Chinese spelling alphabet – phonetic vowel table(yun mu)

Chinese Pinyin alphabet, vowel (yùn mǔ). It is a Chinese phonological term, which refers to the parts other than the initials and tones of Chinese characters. The old name is rhyme. Vowels are composed of three parts: beginning (preposition), abdomen (main vowel) and ending; According to finals, they can be divided into single syllable, compound vowel and simple final vowel.

12 Jan 2023

Chinese Pinyin alphabet, vowel (yùn mǔ). It is a Chinese phonological term, which refers to the parts other than the initials and tones of Chinese characters. The old name is rhyme. Vowels are composed of three parts: beginning (preposition), abdomen (main vowel) and ending; According to finals, they can be divided into single syllable, compound vowel and simple final vowel.

phonetic vowel table-yun mu

Chinese phonetic vowel table: a, o, e, i, u, ü, ai, ei, ui, ao, ou, iu, ie, ü e, er, an, en, in, un, ü n, ang, eng, ing, ong.

Classification of Chinese phonetic vowels (based on the textbook of Chinese phonetic alphabet in Chinese in primary school):

  1. Simple Final Vowels: a, o, e, i, u, u;
  2. Compound Vowels: ai, ei, ui, ao, ou, iu, ie, ü e;
  3. Special Vowel: er;
  4. Nasal Vowels: an, en, in, un, ü n, ang, eng, ing, ong;
  5. Anterior Nasal Vowels: an, en, in, un, ü n;
  6. Back Nasal Vowels: ang, eng, ing, ong.

There are 24 finals in the Chinese language of primary school, including 6 simple final rhymes, 8 Multiple finals, 1 special vowels, 9 nasal vowels (5 nose nose vowels, 4 rear nasal vowels).

Usage of finals in Chinese Pinyin and Analogy with English pronunciation rules

simple final vowels: 

a  (Like "a" in “father” (American pronunciation)

  • 阿 ā 姨 yí (aunt)
  • 爸 bà 爸 bɑ (father)

o (Like “wo" Lips do not close as the sound isrnade; instead they open further)

  • 我 wǒ (me, I)
  • 佛 fó (Buddha)

e (Like “uh” in English, similar to the“u”inunder.)

  • 饿 è (hungry)
  • 快 kuài 乐 lè (happy)

i  (Usually pronounced as "ee" as in“he" but after c/s/z and ch/sh/zh/r it is pronounced.)

  • 你 nǐ (you)
  • 米 mǐ 饭 fàn (rice)

u (Usually pronounced as in "you”)

  • 不 bù (no) 
  • 书 shū (book)

ü (First, try to pronounce "i", and then your tongue stays here, gradually purse your lips.)

  • 绿 lǜ 色 sè (green)
  • 巨 jù 大 dà (huge)

compound final vowels: 

ai (as "igh" in "high")

  • 可 kě 爱 ài (cute)
  • 白 bái (white)

ei (like a long "a" or the "ei" in "eight")

  • 累 lèi (tired)
  • 黑 hēi (black)

ui (like "way")

  • 回 huí (back)
  • 灰 huī 色 sè (grey)

ao (as in "how" or "out") 

  • 好 hǎo (good)
  • 猫 māo (cat)

ou  (like the "ow" in "low" or "boat")

  • 狗 ɡǒu (dog)
  • 口 kǒu (mouth)

iu (like "yo")

  • 袖 xiù 子 zi (sleeve)

ie (like ye in "yes")

  • 节 jié 日 rì (holiday)
  • 谢 xiè 谢 xiè (thanks)

üe (as in“wet")

  • 学 xué 习 xí (learn)
  • 学 xué 生 shēng (student)

er (similar to "er" in American English, but the mouth opened a little more.)

  • 而 ér (however)
  • 饵 ěr 料 liào (bait)

an (like an in "bank")

  • 安 ān 全 quán (safe)
  • 但 dàn 是 shì (but)

en (Like“un”in “under”, but with the vowel alittle higher and further forward.)

  • 人 rén (person)
  • 恨 hèn (hate)

in (about halfway between“as in green-eenand“-in”as in“pin" .)

  • 金 jīn 子 zi (gold)
  • 因 yīn 为 wèi (because)

un (ü+n)

  • 结 jié 婚 hūn (marry)
  • 村 cūn 庄 zhuāng (village)

ün 

  • 云 yún 朵 duǒ (cloud)
  • 运 yùn 动 dòng (sport) 

ang (like“a”(as in “father”) +"-ng")

  • 帮 bāng (help)
  • 黄 huáng 色 sè (yellow)

eng (Like“-ung" as in “hung")

  • 冷 lěng (cold)
  • 疼 téng (aches)

ing (Like English “ing", but the first sound a littlehigher and longer)

  • 赢 yíng (win)
  • 安 ān 静 jìng (quiet)

ong

  • 自 zì 从 cóng (since)
  • 冬 dōng 天 tiān (winter)

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