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How to Learn Mandarin Pinyin Pronunciation Easily

No denying that the Chinese language is the most complex language used in the world right now. You can’t learn it easily even though you are a linguistic student or a native school-going kid. It is important to find the right way to resolve this problem and understand this language. This is where you will find Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation an effective method to follow. Haven’t you heard about this approach while learning the Chinese language? You are missing a long from the learning perspective if you don’t know about the Chinese pronunciation of Pinyin. In this blog, we are going to discuss Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation in detail with the impact of this approach on your learning.

Part 1. What Does Pinyin Mean?

Before you read about Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation, you should read what Hanyu Pinyin sounds. A pinyin, also called Syllable, is the simplified form of Chinese characters/words. It is formed from three major sections that will be discussed later in this blog. The main purpose of using Pinyin is to understand the sounds of the Chinese characters in an easy way. In the literature, the word Pinyin means “spell-sounds” which indicates the learning of sound. It is the most common system used in the world when it comes to understanding Chinese sounds and spelling them properly. The major benefit of this system is that it uses Latin alphabets that you might be aware of and have a good grip on them. It is right to say that you will learn Chinese sounds and spells from a unique approach that will surely come from the background you are familiar with.

Part 2. Mandarin Pinyin Pronunciation

Now, let’s read about Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation which will help you understand the sounds of the Chinese characters using the Pinyin system. It is a specific system in which the Chinese characters are transcribed and spelled properly to give them a specific sound. As you know, Chinese literature has an extensive list of characters making it difficult for the students to learn them. But the Pinyin system has made it easier by allowing you to split them and create charts for those characters. You will be able to know those characters as well as hear the sounds properly to learn the right pronunciation. According to estimation, memorizing 500 Pinyin sounds will enable you to practically speak this language and communicate with native speakers. Isn’t it something that you want to attain from Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation? If we say that you will be able to learn and memorize the commonly used sounds of Mandarin, it will be right. The only thing you should take care of choosing the right Chinese alphabet pronunciation chart from the internet.

mandarin pinyin pronunciation

Pinyin Chart

Part 3. Sections For Learning Pinyin

When reading about Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation, you should also understand the way the system operates. It will help you analyze the system and move ahead with your unique strategies. For example, when you know about the sections with which Pinyin is produced, you will be able to go ahead with the learning phase easily. That’s why we are here with the discussion about the sections by combining which Pinyin is produced.

Pinyin components

Pinyin components

Initials

As the name shows, the initial is the starting section of a syllable. Like English literature, it is also written at the beginning of the Chinese character that is going to be sound in the Pinyin system. You can find it by starting from the left side and finding the very first character in the Pinyin chart. Be mindful that this section may not be visible when you are reading a Chinese paper or magazine.

Finals

The ending section of the syllable is called the final. For understanding the Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation, it is important to know how the finals are pronounced. This section is normally pronounced flat but sometimes it can be different depending on the characters that are connected with them. Every final has almost a different sound because it is the section that normally decides the pronouncing tone which will also be discussed below.

Tone

The most important part of the syllabus is the Tone because it decides how you will sound. It doesn’t mean that the initials and finals are not responsible for the sound. But the tone decides the outcome of the pronunciation that you are going to take in the Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation system. In Chinese literature, four major tones are discussed that we have listed below:

  • 1st tone seems to be high-intensity and flat. Moreover, it will take a long duration to complete this tone.
  • 2nd tone rises gradually once you pronounce the word. It sounds like you are asking something from someone.
  • 3rd tone is termed as “falling-rising” because your voice will remain lower first and then rise again. It is good to keep your voice lower to pronounce the words in this tone.
  • 4th tone is used normally when you are saying something with anger. It is much shorter than the other three tones. You should speak the words quickly while following this tone.

By reading about these sections of a syllabus, you must be aware of the Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation chart. We have discussed the tones to let you understand which tone you should use in which circumstances.

Part 4. Why Is Mandarin Pinyin Pronunciation Important?

It is a common question that almost every learner has in their minds while reading about Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation. The reason is they think that it is useless to be familiar with this system and they can memorize the Chinese characters manually. It is completely wrong because it seems to be impossible even in the case of native speakers. You will not be able to learn the Chinese language without getting assistance from the Pinyin system. This approach will split the characters into different categories and let you pronounce them in an easy approach that you are familiar with. In simple words, this system will pave the way for your learning and let you be comfortable while learning this complex language. The Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation system will help you start from scratch and be capable of communicating with people without hurdles in a short time. Moreover, you can also pronounce the words accurately like the native speakers and let your native friends know that you have learned this language in a short time.

FAQs

How Is “I” Pronounced In Pinyin?

The word “I” comes from the essentials of the Pinyin that are called “Vowels”. In this system, this character sounds like the English alphabet “ee”. You must be aware of this sound because vowels are considered the most essential when dealing with Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation.

Should I Learn Pinyin First To Learn Mandarin?

It is right to start from Pinyin when learning Mandarin. The reason is this system will make learning easier and more effective for you. It will also be an easy method to memorize the most used Chinese characters if you are not a native speaker or a beginner in this course.

Summary

By reading this blog, we hope you have learned about Mandarin Pinyin pronunciation in detail. The blog has been written with deep research and easy language. You can easily understand what is written there in this blog and its importance. We hope you can now get started with the Pinyin system to learn Mandarin Chinese.

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