Smart Book Post: Chinese Pronunciation Guide

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๐ŸŽฏ Master Chinese Pronunciation: z, c, s, zh, ch, sh, r

Among the most challenging Mandarin initials are z, c, s, zh, ch, sh, and r. This Smart Book guide helps you understand, practice, and master them step by step.

๐Ÿ”‘ Quick Rules

  • Flat tongue → z, c, s
  • Curled tongue → zh, ch, sh, r
  • Aspirated (with puff of air) → c, ch
  • Unaspirated (softer) → z, zh
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๐Ÿ—ฃ️ Breakdown with Examples

Initial How to Say It English Hint Example Words + Tones
z Flat tongue, no puff “ds” in kids zรฌ ๅญ— (4, character), zร i ๅœจ (4, at), zว’u ่ตฐ (3, walk)
c Flat tongue + puff “ts” in cats cรฌ ๆฌก (4, time), cรกi ๆ‰ (2, only/then), cลngmรญng ่ชๆ˜Ž (1+neutral, smart)
s Air through teeth “s” in see sรฌ ๅ›› (4, four), sฤn ไธ‰ (1, three), shฤ“ngsฤซ ็”Ÿๆญป (1+3, life & death)
zh Curl tongue back, no puff “j” in jam (further back) zhฤซ ็Ÿฅ (1, know), zhวŽo ๆ‰พ (3, look for), Zhลngguรณ ไธญๅ›ฝ (1+2, China)
ch Curl tongue + puff “ch” in church chฤซ ๅƒ (1, eat), chลซ ๅ‡บ (1, go out), chรกng ้•ฟ (2, long)
sh Curl tongue, continuous “sh” in she shรฌ ๆ˜ฏ (4, is), shลซ ไนฆ (1, book), Shร nghวŽi ไธŠๆตท (4+3)
r Curl tongue, between r & zh unique Mandarin sound rรฌ ๆ—ฅ (4, day), rรฉn ไบบ (2, person), rร ng ่ฎฉ (4, allow)
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๐ŸŽง Practice Drills

1) Minimal Pairs

zรฌ ๅญ— (4) vs. zhรฌ ๅฟ— (4)
cรฌ ๆฌก (4) vs. chรฌ ็ฟ… (4)
sฤซ ๆ€ (1) vs. shฤซ ๅธˆ (1)

2) Tone + Initial Drills

zฤซ, zรญ, zว, zรฌ
chฤซ, chรญ, chว, chรฌ
shฤซ, shรญ, shว, shรฌ
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๐Ÿงฉ Sentence Practice

ๆˆ‘ๅœจไธญๅ›ฝๅƒไนฆ。
Wว’ zร i Zhลngguรณ chฤซ shลซ.
“I’m in China eating a book.” (nonsense but excellent articulation practice!)

✅ Final Tips

  • Use the paper test → movement = aspiration (c, ch).
  • Use the mirror test → check tongue curl for retroflex (zh, ch, sh, r).
  • Short daily drills (5–10 minutes) beat long, rare sessions.
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