Learn Chinese: Lesson 01 - Phonetics, Hello

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Introduction to the Pinyin, the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet, the four tones. First conversation.

Lesson 01

· Initials

· Finals

· Tones

· Tone changes

· Conversation

· Calligraphy exercises

The Chinese Phonetic Alphabet

There have been many different systems of transcription used for learning to pronounce Chinese. Today the official transcription accepted on an international basis is the Pinyin alphabet, developed in China at the end of the 1950's.

Initials

A syllable in Chinese is composed of an initial, which is a consonant that begins the syllable, and a final, wich covers the rest of the syllable.

m, f, n, l, hand sh are pronounced as in English.
d like "d" in "bed" (unaspirated)
j like "g" in "genius" (unaspirated)
Particular attention should be paid to the pronunciation of the so-called "aspirated" consonants. It is necessary to breath heavily after the consonant is pronounced.
p like "p" in "pope"
Distinction between certain initials: b / p d / t g / k j / q z / c zh / ch
ch (tongue curled back, aspirated)
c like "ts" in "cats"
q harder than "ch" in "cheap"
k like "k" in "kangaroo"
t like "t" in "tap"
r somewhat like "r" in "rain"
x like "sh" in "sheep" but with the corners of the lips drawn back
g a soft unaspirated "k" sound
b like "p" in "spin" (unaspirated)
zh like "j" in "job"
z like "ds" in "beds"

In modern Chinese, there are 38 finals besides the above-represented 21 initials.

Finals

ie like "ye" in "yes"
e like "e" in "her"
er like "er" in "sister" (american pronounciation)
ai like "y" in "by" (light)
ei like "ay" in "bay"
ou like "o" in "go"
an like "an" in "can" (without stressing the "n")
-ng (final) a nasalized soung like the "ng" in "bang" without pronouncing the "g"
uei, uen and iou when preceded by an initial, are written as ui, un and iu respectivly.