Among the numerous dialects in Chinese-speaking regions, Bei-Ping (北 平）or Peiking was chosen as an official languge, which is now known as 普(pǔ) 通(tōng) 话(huà):
普(pǔ) 通(tōng),
in English means unextraodinary, however, more properly here it means
something widely-used to communicate. An adjective goes with the word 普(pǔ) is 普(pǔ)遍(biàn); it means, universal. 通(tōng), I would put 通(tōng) 用(yòng) here, which means something being utilised in common. Therefore, 普(pǔ) 通(tōng) doesn't mean unextraodiary in this instance.
Next, 话(huà), language, for example,
foreign , 外(wài)国(guó)
then you will put the three words together to indicate foreign language
外(wài)国(guó) 话(huà); now back to the previous paragraphs, here we go, 普(pǔ) 通(tōng) 话(huà).
Any questions?
Right, additionally, you've probably noticed how people might use different ways to indicate this language - Chinese; however, it goes both with either 文(wén) or 语(yǔ), meaning language. While the word 语(yǔ) is as simple as it is to understand, 文(wén) means more to do with a written form of work, such as 文(wén)章(zhāng), essay/article/composition...
____ 文(wén) *Hello, this word rarely goes with 汉 (hàn) nowadays, except in a context focusing on the culture, writing or development of Chinese language, etc.
____ 语(yǔ) *Excuse me, this word doesn't go with 中 (zhōng), thx.
Fill in the blank with one of the three words in the following, then you get to indicate Mandarin Chinese in your speech.
Fill in the blank with one of the three words in the following, then you get to indicate Mandarin Chinese in your speech.
中 (zhōng)
华 (huá),
汉 (hàn)
Likewise, when indicating other languages such as (1) English, (2) French, (3) German, etc., fill in the blanks with one of the words below:
1. 英 (yīng)
2. 法(fǎ)
3. 德(dé)
Bopomofo (MPS- Mandarin Phonetic Symbols)
ㄅㄆㄇㄈ
Official pronounciation, applied in Chinese-speaking regions since 1918.
Hanyu Pinyin
Official pronouciation of manlaind China since 1958.
Example: wind
/fo/ ㄈ ~~~ 風 ( ㄈ ㄥ) .................. bopomofo, traditional Chinese character
/f/ ~~~ 风 (f ēng) .................. Pinyin, simplified Chinese character
he Tones
1st tone
2nd tone
3rd tone
4th tone
Neutral tone
| Tone | Marks (MPS) | Marks (Pinyin) |
| 1st | ㄚ |
ā |
| 2nd | ㄚˊ | á |
| 3rd | ㄚˇ | ǎ |
| 4th |
ㄚˋ |
à |
| Neutral |
ㄚ |
Example: /ㄚ/ or /a/
Drill: /m/ + /a/
妈 (mā)
麻 (má)
马 (mǎ)
骂 (mà)
Drill: /m/ + /ao/
猫 (māo)
毛 (máo)
卯 (mǎo)
帽 (mào)
Sets of Initials of the Word Sounds
|
MPS |
Pinyin |
|
ㄅㄆㄇㄈ |
/b/, /p/, /m/, /f/ |
|
ㄉㄊㄋㄌ |
/d/, /t/, /n/, /l/ |
|
ㄍㄎㄏ |
/g/, /k/, /h/ |
|
ㄐㄑㄒ |
/j/, /q/, /x/ |
|
ㄓㄔㄕㄖ |
/zh(i)/, /ch(i)/, /sh(i)/, /r(i)/ |
|
ㄗㄘㄙ |
/z(i)/, /c(i)/, /s(i)/ |
Sets of Finals of the Word Sounds
|
MPS |
Pinyin |
|
ㄚㄛㄜㄝ |
/a/, /o/, /e/, /ê/ |
|
ㄞㄟㄠㄡ |
/ai/, /ei/, /ao/, /ou/ |
|
ㄢㄣㄤㄥ |
/an/, /en/, /ang/, /eng/ |
|
ㄦ |
/er/ |
|
ㄧㄨㄩ |
/yi/, /wu/, /yu/ Or they can be the others: /i/, /u/, /ü/or/u/ |
Sets of Finals of the Word Sounds (Part II)
|
MPS |
Pinyin |
|
ㄧ + ㄚ |
/y(i)/ + /a/ → /ya/ /i/ + /a/ → /ia/ |
|
ㄧ + ㄛ |
/y(i)/ + /o/ → /yo/ |
|
ㄧ + ㄝ |
/y(i)/ + /e/ → /ye/ /i/ + /e/ → /ie/ |
|
ㄧ + ㄞ |
/y(i)/ + /ai/ → ---- |
|
ㄧ + ㄠ |
/y(i)/ + /ao/ → /yao/ /i/ + /ao/ → /iao/ |
|
ㄧ + ㄡ |
/y(i)/ + /ou/ → /you/ /i/ + /ou/ → /iu/ |
|
ㄧ + ㄢ |
/y(i)/ + /an/ → /yan/ /i/ + /an/ → /ian/ |
|
ㄧ + ㄣ |
/y(i)/ + /in/ → /yin/ /i/ + /in/ → /in/ |
|
ㄧ + ㄤ |
/y(i)/ + /ang/ → /yang/ /i/ + /ang/ → /iang/ |
|
ㄧ + ㄥ |
/y(i)/ + /eng/ → /ying/ /i/ + /eng/ → /ing/ |
NB This final sound /y(i)/ or /i/ does NOT blend with /e/ & /ei/ and certainly NOT with /er/.
