Finals
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Chinese words written in Pinyin always contain at least a vowel or vowel combination. Some words only has vowels or finals, such as è, ài, etc.
Use this pinyin chart for a comprehensive overview of how finals combine with initials to form words. |
Simple Finals
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Compound Finals
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Vowels with Nasal ending
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ua,uo, uai
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ia, iao
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uan, uang
üan
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ian, iang, iong
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i represents three different sounds dependent on the initial that precedes it. 'i' sounds like:
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ū is written as u (no ūmlaut) when it follows the letters j, q, x, or y. |
ui, un, and iu, are actually shortcut for uei, uen, and iou |
Words with only vowels, without consonants:
for examples: •ā = ah! •ài = love •è = hungry
Sometimes a vowel sound at the beginning of a word is spelled with y orw.
for examples: •ā = ah! •ài = love •è = hungry
Sometimes a vowel sound at the beginning of a word is spelled with y orw.
- wǔ = five (pronounced with very little “w” sound—“wooh” or “ooh”)
- yī = one (pronounced with little or no “y” sound—“ee”)
When i, u, or ü occur without an initial consonant, the word is spelled as beginning with y or w:
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Pronunciation of Simple Vowels:
NOTE: an “i” after zh, ch, sh, or r is pronounced like the ir in bird.
NOTE: “o” is pronounced like the o in oh when combined with other vowels
How to pronounce Combined Vowels or Compound Finals:
Most of these compound finals can be easily pronounced by using the pronunciation of each individual vowel. For example, “ia” is pronounced with the “ee” sound plus the “ah” sound.
There are some vowel combinations that do not follow these standard pronunciations. The most notable are as follows:
- “a” - a in father
- “e” - u in ugly
- “i” - e in he
- “o” - is pronounced as whoa, this final 'o' only occurs after b, p, m, f
- “u” - u in true
- “ ü” - is pronounced like a combination of “ee” and “ooh.” Prepare your mouth to say the “ee” sound and then say “ooh” without changing the position of your mouth. The two dots over this letter are dropped after j, q, x and y but the pronunciation should still be “ee-ooh.”
NOTE: an “i” after zh, ch, sh, or r is pronounced like the ir in bird.
NOTE: “o” is pronounced like the o in oh when combined with other vowels
How to pronounce Combined Vowels or Compound Finals:
Most of these compound finals can be easily pronounced by using the pronunciation of each individual vowel. For example, “ia” is pronounced with the “ee” sound plus the “ah” sound.
There are some vowel combinations that do not follow these standard pronunciations. The most notable are as follows:
- ui is pronounced ooh-ay
- iu is pronounced ee-oh