Pinyin Introduction – Pinyin Alphabet Guide

Chinese Pinyin Pronunciation

A Pinyin Alphabet Guide on Mandarin Pinyin System, Hanyu Pinyin Syllables and Chinese Pinyin Letters

Thanks for joining ChineseFor.Us Chinese Pinyin Alphabet Guide. This is an introduction video about the complete Chinese Pinyin pronunciation. You will get an idea about the whole Mandarin Pinyin System. We will be talking about all Chinese Pinyin Letters, and the structure of Hanyu Pinyin Syllables. What’s more, we will learn the Chinese Pinyin pronunciation of all Initials and Finals in the Chinese Pinyin Alphabet. But of course, in other lessons of this course, we will try to put them into different groups and practice with more detailed pronunciation tips and drills!

LESSON INFO

KEYWORDS

  • Chinese Pinyin Alphabet
  • Pinyin Initials
  • "Zero" Initials
  • Pinyin Finals
    • Simple Finals
    • Compound Finals
    • Nasal Finals
  • Pinyin Syllables
  • Pinyin Letters

LESSON NOTES

Chinese Pinyin System

Pinyin was introduced in 1958, it uses a Roman alphabet to transcribe the Mandarin Chinese pronunciations. Pinyin Syllables helps us learn and memorize the pronunciation of Chinese Characters.

If we know how to spell and type Pinyin, we’ll be able to pronounce and type out every Chinese Character.

 

Chinese Pinyin Syllable

A Chinese Pinyin Syllable can have three parts, Initial + Final + Tone. But sometimes, there can be no Initial (Chinese Syllables with Zero-Initials), or no Tone (Chinese Syllables with the Neutral Tone). But there is definitely a Final.

 

Chinese Pinyin  Alphabet Guide

There are 21 Chinese Initials, and 36 Chinese Finals in the Chinese Pinyin Alphabet. The Finals can then be divided in to 3 groups: Simple Finals; Compound Finals; and Nasal Finals.

 

21 Chinese Initials

Initials are Consonants, and an Initial always goes at the very beginning of the Syllable, if there is one.

b

 p

 m

 f
d

 t

 n

 l
g

 k

 h

  
j

 q

 x

  
z

 c

 s
zh

 ch

 sh

  r

 

36 Chinese Finals

Finals are mostly vowels, or stars with a vowel. In a Chinese Pinyin Syllable, the Final goes at the very end. There are 6 Chinese Simple Finals, 13 Chinese Compound Finals, 16 Chinese Nasal Finals, and 1 Chinese Special Pinyin Final.

 

6 Chinese Simple Finals

a

 o

 e

 i

 u

 ü

13 Chinese Compound Finals

ai
 ei
 ao
 ou
ia
 ie
 ua
 uo
 üe
 iao
 iu [iou]
 uai
 ui [uei]

16 Chinese Nasal Finals

an
 en
 in
  ün
ian
 üan
 uan
 un [uen]
ang
 eng
 ong
 ing
iang
 iong
 uang
 ueng

 

1 Chinese Special Pinyin Final:

er

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27 Comments

  • This course is really fantastic. It is thorough and the explanations are elaborate and very clear. Thank you for this great learning material.

  • When I was learning Mandarin in the 80’s I was attending the Gwo yu er bau school in Taipei, learning Bo Po Mo Fo, which I now understand to be Pinyin. We were learning how to write these characters. Am I correct in thinking that Pinyin is what is used for texting? Like a shortcut/easier method of writing characters?? I left Taiwan before I was able to write, and was quite conversational after 4 years there— but coming back to the U S and not have Mandarin spoken constantly around me, or on the TV and radio, I lost so much of my ability to speak this beautiful language. Back then there was no YouTube etc. we had to attend classes whether formal or private lessons. Your site here and your YouTube channel are amazing!!!

  • Last row of Pinyin initials difficult for me to pronounce and discern. Ive also been practicing for 3 days and realized this was prerequisite, which makes sense and helps a lot!

  • I take back my previous comment, the following lessons in this drill lessons do a great job teaching the pronunciations for everything

  • I’m new to Pinyin, but I enjoy taking on new language challenges. I’ve read some comments by others who are new, and for those who find memorizing hard, it helps tremendously to make a point of “taking it in small pieces” and focus intently for 30-minutes-only. Take a break, and come back. Gradually, your mind will start soaking it up. Give it an honest try.

  • I think if you would go through all the pin yin course lessons, you’ll be able to differentiate the sound between zh, ch, and ü. When I watched them, I now get the difference of each of them.

    • Repetition, record yourself and see what errors you can fix. That is my opinion and how I am seeing improvements in my pronunciation.

  • I am also just learning, but I think I might be able to explain the difference.
    ch – has no vocal tone mixed (sound like child, chat)
    zh – is ch sound with some vocal tone mixed in (sounds like geranium, gymnastics)
    This is similar to how the r sound is the sh sound with some vocal tone mixed in, if that makes sense? Another example from English is the difference between V and F sound.
    I think the other tones you’re having trouble with have similar issue – the difference is in whether or not there is some vocal tone mixed in.
    I hope this helps, and someone else feel free to correct me if I’m giving poor advice. Thank you.

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