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Chinese Pinyin Pronunciation Guide

This guide covers Pinyin pronounciation for Mandarin Chinese.

Pinyin Initials (Consonants)

Pinyin Approximate English Sound Example Word (Context) Notes
b Unaspirated “b” (like “p” but voiced) spin (voiced “b” sound) Softer than English “b”; unaspirated.
p Aspirated “p” pen Stronger puff of air than English “p”.
m “m” moon Same as English.
f “f” fall Same as English.
d Unaspirated “d” (like “t” but voiced) stop (voiced “d” sound) Unaspirated.
t Aspirated “t” tall Stronger puff of air.
n “n” nail Same as English.
l “l” late Same as English.
g Unaspirated “g” (like “k” but voiced) skill (voiced “g” sound) Unaspirated.
k Aspirated “k” kite Stronger puff of air.
h Harsher “h” (like “ch” in Scottish “loch”) hat (but throatier) Guttural, closer to German “ch”.
j “j” but with tongue flat (like “tsi”) jeep (but sharper) No direct equivalent; similar to “dzhee”.
q Aspirated “j” (like “ch” in “cheese”) cheese (with aspiration) Sharper than “j”.
x “sh” but with tongue flat (like “she”) ship (softer, hissing) Similar to “s” in “see” but palatal.
zh Retroflex “j” (tongue curled back) jump (but retroflex) Like “dr” in “drive”.
ch Aspirated retroflex “ch” chin (retroflex + aspirated) Curl tongue back.
sh Retroflex “sh” shirt (retroflex) Like “sr” in “shrimp”.
r Retroflex “r” (like “zh” but voiced) measure (retroflex) Not rolled; tongue curled back.
z Unaspirated “dz” ds in “kids Voiced “ts” sound.
c Aspirated “ts” tsunami (with aspiration) Like “cats” but stronger.
s ”s” see Same as English.
y “y” yes Acts as a glide.
w “w” water Acts as a glide.

Pinyin Finals (Vowels/Combinations)

Pinyin Approximate English Sound Example Word (Context) Notes
a “ah” father Open, clear “a”.
o “aw” law (but shorter) Rounded lips.
e “uh” under Neutral vowel.
i “ee” bee After most initials.
u “oo” moon Rounded lips.
ü French “u” (no English equivalent) French “tu” Rounded front vowel.
ai “eye” eye Glide from “a” to “i”.
ei “ay” say Glide from “e” to “i”.
ao “ow” cow Glide from “a” to “o”.
ou “oh” go Glide from “o” to “u”.
an “ahn” uncle (nasalized) Ends with slight “n” sound.
en “un” under Nasalized.
ang “ahng” sung (nasalized) Like “ong” in “song”.
eng “ung” lung Nasalized.
ong “oong” “too” + “ng” Nasalized “oo” sound.
er “ar” (retroflex) art (retroflex) Curl tongue back.
ie “yeh” yes Starts with “y” glide.
iu “yo” you Glide from “i” to “u”.
ui “way” way Glide from “u” to “i”.
üe French “uè” No English equivalent Rounded + “eh” glide.
ün French “un” No English equivalent Rounded + nasal.

Notes

This list prioritizes closest English approximations while highlighting unique sounds. For precise pronunciation, practice with audio resources is recommended.

Cheatsheet

b = b ~ spin     a = ah ~ father        
p = p ~ pen      o = aw ~ law            
m = m ~ moon     e = uh ~ under          
f = f ~ fall     i = ee ~ bee            
d = d ~ stop     u = oo ~ moon          
t = t ~ tall     ü = oo ~ tu (fr)      
n = n ~ nail     ai = eye ~ eye          
l = l ~ late     ei = ay ~ say          
g = g ~ skill    ao = ow ~ cow          
k = k ~ kite     ou = oh ~ go            
h = h ~ loch     an = ahn ~ uncle        
j = j ~ jeep     en = un ~ under        
q = ch ~ cheese  ang = ahng ~ sung      
x = sh ~ ship    eng = ung ~ lung        
zh = j ~ jump    ong = oong ~ too+ng  
ch = ch ~ chin   er = ar ~ art          
sh = sh ~ shirt  ie = yeh ~ yes          
r = r ~ measure  iu = yo ~ you          
z = dz ~ kids    ui = way ~ way          
c = ts ~ tsunami üe = uè ~ suède (fr)  
s = s ~ see      ün = oon ~ lune (fr)  
y = y ~ yes                                
w = w ~ water

See Also