Zh
Curl the tongue tip slightly back toward the roof of the mouth. Keep it firm, then release with a short unaspirated sound.
Tongue curled back
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Pinyin Practice
Interactive Pinyin Table
Click a syllable to hear it. Hover to choose tones from your recording.
One chart, every Mandarin word
Mandarin is amazing because almost every word is built from these pinyin syllables plus tones. If you can pronounce everything in this chart clearly, you can pronounce any Mandarin word you meet.
Choose a syllable from the table.
Z
Place the tongue tip close to the back of the upper teeth. Release gently without a strong puff of air.
Tongue near teeth
Ch
Use the same curled tongue position as zh, but release with a clear puff of air. It should feel more breathy.
Curled plus air
C
Use the same front tongue position as z, but add a stronger puff of air as you release.
Front plus air
Sh
Curl the tongue back like zh, then let the air pass through softly. Keep the sound smooth and steady.
Curled, steady air
S
Keep the tongue forward near the teeth. Let air pass in a thin stream, like a clean English s sound.
Forward air stream
R
Curl the tongue back, relax the mouth, and let the sound become softer and warmer than English r.
Relaxed curled tongue