a" id="sa"><div class="table-pinyin">sa</div><div class="table-link">[[sa]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[sɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄙㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">sa</div></td>
 
<td class="row-zcs col-a" id="sai"><div class="table-pinyin">sai</div><div class="table-link">[[sai]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[saɪ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄙㄞ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">sai</div></td>
 
<td class="row-zcs col-a" id="sao"><div class="table-pinyin">sao</div><div class="table-link">[[sao]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[sɑʊ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄙㄠ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">sao</div></td>
 
<td class="row-zcs col-a" id="san"><div class="table-pinyin">san</div><div class="table-link">[[san]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[san]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄙㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">san</div></td>
 
<td class="row-zcs col-a" id="sang"><div class="table-pinyin">sang</div><div class="table-link">[[sang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[sɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄙㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">sang</div></td>
 
<th class="row-zcs last-col" id="s-"><strong>s-</strong></th>
 
</tr>
 
  
<tr><!--  G- ROW  -->
+
== Sources and further reading ==
<th class="row-gkh first-col" id="g-"><strong>g-</strong></th>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a col-placeholder"></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="ga"><div class="table-pinyin">ga</div><div class="table-link">[[ga]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[kɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄍㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">ka</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="gai"><div class="table-pinyin">gai</div><div class="table-link">[[gai]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[kaɪ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄍㄞ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">kai</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="gao"><div class="table-pinyin">gao</div><div class="table-link">[[gao]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[kɑʊ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄍㄠ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">kao</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="gan"><div class="table-pinyin">gan</div><div class="table-link">[[gan]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[kan]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄍㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">kan</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="gang"><div class="table-pinyin">gang</div><div class="table-link">[[gang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[kɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄍㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">kang</div></td>
 
<th class="row-gkh last-col" id="g-"><strong>g-</strong></th>
 
</tr>
 
  
<tr><!--  K- ROW  -->
+
* Sinosplice: [http://www.sinosplice.com/learn-chinese/pronunciation-of-mandarin-chinese/2 Chinese Pronunciation]
<th class="row-gkh first-col" id="k-"><strong>k-</strong></th>
+
* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/tools/pronunciation/section/1 A with Easy Consonants]
<td class="row-gkh col-a col-placeholder"></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="ka"><div class="table-pinyin">ka</div><div class="table-link">[[ka]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[kʰɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄎㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">k'a</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="kai"><div class="table-pinyin">kai</div><div class="table-link">[[kai]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[kʰaɪ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄎㄞ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">k'ai</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="kao"><div class="table-pinyin">kao</div><div class="table-link">[[kao]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[kʰɑʊ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄎㄠ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">k'ao</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="kan"><div class="table-pinyin">kan</div><div class="table-link">[[kan]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[kʰan]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄎㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">k'an</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="kang"><div class="table-pinyin">kang</div><div class="table-link">[[kang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[kʰɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄎㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">k'ang</div></td>
 
<th class="row-gkh last-col" id="k-"><strong>k-</strong></th>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr><!--  H- ROW  -->
 
<th class="row-gkh first-col" id="h-"><strong>h-</strong></th>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a col-placeholder"></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="ha"><div class="table-pinyin">ha</div><div class="table-link">[[ha]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[xɑ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄏㄚ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">ha</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="hai"><div class="table-pinyin">hai</div><div class="table-link">[[hai]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[xaɪ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄏㄞ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">hai</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="hao"><div class="table-pinyin">hao</div><div class="table-link">[[hao]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[xɑʊ̯]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄏㄠ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">hao</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="han"><div class="table-pinyin">han</div><div class="table-link">[[han]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[xan]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄏㄢ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">han</div></td>
 
<td class="row-gkh col-a" id="hang"><div class="table-pinyin">hang</div><div class="table-link">[[hang]]</div><div class="table-ipa">[xɑŋ]</div><div class="table-zhuyin">ㄏㄤ</div><div class="table-wade-giles">hang</div></td>
 
<th class="row-gkh last-col" id="h-"><strong>h-</strong></th>
 
</tr>
 
</table></div>
 
  
 
[[Category:Pinyin]]
 
[[Category:Pinyin]]
{{Point Type|pinyin}}
+
{{Basic Pronunciation|A1|31|The vowel "a" in Mandarin isn't too hard, so let's start with that one. Now you can make actual syllables!|pinyin|ASP00004}}
{{Level|A1|20}}
 
 
 
 
 
 
{{Number in Series|2|Pinyin quick start  guide}}
 
{{Number in Series|2|Pinyin quick start  guide}}
 
+
{{References|-a}}
[[Category:Pinyin]]
+
{{References|-ai}}
{{Point Type|pinyin}}
+
{{References|-ao}}
{{Level|A1}}
+
{{References|-an}}
 +
{{References|-ang}}

Latest revision as of 02:46, 10 June 2015

The first vowel you want to learn in pinyin is "a." It can combine with all of those easy sounds you already learned in part 1 of this guide, so it's a great place to start.

Pinyin's Main "a" Vowel Sound

Although the "a" sound in Chinese can vary a little bit, and is slightly changed when followed by a "-n" or a "-ng" sound, it should sound more or less consistent in the syllables introduced in this section. Remember that you can click on the sounds in the chart fragment to hear audio.

  • -a sounds like the "a" sound in the English words "ah" or "ha" or "father".
  • -ai sounds like the "ai" in the English words "Thai" and "aisle".
  • -ao sounds pretty much like the word "Tao"/"Dao" which we've imported into English from Chinese, or the "ow" in the English word "how", but with a rather muted “w” sound at the end.
  • -an sounds similar to “on” (minus a strong “aw” sound like in “lawn”) but you may also hear a hint of the vowel sound in the English word “can”. This sound doesn't match up to English sounds perfectly, but it's not hard to approximate.
  • -ang sounds similar to the "ong" sound in the word "King Kong". Because you have the nasalized "-ng" ending, the "a" vowel changes slightly, but that's not something you should have to worry about too much.

Pinyin Chart Fragment

This is just a part of the full pinyin chart, limited to the sounds we've covered so far.

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Chart Mode: Audio Links (disables audio)

-a- -a -ai -ao -an -ang -e- -o- -i- -u- -ü-
b-
ba
[pɑ]
ㄅㄚ
pa
bai
[paɪ̯]
ㄅㄞ
pai
bao
[pɑʊ̯]
ㄅㄠ
pao
ban
[pan]
ㄅㄢ
pan
bang
[pɑŋ]
ㄅㄤ
pang
b-
p-
pa
[pʰɑ]
ㄆㄚ
p'a
pai
[pʰaɪ̯]
ㄆㄞ
p'ai
pao
[pʰɑʊ̯]
ㄆㄠ
p'ao
pan
[pʰan]
ㄆㄢ
p'an
pang
[pʰɑŋ]
ㄆㄤ
p'ang
p-
m-
ma
[mɑ]
ㄇㄚ
ma
mai
[maɪ̯]
ㄇㄞ
mai
mao
[mɑʊ̯]
ㄇㄠ
mao
man
[man]
ㄇㄢ
man
mang
[mɑŋ]
ㄇㄤ
mang
m-
f-
fa
[fɑ]
ㄈㄚ
fa
fan
[fan]
ㄈㄢ
fan
fang
[fɑŋ]
ㄈㄤ
fang
f-
d-
da
[tɑ]
ㄉㄚ
ta
dai
[taɪ̯]
ㄉㄞ
tai
dao
[tɑʊ̯]
ㄉㄠ
tao
dan
[tan]
ㄉㄢ
tan
dang
[tɑŋ]
ㄉㄤ
tang
d-
t-
ta
[tʰɑ]
ㄊㄚ
t'a
tai
[tʰaɪ̯]
ㄊㄞ
t'ai
tao
[tʰɑʊ̯]
ㄊㄠ
t'ao
tan
[tʰan]
ㄊㄢ
t'an
tang
[tʰɑŋ]
ㄊㄤ
t'ang
t-
n-
na
[nɑ]
ㄋㄚ
na
nai
[naɪ̯]
ㄋㄞ
nai
nao
[nɑʊ̯]
ㄋㄠ
nao
nan
[nan]
ㄋㄢ
nan
nang
[nɑŋ]
ㄋㄤ
nang
n-
l-
la
[lɑ]
ㄌㄚ
la
lai
[laɪ̯]
ㄌㄞ
lai
lao
[lɑʊ̯]
ㄌㄠ
lao
lan
[lan]
ㄌㄢ
lan
lang
[lɑŋ]
ㄌㄤ
lang
l-
z-
za
[tsɑ]
ㄗㄚ
tsa
zai
[tsaɪ̯]
ㄗㄞ
tsai
zao
[tsɑʊ̯]
ㄗㄠ
tsao
zan
[tsan]
ㄗㄢ
tsan
zang
[tsɑŋ]
ㄗㄤ
tsang
z-
c-
ca
[tsʰɑ]
ㄘㄚ
ts'a
cai
[tsʰaɪ̯]
ㄘㄞ
ts'ai
cao
[tsʰɑʊ̯]
ㄘㄠ
ts'ao
can
[tsʰan]
ㄘㄢ
ts'an
cang
[tsʰɑŋ]
ㄘㄤ
ts'ang
c-
s-
sa
[sɑ]
ㄙㄚ
sa
sai
[saɪ̯]
ㄙㄞ
sai
sao
[sɑʊ̯]
ㄙㄠ
sao
san
[san]
ㄙㄢ
san
sang
[sɑŋ]
ㄙㄤ
sang
s-
g-
ga
[kɑ]
ㄍㄚ
ka
gai
[kaɪ̯]
ㄍㄞ
kai
gao
[kɑʊ̯]
ㄍㄠ
kao
gan
[kan]
ㄍㄢ
kan
gang
[kɑŋ]
ㄍㄤ
kang
g-
k-
ka
[kʰɑ]
ㄎㄚ
k'a
kai
[kʰaɪ̯]
ㄎㄞ
k'ai
kao
[kʰɑʊ̯]
ㄎㄠ
k'ao
kan
[kʰan]
ㄎㄢ
k'an
kang
[kʰɑŋ]
ㄎㄤ
k'ang
k-
h-
ha
[xɑ]
ㄏㄚ
ha
hai
[xaɪ̯]
ㄏㄞ
hai
hao
[xɑʊ̯]
ㄏㄠ
hao
han
[xan]
ㄏㄢ
han
hang
[xɑŋ]
ㄏㄤ
hang
h-
-a- -a -ai -ao -an -ang -e- -o- -i- -u- -ü-

Pinyin's Alternate "a" Vowel Sounds

The letter "a" in pinyin can actually make different sounds as well, when it is part of the "-ian" and "-üan" finals. Those sounds will be covered in later sections of this guide.

For now, let's move on to the "e" vowel.

Sources and further reading