Pronouncing words in Mandarin: Special sounds

Pinyin was invented to help people learn the pronunciation of Mandarin characters.

For many Mandarin sounds, once the pronunciation of their initials and finals is known, the pronunciation of the full word can be figured out by combining the two with their tone.

For example, the Mandarin for mountain can be broken down as the initial (sh), the final (an) and the first tone (-) to make 山 shān.

The following sounds do not follow this general rule - they should be read as a whole, rather than separated into their initial and final.

The ‘zhi’ sound in Mandarin is like an extension of the 'j' sound in 'jerk', eg:

• 知 zhĪ (to know)

• 直 zhÍ (straight)

• 纸 zhǐ (paper)

• 智 zhì (intelligence)

The ‘chi’ sound in Mandarin is like an extension of the 'ch' sound in 'church', eg:

• 吃 chĪ (to eat)

• 迟 chÍ (late)

• 尺 chǐ (a ruler)

• 翅 chì (wing)

The ‘shi’ sound in Mandarin is like an extension of the 'sh' sound in 'shirt', eg:

• 诗 shĪ (poem)

• 十 shÍ (ten)

• 史 shǐ (history)

• 是 shì (yes, is or are)

The 'ri' sound in Mandarin is pronounced like the ending of of the 'zhi', chi' and 'shi' sounds, like an 'rrrr' noise with the tip of the tongue on the roof of the mouth, eg:

• 日 rì (sun or day)

Did you know?

The 'zh-', 'ch-', 'sh-' and 'r-' sounds are called retroflexes.

This means that you make them by curling the tip of your tongue back to touch the middle of the roof of your mouth.

When they are followed just by an 'i' in pinyin, the 'i' is not really sounded but becomes like an extension of the initial sound.

The ‘zi’ sound in Mandarin is similar to ‘ds’ in ‘suds’, eg:

• 滋味 zī wèi (taste)

• 子 zǐ (son or child)

• 字 zì (word)

The ‘ci’ sound in Mandarin is similar to the ‘ts’ in ‘cats’, eg:

• 词 cÍ (word)

• 此 cǐ (this)

• 次 cì (times)

The 'si' sound in Mandarin is similar to the 'ss' in 'hiss' with an 'r' at the end, eg:

• 思考 sī kǎo (to think)

• 四 sì (four)

The ‘yi’ sound is similar to the ‘ee’ in ‘cheese’, eg:

• 一 yĪ (one)

• 阿姨 ā yí (aunt)

• 椅子 yǏ zi (chair)

• 容易 róng yì (easy)

The ‘yu’ sound is like 'eew' said with rounded lips, eg:

• 鱼 yú (fish)

• 雨 yǔ (rain)

• 玉 yù (jade)

The ‘ye’ sound is similar to a light pronunciation of ‘air’, eg:

• 爷爷 yé ye (grandfather)

• 也 yě (as well)

• 夜 yè (night)

Ü is pronounced by rounding your lips and saying the 'ee' in 'see' without moving your lips.

‘Yue’ is similar to the pronuniciation of Ü but with the sound of the word 'air' on the end, eg:

• 约会 yuē huì (date)

• 月 yuè (month)

The ‘yuan’ sound is similar to a combination of ‘you’ and ‘an’, eg:

• 公园 gōng yuán (park)

• 愿 yuàn (hope)

The ‘yin’ sound is similar to the ‘ean’ in ‘bean’, eg:

• 因为 yīn wèi (because)

• 银色 yín sè (silver)

• 饮 yǐn (drink)

The ‘yun’ sound is similar to the ‘oon’ in ‘moon’, eg:

• 云 yún (cloud)

• 允许 yǔn xǔ (allow)

• 熨斗 yùn dǒu (iron)

The ‘ying’ sound is similar to the ‘ing’ in ‘thing’, eg:

• 鹰 yīng (eagle)

• 赢 yíng (win)

• 影子 yǐng zi (shadow)

The ‘wu’ sound is similar to the ‘oo’ in ‘room’, eg:

• 乌鸦 wū yā (crow)

• 无 wú (none)

• 五 wǔ (five)

• 雾 wù (fog)