Chinese · Pinyin

Pinyin Chart

All 52 Pinyin characters with their sound and an example word, in learning order.

Flashcards for every letter, and Draw The Letter: trace and draw each one with your finger. Free, no account needed, no ads.

initials

bboinitial · like the p in 'spy': no puff of air爸爸 (bàba) dad

ppoinitial · p with a strong puff of air朋友 (péngyou) friend

mmoinitial · m妈妈 (māma) mum

ffoinitial · f饭 (fàn) meal

ddeinitial · like the t in 'stop': no puff of air大 (dà) big

tteinitial · t with a strong puff of air他 (tā) he

nneinitial · n你 (nǐ) you

lleinitial · l来 (lái) to come

ggeinitial · like the k in 'skin': no puff of air哥哥 (gēge) older brother

kkeinitial · k with a strong puff of air看 (kàn) to look

hheinitial · a throaty h, a softer version of the ch in Scottish 'loch'好 (hǎo) good

jjiinitial · like j in 'jeep', tongue flat behind the lower teeth, no puff家 (jiā) home

qqiinitial · like ch in 'cheap' with a puff of air, tongue flat; never 'kw'去 (qù) to go

xxiinitial · between s and sh, tongue flat小 (xiǎo) small

zhzhiinitial · like j in 'judge' with the tongue curled back中国 (Zhōngguó) China

chchiinitial · like ch in 'church' with a puff, tongue curled back茶 (chá) tea

shshiinitial · like sh in 'shirt', tongue curled back是 (shì) to be

rriinitial · between English r and the s in 'pleasure'人 (rén) person

zziinitial · like ds in 'beds'在 (zài) at

cciinitial · like ts in 'cats', with a puff of air菜 (cài) dish

ssiinitial · s三 (sān) three

yyiinitial · y (how i is written at the start of a syllable)一 (yī) one

wwuinitial · w (how u is written at the start of a syllable)五 (wǔ) five

finals

aafinal · a as in 'father'大 (dà) big

oofinal · o as in 'more'; after b p m f it sounds 'wo'我 (wǒ) I

eefinal · like 'uh' said with the lips spread饿 (è) hungry

iifinal · ee as in 'see'; after z c s zh ch sh r a buzzing, r-like vowel你 (nǐ) you · 是 (shì) to be

uufinal · oo as in 'food'五 (wǔ) five

üüfinal · ee with rounded lips, like German ü; written u after j q x y鱼 (yú) fish · 去 (qù) to go

aiaifinal · like 'eye'爱 (ài) love

eieifinal · like ay in 'say'美 (měi) beautiful

aoaofinal · like ow in 'cow'好 (hǎo) good

ououfinal · like o in 'go'狗 (gǒu) dog

ananfinal · 'ahn'三 (sān) three

enenfinal · like un in 'taken'门 (mén) door

angangfinal · 'ahng'忙 (máng) busy

engengfinal · like ung in 'lung'冷 (lěng) cold

ongongfinal · 'oong'中 (zhōng) middle

ererfinal · like American 'are'二 (èr) two

ieiefinal · 'yeh'谢谢 (xièxie) thank you

iuiufinal · 'yo' (short for iou)六 (liù) six

uiuifinal · 'way' (short for uei)对 (duì) correct

uouofinal · 'waw'多 (duō) many

ianianfinal · 'yen', not 'yan'钱 (qián) money

ininfinal · 'een'您 (nín) you (polite)

ingingfinal · like ing in 'sing'星期 (xīngqī) week

ununfinal · 'wun'; after j q x y it is ün春 (chūn) spring

tones

mā1st tonehigh and level (mark ¯)妈 (mā) mum

má2nd tonerising, like a surprised 'what?' (mark ˊ)麻 (má) numb; hemp

mǎ3rd tonelow and dipping; often just low (mark ˇ)马 (mǎ) horse

mà4th tonefalling sharply, like a firm 'No!' (mark ˋ)骂 (mà) to scold

maneutral toneshort and light, no mark吗 (ma) question word

HSK 1 Chart · Chinese alphabet