Chinese PinYin Crash Course

Through this lesson, you will be able to learn 23 PinYin Initials.  There are 14 sounds that you are already familiar with if you know English. In the video, you will learn how to pronounce the rest 9 sounds exclusively.

The six simple finals: a, o, e, i, u, ü are the most fundamental elements of Chinese vowels in Pinyin from the single-vowel category . For each Pinyin learner, these six of them are probably the first thing you will learn.

The Nasal Final is a final which combines a vowel with the nasal consonant “-n” or “-ng”. The Nasal Finals end with “-n” are called the Front nasal finals, including an, en, in, un, ün, and the ones end with “-ng” are called the Back Nasal Finals, including ang, eng, ing, ong.

We've learned the 6 simple finals: a o e i u ü, and it’s much easier for us to learn the compound ones, as they are normally constructed by two or more simple vowels. In this Pinyin lesson, we'll learn how to pronounce the 9 basic Pinyin compound finals: ai ei ao ou iu ui ie üe er. We'll give you some similar English sounds to help you master them the easy way. Now, let's get started!

Chinese tones are probably not the easiest thing in the world to learn! Mandarin tones put a lot of people off learning Chinese. After this lesson, you will know how to pronounce Chinese tones correctly! 

Intensive practice in hearing and saying particular words or phrases is the best way to make you familiar with Chinese.

• Tongue twisters have been proven to clarify the pronunciation of words.

• Tongue twisters also stretch and strengthen the muscles which you use to speak. (Who knew you had to exercise your mouth?)

• Tongue Twisters show you what words and sounds you have trouble with pronouncing.

• Tongue twisters warm up your speaking ability. You will find that performers and public speakers often speak tongue twisters before they go out on stage.