Pinyin pronunciation chart

Like English b, but short and unaspirated. Do not add a big puff of air.

Like English p with a clear puff of air.

Like English m, with both lips closed before the vowel.

Like English f, with the top teeth lightly touching the lower lip.

Close to English d, but lighter and without aspiration.

Like English t with a stronger puff of air.

Like English n, with the tongue tip touching the ridge behind the teeth.

Like English l, clear and forward.

Hard g as in go, but short and unaspirated.

Like English k with a clear puff of air.

A rougher h, made farther back in the throat than English h.

Similar to English j, but with the tongue flatter and farther forward.

Similar to English ch, but sharper and strongly aspirated.

Similar to English sh, but thinner, with the tongue farther forward.

A curled-tongue j sound. Keep the tongue tip raised.

A curled-tongue ch sound with a clear puff of air.

A curled-tongue sh sound, deeper than English sh.

A Mandarin r with the tongue curled back; softer than English r.

Like a quick dz sound, not the English letter z.

Like ts in cats, with a strong puff of air.

Like English s, light and forward.

Like English y before an ee sound.

Like English w before an oo sound.

Open the mouth wide, like father without the r.

Round the lips. It is closer to aw than the English letter o.

A back-of-the-mouth uh sound, not English ee.

Like ee in see.

Like oo in food, with rounded lips.

Say ee with your tongue, then round your lips.

Like English eye, starting open and gliding smaller.

Like ay in say.

Sounds like way, with a quick rounded start.

Like ow in now.

Like oh, ending with rounded lips.

A compact yo sound; do not stretch it into two syllables.

Like ye in yes, held as one smooth final.

Start with the rounded ü mouth, then glide to eh.

Like er with the tongue curled back.

Ah plus an n ending, with the tongue tip forward.

Uh plus an n ending.

Ee plus an n ending.

A rounded wuh start plus an n ending.

Rounded ü plus an n ending.

Ah plus the ng sound in sing.

Uh plus the ng sound in sing.

Close to English ing, but start with a clearer ee.

A rounded o sound plus ng.

Read as one syllable with a curled-tongue zh sound.

Read as one syllable: curled ch plus strong aspiration.

Read as one syllable with a curled-tongue sh sound.

Read as one syllable; the r is soft and curled.

Read as one syllable, like a quick dzuh.

Read as one syllable, like tsuh with a puff of air.

Read as one syllable; do not say see.

Read as one syllable, like ee with a y onset.

Read as one syllable, like oo with rounded lips.

Read as ü, not as y plus English you.

Read as one smooth syllable, like yeh.

Start with rounded ü, then glide to eh.

Rounded ü start plus an n ending.

Read as one syllable: yee plus n.

Rounded ü plus n; keep the lips rounded.

Read as one syllable: yee plus ng.