1.2.0 - Phonetics (Pinyin)
1. In modern Chinese, we use Pinyin to record the pronunciation of Chinese. Pinyin syllable usually includes three parts: the initial(声母), the final(韵母), and the tone(声调). There are 21 initials, 36 finals and 4 tones in Chinese.
Now, let’s check out the initials and finals we’ve learned in today’s lesson.
汉字 Character |
声母 Initial |
韵母 Final |
声调 Tone |
你 |
n |
i |
ˇ |
好 |
h |
ao |
ˇ |
老 |
l |
ao |
ˇ |
师 |
sh |
i |
ˉ |
您 |
n |
in |
ˊ |
们 |
m |
en |
|
再 |
z |
ai |
ˋ |
见 |
j |
ian |
ˋ |
Let's practice them in syllables.
Pinyin chart
i |
ao |
in |
en |
ai |
ian |
|
n |
ni |
nao |
nin |
nen |
nai |
nian |
h |
-- |
hao |
-- |
hen |
hai |
-- |
l |
li |
lao |
lin |
-- |
lai |
lian |
sh |
shi |
shao |
-- |
shen |
shai |
-- |
m |
mi |
mao |
min |
men |
mai |
mian |
z |
zi |
zao |
-- |
zen |
zai |
-- |
j |
ji |
-- |
jin |
-- |
-- |
jian |
Note:
"--" means it does not exist in Chinese.
In the syllable “shi” and “zi”, the “i” sound is different with other syllables, so you have to remember them specifically.
2. Third-tone sandhi
When two third-tone syllables are read in sequence, the first syllable turns into the second tone. But notice that, when put in the written form, the original tone is kept.
ˇ + ˇ → ˊ + ˇ |
||||
你好(hello) |
nǐ hǎo |
→ |
ní hǎo |
|
可以 (can) |
kěyǐ |
→ |
kéyǐ |
|
老虎 (tiger) |
lǎohǔ |
→ |
láohǔ |
Practice:
shǒubiǎo 手表 watch |
yǔsǎn 雨伞 umbrella |
mǎyǐ 蚂蚁 ant |
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