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Pronunciation Foundation I
AIMS
In this first chapter, the MPS spelling system and its general concept
is introduced. After the initial introduction, there will be pronunciation
practices for each initial and final. Please make good use of the audio
files available online for this section. After each section, there are
more exercises for you to check your progress. The short rhyme in this
chapter can also be used to improve your pronunciation.
In this chapter, you will also learn some sentences for every day use
and the basic concepts of written Chinese.
Note: This book is adapted to the needs of western students. Thus,
both the Mandarin Phonetic Symbols and Hanyu Pinyin systems are
used. In chapter one and twos Pronunciation Foundation, we will
focus on learning the MPS system, but there will also be Hanyu Pinyin
supplemented to help learners become accustomed to MPS more
quickly.
MANDARIN PHONETIC
SYMBOLS
Mandarin is a monosyllabic language with 21 consonants and 16 vowels. These
consonants and vowels combined or standing alone produce a total of just
over four hundred monosyllabic sounds. Most words have one syllable or a
combination of two or three.
Initials
zh
ch
sh
Chinese Acquisition 1
Finals
ai
ei
ao
ou
an
en
ang
eng
er
TONES
Tones are the pitch of a syllable. They are important elements of the Chinese
syllable. There are four basic tones in Chinese, represented respectively by the
following tone-graphs: the first tone (no need to place a tone mark), the second
tone (), the third tone () and the fourth tone ().
The main function of the tones is to distinguish the meanings of the characters.
Example:
(dumplings);
(to sleep)
In this case, their initials and finals are the same, but with different tones, the
meanings are different.
First tone
Second tone
Third tone
Fourth tone
first falling
then rising
high
middle
low
Chinese Acquisition 1
Tone Position
When a syllable contains a single phoneme only, the tone-mark is placed on the
placed on the right of the space between the first and second or second and third
symbols.
Example:
Neutral Tone
Sometimes syllables lose their original tones and are pronounced soft and short.
This is the neutral tone. Its pitch in relation to the other four tones is as follows:
First Tone
+ Neutral Tone
The first tone is high and level and the neutral tone pitch is lower.
Example:
gge
n. elder brother
Second Tone
zhuzi
n. table
+ Neutral Tone
he second tone rises to the first tone pitch and the neutral tone pitch drops slightly to a
T
lower one.
Example:
fngzi
n. house
rzi
n. son
Third Tone
+ Neutral Tone
The third tone dips and rises, and the pitch on the neutral tone syllable is higher.
Example:
yzi
n. chair
Fourth Tone
jijie
n. elder sister
+ Neutral Tone
After a fourth tone, the pitch of the neutral tone syllable is lower.
Example:
kuizi
n. chopsticks
kzi
n. pants
Tonal Practice
Now that you know how to distinguish between different tones and how to mark
them, here is a short rhyme for listening comprehension. Please listen to the audio
provided when doing the exercise below. Listen carefully and see how many tones
you can recognize.
Example:
Chinese Acquisition 1
Your Turn:
English Translation:
Mom bought a little white cat. The little white cat is fat and round. It likes to catch mice
and wear hats, and dashes around making a lot of noise.
Answer Key:
Every Chinese character has only one syllable. A typical Chinese syllable is
composed of three parts: an initial, a final and a tone.
Example:
initials
tone
final
n. father
Not all the syllables have an initial, but every syllable must have a final and a
tone.
Example:
final
n. goose
Chinese Acquisition 1
tone
PRONUNCIATION
DRILLS
Now that you are familiar with the basics of MPS, here are some MPS
pronunciation drills. In this chapter, well introduce you to some basic finals and
all of the initials.
Note: this final cannot be used with an initial on its own; it must be used in combination
with (i) or (). For example,
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Chinese Acquisition 1
Pronunciation principle: Made using one or both lips.
Similar to an English b.
Example:
bba
n. father
p
v. to climb
Similar to an English m.
Example:
mma
n. mother
f
n. hair
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Exercise 1
Spelling Exercise
Most initials must be combined with a final to be heard. For example: +=. Now,
lets introduce words with different tones. Please read the following out loud along with
the audio provided. Note that you only need to focus on pronunciation and tones and not
the meaning of the words at this stage.
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bba
mma
my
bbo
ppo
mm
pb
f-m
Chinese Acquisition 1
Exercise 2
Tonal Discrimination
This section is for you to practice tonal discrimination. Please listen carefully for the tonal
differences in each pair of words.
b b
Exercise 3
p p
p p
p p
m m
f f
Try It Yourself
For this section, listen carefully to differentiate the initials and tones. Listen to the audio
and choose the correct MPS for each word.
1. ________ q
2.
________
3. ________ q
4.
________
5. ________ q
6.
________
7. ________ q
8.
________
9. ________ q
10.
________
Reference Answers
1.w 2.e 3.q 4.e 5.e 6.w 7.e 8.e 9.w 10.e
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Pronunciation Principle: Made by putting the tip of the tongue to the top of the
mouth just behind the upper front teeth.
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Chinese Acquisition 1
Similar to an English d.
Example:
d
sv. to be big
t
pron. he, she, him, her
Similar to an English n.
Example:
n
v. to take
l
v. to pull
Exercise 1
Spelling Exercise
Now, lets introduce words with different tones. Please read the following out loud along
with the audio provided. Note that you only need to focus on pronunciation and tones and
not the meaning of the words at this stage.
ddi
nl
lw
n de
nl
fl
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Exercise 2
Try It Yourself
For this section, listen carefully to differentiate the initials and tones. Listen to the audio
and choose the correct MPS for each word.
1.
________
2.
________
3.
________
4.
________
5.
________
6.
________
7.
________
8.
________
9.
________
10.
________
Reference Answers
1.e 2.q 3.q 4.q 5.w 6.w 7.q 8.e 9.w 10.e
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Chinese Acquisition 1
Pronunciation Principle: Made with the back of the tongue against or near the soft
part of the top of the mouth.
g
n. song
kl
n. Coke
h
n. river
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Pronunciation Principle: Made by putting the tongue against or near the hard
palate.
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Chinese Acquisition 1
j
n. chicken
q
n. seven
x
n. west
Exercise 1
Spelling Exercise
Now, lets introduce words with different tones. Please read the following out loud along
with the audio provided. Note that you only need to focus on pronunciation and tones and
not the meaning of the words at this stage.
gge
ky
jq
qm
hx
ggu
nx
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Exercise 2
Try It Yourself
For this section, listen carefully to differentiate the initials and tones. Listen to the audio
and choose the correct MPS for each word.
1. ________ q
2.
________
3. ________ q
4.
________
5. ________ q
6.
________
7.________ q
8.
________
9. ________ q
10.
________
Reference Answers
1.q 2.w 3.w 4.w 5.q 6.e 7.e 8.e 9.w 10.q
20
Chinese Acquisition 1
Pronunciation Principle: Made by putting the end of the tongue against the upper
front teeth and forcing air through a constricted passage.
z
n. character
c
n. word
s
n. four
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Pronunciation Principle: Made with the tip of the tongue curled upwards and
backwards.
zh
Example:
zh
n. paper
ch
sh
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Chinese Acquisition 1
Example:
ch
v. to eat
Example:
sh
n. lion
Example:
r
n. sun
Exercise 1
Spelling Exercise
Now, lets introduce words with different tones. Please read the following out loud along
with the audio provided. Note that you only need to focus on pronunciation and tones and
not the meaning of the words at this stage.
zhj
lch
sh
cq
zj
ysi
ssh
ls
zhl
jch
sh
z ch
ssh
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Exercise 2
Try It Yourself
For this section, listen carefully to differentiate the initials and tones. Listen to the audio
and choose the correct MPS for each word.
1.
________
2.
________
3.
________
4.
________
5.
________
6.
________
7.
________
8.
________
9.
________
10.
________
Reference Answers
1.q 2.e 3.e 4.e 5.q 6.q 7.e 8.w 9.q 10.e
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Chinese Acquisition 1
These three finals (//) may be used in combination with other finals.
Example:
, , , ,
ya
ye
wa
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wo
yue
yu
yu
yu
yu
Pronunciation Tips
These compound finals can be combined with initials to make new sounds. When
spelling these sounds, spell out the finals first then add the initial. For example, the
spelling of
1.
+ =
2. + =
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Chinese Acquisition 1
Exercise 1
Spelling Exercise
Now, lets introduce words with different tones. Please read the following out loud along
with the audio provided. Note that you only need to focus on pronunciation and tones and
not the meaning of the words at this stage.
ji
qi
xizi
yzi
bi
ti
jijie
xixie
xgu
huhu
yshu
wwa
guji
lutu
shuhu
xu
mqu
jude
yu
27
Exercise 2
Try It Yourself
For this section, listen carefully to differentiate the initials and tones. Listen to the audio
and choose the correct MPS for each word.
1.
________
2.
________
3.
________
4.
________
5.
________
6.
________
7.
________
8.
________
9.
________
10.
________
Reference Answers
1.e 2.e 3.q 4.e 5.q 6.e 7.w 8.q 9.w 10.e
28
Chinese Acquisition 1
ORAL PRACTICE
Here are two short sentences which can be used to practice your pronunciation.
Please practice saying the short sentences below with the audio available online.
S shzi, zh shzi, b k ch.
English Translation:
Xitin r, ddi ch xgu, mimei h lch.
English Translation:
Summer is hot. Little brother eats watermelon; little sister drinks green tea.
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IDIOMS AND
EXPRESSIONS
Below are some practical sentences in daily life. After reading through them, play
the video to see how the sentences are used in context.
N ho.
A:
A: Hello.
Nn ho.
A:
A: Hello.
N ho.
B:
B:
B: Hello.
B: Hello.
N ho.
Note that
Xixie.
A:
A: Thank you.
B kq.
B:
Chinese Acquisition 1
B kq.
B:
Xixie.
A:
A: Thank you.
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is an honorific.
Dubq.
A:
A: I am sorry.
Zijin.
A:
A: Good bye.
Zijin.
B:
B: Good bye.
Migunxi.
B:
B: It's okay.
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THE CHINESE
WRITING SYSTEM
Name in
Chinese
hng
sh
pi
32
Name in English
the horizontal
the vertical
the left-falling
curvature
the right-falling
curvature
the dot
the rising
din
gu
Chinese Acquisition 1
zh
Direction of
Stroke
the hook
Example
Characters
The rules of stroke order in writing Chinese characters and character components
are as follows:
First horizontal, then vertical.
e.g.
e.g.
shn
sh
From top to bottom.
e.g.
e.g.
sn
rn
e.g.
e.g.
tng
xio
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Try It Yourself
Here are the above eight basic strokes. Please trace the strokes below on your Chinese
Stroke Order Workbook.
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Chinese Acquisition 1
35
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Chinese Acquisition 1