Mandarin Chinese Phonetics Pronunciation Guide

Tone Marks

Most Mandarin words have a specific tone to them which must be used when saying the words. The transliterated Mandarin has tone marks over a vowel in most words which show you how the word should be pronounced. The four tones are:

á: a rising tone. For example má.
`: a falling tone: For example dòng.
^v: first falling and then rising (like a dipthong). For example: yu^v.
^-: a constant tone. For example yi^-.

Vowels & Dipthongs

Mandarin Phonetics English Equivalent Pronunciation

a a, as in are and father

ao ow, as in how and down

e a, as in about and ago

ei a, as in cake and say

i i, as in sit and it

ia / ie ye, as in yes and yet

o aw, as in saw and all

ou o, as in go and note

u oo, as in too

uo oo+aw, as in war

Mandarin Phonetics	English Equivalent Pronunciation
a	a, as in are and father
ao	ow, as in how and down
e	a, as in about and ago
ei	a, as in cake and say
i	i, as in sit and it
ia / ie	ye, as in yes and yet
o	aw, as in saw and all
ou	o, as in go and note
u	oo, as in too
uo	oo+aw, as in war

Consonants

Most Chinese consonants are similar to English consonants except for the following list.

Mandarin Phonetics English Equivalent Pronunciation

c A little like ch, as in church, but the tongue touches the lower front teeth.

ch ch, as in church and chain

g g, as in girl and go

j j, as in jam and jump, but softer and the tongue touches the lower front teeth.

q tch

y y, as in yes and yet

z like j, but softer

zh j, as in jam and jeans

Mandarin Phonetics	English Equivalent Pronunciation
c	A little like ch, as in church, but the tongue touches the lower front teeth.
ch	ch, as in church and chain
g	g, as in girl and go
j	j, as in jam and jump, but softer and the tongue touches the lower front teeth.
q	tch
y	y, as in yes and yet
z	like j, but softer
zh	j, as in jam and jeans

This page was written by Chris Lee