Beginner course – Lesson 1 of 15
Pinyin Explained for Beginners
Pinyin writes Mandarin sounds using the Roman alphabet. It lets you say a word before you can read the characters. Most letters sound close to English, but a few are very different.
How pinyin works
Every syllable has a starting sound, the rest of the sound, and a tone mark. For example, mā is m + a, said in the first tone. The tone mark sits above the main vowel: ā á ǎ à. My guide to Mandarin tones explains each one.
Sounds that differ from English
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Sounds close to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 七 | qī | Seven | "ch" in cheese |
| 西 | xī | West | "sh" in sheep, with a smile |
| 菜 | cài | Dish, vegetable | "ts" in cats |
| 早 | zǎo | Early | "ds" in beds |
| 中 | zhōng | Middle | "j" in jam, tongue curled back |
| 茶 | chá | Tea | "ch" in church, tongue curled back |
| 是 | shì | To be | "sh" in shirt, tongue curled back |
| 人 | rén | Person | between "r" and the "s" in measure |
| 鸡 | jī | Chicken | "j" in jeep |
| 绿 | lǜ | Green | say "ee" with rounded lips |
| 饿 | è | Hungry | "uh", said at the back of the mouth |
| 对 | duì | Correct | "dway" |
| 六 | liù | Six | "lyo" |
| 天 | tiān | Sky, day | "tyen" |
七
qī
Seven
"ch" in cheese
西
xī
West
"sh" in sheep, with a smile
菜
cài
Dish, vegetable
"ts" in cats
早
zǎo
Early
"ds" in beds
中
zhōng
Middle
"j" in jam, tongue curled back
茶
chá
Tea
"ch" in church, tongue curled back
是
shì
To be
"sh" in shirt, tongue curled back
人
rén
Person
between "r" and the "s" in measure
鸡
jī
Chicken
"j" in jeep
绿
lǜ
Green
say "ee" with rounded lips
饿
è
Hungry
"uh", said at the back of the mouth
对
duì
Correct
"dway"
六
liù
Six
"lyo"
天
tiān
Sky, day
"tyen"
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