Everyday Chinese
1. Phonetic knowledge:
     Initials and finals
     Tones
    Tonal Change
2. Initial-Final Combinations
3. Greetings
4. Placing an Order
5. Attending Class 6. Making Inquiries
7. Shopping 8. About Time
   

Putonghua: Phonetic Knowledge

(Click the links to listen.)
   
A Chinese syllable is usually composed of an initial, a final and a tone.
汉语音节通常由声母 、韵母和声调三部分组成。
   
1. Initials 声母
   
  声母就是音节开头的辅音。汉语共有21个声母。
An initial is a consonant that begins a syllable. There are altogether 21 initials in Chinese.
   
 

                                List of Initials 声

b

p

m

f

 

d

t

n

l

g

k

h

 

 

j

q

x

 

zh

ch

sh

r

 

z

c

s

 

   
 

           Pronunciation Practice 发音练习  

bo po mo fo

 

de te ne le
ge ke he

 

ji qi xi
zhi chi shi ri

 

zi ci si
   
2. Finals 韵母
   
  A final is the part that follows an initial.
韵母就是声母后面的部分。
   
 

              List of Finals 韵

ɑ

o

e

ê

i

u

ü

er

 

ɑi

ei

ɑo

ou

ɑn

en

ɑng

eng

ong

ie

iɑo

iou
(iu)

iɑn

in

iɑng

ing

iong

uo

uɑi

uei
(ui)

uɑn

uen
(un)

uɑng

ueng

 

üe

üɑn

ün

 

 

 

 

 

 


 
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