Facts About Chinese Pronunciation and Pinyin Infographic

All the dry facts about Chinese pronunciation put together in one visually engaging infographic.

A number of blog posts will elaborate on it in more details. Stay tuned, and enjoy this masterpiece in the meanwhile.

If you like it, please share.

Transcript of this infographic

Facts About Chinese Pronunciation In Plain English

3 Reasons For Learning Pronunciation First

1. Have the most solid foundation for your Chinese learning
2. Instant Payback. Be understood from day 1
3. No need for unlearning bad pronunciation at a later time

3 vs 4 Pronunciation. The Easy And The Hard

Easy

1. Pronunciation systematized in pinyin makes it learnable
2. Just 30 basic sounds to learn
3. Only 9 tongue positions for consonant sounds

 Hard

1.  Distinction between similar sounds
2. 4 tones add a new dimension for most foreigners
3. 3 sounds of tonguesplitting
4. 4 sounds of tonguefolding

There is a Chinese word for these 4 sounds, which translates: Roll Tongue Sound.

For that reason, many Chinese actually think these sounds are made by rolling up your tongue like a springroll and almost swallow it. Don't choke!

3 vs 3 Pinyin. The Easy And The Hard

Easy

1. No need to learn strange phonetic symbols
2. Pinyin fluency* can be achieved quickly. *) However without proper training only non-Chinese will understand.
3. Masterable. A comparison with English.

Phonetic Symbols.

Pinyin: 28, English: 44

Number of Syllables:

Pinyin: 400+, English: 12.000+

Hard

1.  Learn ABC again
2. The fake 'I'
3. 'Ü' the treacherous

5 common misconceptions

Myth #1

Due to the tones singing in Chinese is impossible

Truth

Tones are relatively ignored in songs (context makes up for it) 

Myth #2

Pinyin is just like pidgin but for Chinese 

Truth 

Pinyin is a phonetic system. Not a compromised version of Chinese

Myth #3

J is pronounced exactly as in Jeep

Truth

This myth is an oversimplification. It is one of many quick but incorrect explanations of how to read pinyin. Use the Standard Mandarin software to learn it right.

Myth #4

CHI and CHE is the same thing.

Truth

Yes to the untrained foreign ear they may sound alike (but they are not)

Myth #5

Accidentally using a wrong tone will almost definitely cause a misunderstanding

Truth

In most cases it is a matter of being understood or not. Only rarely will context allow for a misunderstanding

Why Bother Learn Correct Pronunciation?

Weightier than anything

The Chinese prefer to understand the little you can say, rather than a foreigner babbling away with lots of odd sounds.

(Grammar, Vocabulary and Idioms vs Pronunciation) 

Correct Pronunciation Will Get You Tons of Praise

The Chinese happily praise proper pronunciation. See below what that will do for you.

Put yourself at the center of: Cycle of Praise

1. Receive Praise. Who wouldn't feel great with all that praise? It's deserved of course!
2. Joy Boost. Your joy in learning Chinese is boosted
3. Motivation. Your joy boost instantly turns into motivation
4. Study On. Being greatly motivated, you just can't help studying on.

Become a Pinyin-Superhero

Free Chinese learning material

www.StandardMandarin.com

• Learn pinyin
• Lots of Chinese phrases
• And much more

Embed Facts About Chinese Pronunciation and Pinyin Infographic on Your Site: Copy and Paste the Code Below