﻿{"id":5321,"date":"2016-04-22T18:48:08","date_gmt":"2016-04-22T10:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/?p=5321"},"modified":"2022-06-03T22:48:45","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T14:48:45","slug":"the-definitive-guide-to-pinyin-chinese-pronunciation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/the-definitive-guide-to-pinyin-chinese-pronunciation\/","title":{"rendered":"The Definitive Guide to Pinyin &#038; Chinese Pronunciation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pinyin: An Introduction<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Pinyin <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/worddetail\/pinyin\/13402\/3\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u62fc\u97f3<\/a>&nbsp;(p\u012bn y\u012bn), is the romanized translation of Chinese characters. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alittledynasty.com\/history-of-pinyin.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pinyin was introduced after a language reform during the 1950s<\/a>, instigated by Zhou Enlai <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/#sk=%E5%91%A8%E6%81%A9%E6%9D%A5&amp;svt=pinyin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u5468\u6069\u6765<\/a>&nbsp;(zh\u014du \u0113n l\u00e1i). He believed that a phonetic system was necessary in order for people to learn how to pronounce Chinese characters. Zhou Enlai worked alongside linguist, Zhou Youguang <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/#sk=Zhou%20You%20guang&amp;svt=pinyin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u5468\u6709\u5149<\/a>&nbsp;(zh\u014du y\u01d2u gu\u0101ng) to create Hanyu Pinyin <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/#sk=hanyu%20pinyin&amp;svt=pinyin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u6c49\u8bed\u62fc\u97f3<\/a>&nbsp;(h\u00e0n y\u01d4 p\u012bn y\u012bn). Hanyu (another way to say \u2018Chinese language\u2019) Pinyin used the Latin alphabet, which Zhou Youguang believed would help connect China to the western world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zhou Youguang is known as the \u2018Father of Pinyin\u2019 and recently celebrated his 110th birthday!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Pinyin is based on the Latin alphabet, the sounds that are created when letters make a word, do not&nbsp;sound the same as English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, based on our understanding that in English, the letter \u2018z\u2019 makes a sound found in \u2018zebra\u2019, \u2018zoo\u2019 and \u2018buzz\u2019, and is made with the tongue at the front of the mouth. If we look at the romanization of the Chinese city, Shenzhen <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/worddetail\/shenzhen\/1395\/3\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u6df1\u5733<\/a>&nbsp;(sh\u0113n zh\u00e8n), we would assume that the second word \u2018zh\u00e8n\u2019, would be spoken with the same \u2018z\u2019 sound. However, in Pinyin, when the letters \u2018z\u2019 and \u2018h\u2019 are found together, they make a sound more similar to \u2018j\u2019, as in \u2018jog\u2019 or \u2018jump\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve probably already noticed that Pinyin often has a mark above a vowel, and this indicates which tone to use. A tone is a sound, that as in music is determined by pitch and strength. It can also indicate emotions. We\u2019ll get to the tone markers shortly, but first let\u2019s focus on how to pronounce Pinyin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Pinyin is Important<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though Pinyin is \u2018based\u2019 on the Latin alphabet, it still needs to be learned. Many people want to skip Pinyin and go straight to Chinese characters, but there are several reasons why learning Pinyin is essential to learning Chinese properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The pronunciation of some Pinyin is not the same as the pronunciation of the Latin letter.<\/li><li>There are sounds that do not exist in the English language.<\/li><li>Pinyin also shows the tone of a Chinese character.<\/li><li>Pinyin acts as a base for learning Chinese characters. Once you\u2019ve learned Pinyin, you can get going with characters!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read more about some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/pros-cons-learning-chinese-pinyin\/\">Pros and Cons about learning Pinyin<\/a>&nbsp;here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Pronounce Pinyin<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>As I mentioned in the introduction, even though pinyin uses the Latin alphabet, the pronunciation is not the same as its romanized counterpart, and it is IMPOSSIBLE to learn Chinese without listening to it and speaking it. You can take a look at the Pinyin chart below and see all the different sounds in the Chinese language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/pinyin-chart.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/pinyin-chart.png?resize=900%2C380\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/pinyin-chart.png?w=1503&amp;ssl=1 1503w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/pinyin-chart.png?resize=510%2C215&amp;ssl=1 510w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/pinyin-chart.png?resize=100%2C42&amp;ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/pinyin-chart.png?resize=300%2C127&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/pinyin-chart.png?resize=768%2C324&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/pinyin-chart.png?resize=1024%2C432&amp;ssl=1 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve learned these sounds, you\u2019re well on the way to mastering Chinese!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn how to read and speak Pinyin using the chart, you can do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Copy the Pinyin you want to learn<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"215\" height=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Copy-the-Pinyin.png?resize=215%2C212&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Copy From the Pinyin Chart\" class=\"wp-image-5325\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Copy-the-Pinyin.png?w=215&amp;ssl=1 215w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Copy-the-Pinyin.png?resize=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>2. Open a new browser tab, and open <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"406\" height=\"228\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Go-to-Online-Dictionary-e1461315650343.png?resize=406%2C228&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Written Chinese Online Dictionary\" class=\"wp-image-5326\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>3. Paste the Pinyin into the search bar, and hit \u2018ENTER\u2019 on your keyboard, or tap the \u2018magnifying glass\u2019 search icon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"224\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Search-for-Pinyin-e1461315692740.png?resize=900%2C224&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Search for the Pinyin\" class=\"wp-image-5328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Search-for-Pinyin-e1461315692740.png?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Search-for-Pinyin-e1461315692740.png?resize=510%2C127&amp;ssl=1 510w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>4. Look at the list of words that appear, and choose an example that has the first tone of \u2018 &#8211; \u2019 above the pinyin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Choose_the_Pinyin_with_First_Tone-e1461315524654.png?resize=550%2C394&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Choose the First Tone Pinyin \" class=\"wp-image-5324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Choose_the_Pinyin_with_First_Tone-e1461315524654.png?w=550&amp;ssl=1 550w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Choose_the_Pinyin_with_First_Tone-e1461315524654.png?resize=510%2C365&amp;ssl=1 510w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>5. Press the audio button and listen to the pronunciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"410\" height=\"126\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Tap_the_Audio_Button-e1461317831620.png?resize=410%2C126&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Tap Audio Button\" class=\"wp-image-5331\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You can see that the there are lots of patterns within the Chinese language. For example, once you understand that the pinyin \u2018ao\u2019 is pronounced like \u2018ow\u2019 (as in \u2018ow! That hurt!) in English, you can begin to add the consonants and make new words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Read Pinyin Tone Markers<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Learning to use tones is imperative if you want to speak Chinese properly. You may have heard that tones are not necessary, and that you can \u2018get by\u2019 just fine without them. Infact, this is absolutely true and the reality is, that you will never&nbsp;manage fluency without them. It is far easier to learn tones right from the beginning than to realize after 6 months of studying that you should have really buckled down and learned them. It\u2019s super difficult to backtrack and learn it once you\u2019re already several months (or even years) into speaking Chinese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is especially important for those of you who are in China and \u2018learning\u2019 Chinese, as it\u2019s much easier to become complacent about doing some serious studying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the line markers are a common way to read the tone of a word, you may also see Pinyin marked with a number and be colour coded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Online Dictionary<\/a> has&nbsp;the function to change from markers to numbers and for the Pinyin to have colours or not. It\u2019s completely your choice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 5 Tones of Mandarin Chinese<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are 5 \u2018tones\u2019 in Mandarin Chinese. A tone <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/worddetail\/shengdiao\/7130\/3\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u58f0\u8c03<\/a> ( sh\u0113ng&nbsp;di\u00e0o)&nbsp;refers to the way a character should be spoken. Tones can often be one of the difficult parts of learning Chinese, but the most important reason why you need to learn tones, is because <strong>pinyin + tone = a word<\/strong>. So, if either the Pinyin or tone changes, it creates a new word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t panic! It\u2019s not as crazy as it sounds. Remember that Pinyin is just the basis of your Chinese learning. Once you\u2019ve grasped these concepts, you can begin to introduce Chinese characters and much of what you\u2019ve learned won\u2019t be so intimidating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using the Pinyin \u2018ma\u2019, the 5 tones are as follows: m\u0101 m\u00e1&nbsp;m\u01ce m\u00e0 ma<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you click on each of the 5 \u2018ma\u2019s, you will be taken to the Online Dictionary where you can listen to the different tones. (Don\u2019t forget to press the audio button to listen!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/worddetail\/ma\/7161\/1\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">m\u0101\/ma1<\/a> &#8211; if a vowel has a flat line above it, the pinyin is spoken with a flat high tone. This is know as the first tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/worddetail\/ma\/9870\/1\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">m\u00e1\/ma2<\/a> &#8211; if a vowel has a upward line above it, then the pinyin is spoken with a rising tone. This is known as the second tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/worddetail\/ma\/2099\/1\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">m\u01ce\/ma3<\/a> &#8211; if a vowel has a \u2018v\u2019 shape above it, then the pinyin is spoken with a dipped tone and this is known as the third tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/worddetail\/ma\/12168\/1\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">m\u00e0\/ma4<\/a> &#8211; if a vowel has a downward line above it, then the pinyin is spoken with a down tone and this is known as the fourth tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.writtenchinese.com\/worddetail\/ma\/637\/1\/1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ma\/ma5<\/a> &#8211; if the pinyin has no line, then the pinyin has no tone. This is known as the fifth tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Technically, a fifth tone pinyin does have a tone, but it is dependent on the character that comes before it. As a beginner, this is something to be aware of, but not something to panic about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Test Your Tones!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve listened to the different tones, you can test yourself using our tone trainer. Even if you\u2019re brand new to Chinese, this can help train your ear to hearing the five different tones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Perfect Your Chinese Pronounciation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, now that you&#8217;ve learned the importance of Pinyin, you can make a start on using the Pinyin Chart, to perfect your Chinese pronounciation from the very beginning of your Chinese adventure!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pinyin: An Introduction Pinyin \u62fc\u97f3&nbsp;(p\u012bn y\u012bn), is the romanized translation of Chinese characters. Pinyin was introduced after a language reform during the 1950s, instigated by Zhou Enlai \u5468\u6069\u6765&nbsp;(zh\u014du \u0113n l\u00e1i). He believed that a phonetic system was necessary in order for people to learn how to pronounce Chinese characters. Zhou Enlai worked alongside linguist, Zhou&#8230; <a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.writtenchinese.com\/the-definitive-guide-to-pinyin-chinese-pronunciation\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[142,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["use-editor no-single","post-5321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-learner-tips"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.13 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Definitive Guide to Pinyin &amp; 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