Pinyin Chart
Explore every Mandarin syllable with this complete interactive pinyin chart. See all 23 initials and 24 finals, click any cell to hear the pronunciation, switch between the four tones, and learn the pronunciation rules that make your Chinese sound natural.
Select a Tone
| Initials | a | o | e | i | u | ü | ai | ei | ui | ao | ou | iu | ie | üe | er | an | en | in | un | ün | ang | eng | ing | ong |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| f | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| d | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| t | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| n | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| l | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| k | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| h | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| j | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| q | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| x | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| zh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| sh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| r | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| z | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| w |
Important Pronunciation Rules
Tone Sandhi (3-3 Rule)
When two third tones appear together, the first becomes a second tone.
Two consecutive third-tone syllables are pronounced as second tone + third tone. This is the most important tone-change rule in Mandarin.
Example: nǐ hǎo → ní hǎo
The "i" After zh/ch/sh/r
The "i" in zhi, chi, shi, ri is NOT the same as the "i" in bi, pi, mi.
After retroflex initials, "i" represents a syllabic continuant — a buzzy, sustained sound rather than the vowel "ee". Your tongue stays curled back.
Example: zhī (知) — the "i" is a buzzing continuation of the "zh"
The "i" After z/c/s
The "i" in zi, ci, si is a syllabic sibilant — a buzzing "z" sound.
After dental sibilants, "i" is pronounced as a sustained buzzing sound. Think of the "zz" in "buzz" held longer.
Example: zì (字) — the "i" is a buzzing continuation of the "z"
ü After j/q/x/y
When ü follows j, q, x, or y, the umlaut is dropped in spelling but the pronunciation stays the same.
Ju, qu, xu, yu are spelled without the dots but still pronounced with the ü sound (like the French "u" or German "ü").
Example: jū (居) — pronounced like "jü", not "joo"
Tone Mark Placement
The tone mark goes on the main vowel. If there is "a" or "e", it goes there. For "ou", it goes on "o".
Memorize the order: a, o, e, i, u, ü. The tone mark goes on whichever vowel appears first in this order.
Example: xiǎo (小) — mark on "a" (appears before "o")
Half Third Tone
When a third tone is followed by a first, second, or fourth tone, it becomes a "half third tone" — just the low falling part, without the rise.
In natural speech, full third tones (with the rise) are rare. Most of the time the third tone is just a low tone.
Example: hěn gāo (很高) — hěn is pronounced as a low tone, not a full dip
What Is a Pinyin Chart and Why Is It the Foundation of Chinese Learning?
A pinyin chart is the periodic table of Mandarin Chinese — it maps every possible syllable in the language by combining 23 initial consonants (声母) with 24 final sounds (韵母). The intersection of each row and column represents a valid syllable, and mastering this grid unlocks the pronunciation of every Chinese word. With just over 400 valid combinations across four tones, the entire phonetic system of Mandarin is compact and learnable — far smaller than the thousands of characters you will eventually need to read.
The chart is organized so you can see patterns at a glance. Initials are grouped by where in the mouth they are produced: bilabial sounds (b, p, m) use both lips, alveolar sounds (d, t, n, l) place the tongue behind the teeth, retroflex sounds (zh, ch, sh, r) curl the tongue back, and palatal sounds (j, q, x) raise the tongue body. Finals are organized into three categories: simple single vowels, compound diphthongs, and nasal finals that end in -n or -ng. Understanding these patterns helps you predict the sounds of new syllables you encounter.
Our interactive chart goes beyond a static table. Click any cell to hear the audio spoken by a native-sounding voice. Switch between the four tones (flat, rising, dip, falling) plus the neutral tone, and compare how the same syllable changes meaning with tone. Use the all-tone view to see all four tones of a syllable at once. The legend lets you filter by initial group, and arrow keys let you navigate the grid without a mouse. Pair this chart with our Tone Trainer to drill tone recognition, the Pinyin Converter to see tone marks on real text, and the HSK Flashcards to build vocabulary with correct pronunciation from day one.
The 23 Initial Consonants (声母)
Each initial belongs to a group based on where in the mouth it is produced. Understanding these groups helps you position your tongue and lips correctly.
Bilabial
双唇音
b, p, m
Both lips come together. b is unaspirated (like "p" in "spy"), p is aspirated (like "p" in "pie"), m is nasal.
Labiodental
唇齿音
f
Lower lip touches upper teeth — identical to English "f".
Alveolar
舌尖中音
d, t, n, l
Tongue tip touches the alveolar ridge. d is unaspirated, t is aspirated, n is nasal, l is a lateral.
Velar
舌根音
g, k, h
Back of tongue touches soft palate. g is unaspirated, k is aspirated, h is like the Scottish "loch" but softer.
Palatal
舌面音
j, q, x
Tongue body raised to hard palate. j is unaspirated, q is aspirated, x is a soft hissing sound.
Retroflex
翘舌音
zh, ch, sh, r
Tongue tip curled back. zh is unaspirated, ch is aspirated, sh is like "sh" but with curled tongue. r is a voiced fricative.
Dental Sibilant
平舌音
z, c, s
Tongue tip behind lower teeth. z is unaspirated (like "dz"), c is aspirated (like "ts"), s is like English "s".
Approximant
半元音
y, w
Glide sounds that transition into the following vowel. y is like "y" in "yes", w is like "w" in "we".
The 24 Finals (韵母)
Finals are the vowel and ending sound of a syllable. They fall into three categories: simple vowels, compound diphthongs, and nasal finals.
Simple Finals
单韵母 — single vowel sounds
These are the six basic vowels. ü is the most challenging for English speakers — round your lips as if to say "oo" but say "ee" instead.
Compound Finals
复韵母 — two or three vowels together
These glide from one vowel position to another. The first vowel is the main one; move smoothly toward the second without a break.
Nasal Finals
鼻韵母 — ending with -n or -ng
These end with a nasal consonant. -n finals place the tongue tip behind the teeth; -ng finals raise the back of the tongue.