The official language of the People's Republic of China is putonghua(普通话 рǔtōnghuà, lit. "Common language"), whose phonetics and vocabulary are based on the pronunciation norm of the Beijing dialect.
The basic phonetic unit of the Chinese language is the syllable. A syllable consists of a consonant part - initial(声母 , shēng mǔ) - at the beginning of a syllable and vowel - finale(韵母 , yùn mǔ) - at the end of a syllable as well as tone. There are about 400 basic syllables in modern Mandarin. To record the sounds of the Chinese language, the phonetic alphabet pinyin (拼音, pīn yīn) is used - a transcription system based on the Latin alphabet.
Tones
The main hallmark the phonetics of the Chinese language are tone. V Chinese 4 tones + light unstressed tone. The tone is needed in order to distinguish between the meanings of syllables of the same sound.
For instance:
First tone: high and even, denoted by ā.
Second tone: ascending, denoted by á.
The third tone: first descending and then ascending, denoted by ǎ.
The fourth tone: falling from high to low, indicated by à.
The tone mark is always placed above the ending. If the tone sign is placed over the ending i, then the dot is not written: nǐ, nín. In syllables with compound endings, the tone sign is placed above the one at the moment of pronouncing which, the mouth is opened wider (a, o, e, i, u, ü): māo, dài, péi.
Light tone
Light tone is also sometimes referred to as "zero". A light tone is pronounced weaker and shorter. In transcription, a light tone is not indicated by any sign.
For instance:
好吗? | 你呢? | 爸爸 | 谢谢 |
Hǎo ma? | Nǐ ne? | bàba | xièxie |
Good? | And you? | dad | Thank you |
Initials
Initial can be expressed with only one consonant sound.
Before moving on to study initials, let's get acquainted with the concept of "aspiration", because in Chinese initials are divided into aspirated and non-aspirated. To learn to pronounce initials aspirated, try while pronouncing, bring a piece of paper to your lips and make a sound with a strong exhalation. The piece of paper should deflect away from you due to the flow of air as you exhale vigorously. When pronouncing initials without aspiration, the sheet of paper should not move. Thus, it turns out that the sound "x" is added to the sound, however, one should avoid pronouncing aspirated ones like the Russian sound + "x", one should try to achieve this effect with the help of exhalation.
There are 21 initials in Chinese:
Pronunciation method | Pronounced as | Examples of | |
---|---|---|---|
b | Something in between Russian voiced[b] and deaf [P] | 爸爸 - dad | |
p | Russian [P][n x] | 怕 - to be afraid | |
m | Chinese [m]differs from Russian[m]greater tension and duration | 妈妈 - mom | |
f | Sounds like Russian[f] | 发 - send | |
d | Chinese [d]similar to russian[d]but is deaf | 都 - all | |
t | Russian [T]which is aspirated -[tx] | 他 - he | |
n | Unlike Russian[n]while pronouncing Chinese[n]the tip of the tongue is raised | 你 - you | |
l | Chinese [l]differs from Russian[l]lowering the back of the tongue | 来 - come | |
g | Chinese [g]similar to russian[G]but is deaf | 狗 - dog | |
k | Russian [To]which is aspirated -[to x] | 看 - watch | |
h | Russian sound [X]but more tense | 很 - very | |
j | When pronouncing[j], [q]and[x]the tongue should lie at the bottom, slightly touching the tip of the lower teeth. The middle of the tongue touches the palate during pronunciation. There are no such sounds in Russian. Note that the initials[j], [q], [x]do not match with the finals[u], [a] |
Sound [j]approximately equal to Russian[dzh], pronounced softly and without aspiration | 几 - how much |
q | Average between Russians soft[T] and [h](something like soft[tchi]), aspirated | 七 - seven | |
x | Looks like a hissing[With](something like a hissing[sm]) | 星 - star | |
z | These are hissing sounds. When pronouncing[z], [c]and[s]the tip of the tongue touches the back of the front teeth |
Similar to Russian[c], but pronounced louder (something like a combination[dz]) | 在 - in; on the |
c | Voiceless combination[mc]aspirated | 从 - with; from | |
s | Similar to Russian[With], just a little tighter | 三 - three | |
zh | When pronouncing , , and[r]the tip of the tongue rolls back towards the palate | Combination [j](for example, as in [jam]), but pronounced as a single sound. | 这 is |
ch | Combination [shh]aspirated | 车 - car | |
sh | Close to Russian[w]but more hissing | 书 - book | |
r | Similar to Russian[f] | 人 - person |
The initial may be absent, then the syllable consists only of the final and is called a syllable with a zero or omitted initial.
Finals
The final can consist of one vowel sound (simple) or several (compound). There are 38 finals in total in Chinese:
Pronounced as | Examples of | Transcription rules | |
---|---|---|---|
a | Similar to Russian[a], only pronounced more intensely | 那 - one | |
e | When pronouncing[e]the language is in the same position as when pronouncing Russian[O]but without lip rounding. The sound itself is something between[uh] and [s] | 呢 interrogative particle | |
i | Pronounced like Russian[and]but more tense; softens the consonant in front of it | 骑 - to ride | If[i] [y], For example,一 - one After[z], [c], [s], , , and[r]finals[-i]reads solid[s], For example:吃 - to eat, 词 - word, 日 - day, etc. |
o | Pronounced like Russian[O]but more tense | 摸 - to touch | |
u | Pronounced like Russian[y] | 不 - no, no | If[u]forms an independent syllable[w], For example:五 - five |
ü | There is no such sound in Russian. Sound[ü] combines sounds[i] and [u], pronounced together, as one sound. To make this sound try to pronounce[yiwu], only rounding the lips as in pronunciation[Yu] | 女 - woman | If[ü]
forms an independent syllable, then an unpronounceable initial is added before it[y], and two dots above[ü]
are not written, for example:语 - language If the finals[ü] stands after initials[j], [q]or[x],then two dots above[ü] are not written, but the sound still reads as[ü] . And if before[ü] worth initials[n]or[l], then the dots must be written, for example:去 - go |
ai | [ay] | 还 - more | |
ao | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[ao] | 猫 - cat | |
ei | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[Hey] but softly | 杯 - glass | |
ia | Pronounced like Russian[I am] | 家 - home, family | [i], then[i]changes to[y], For example:鸭 - duck, 要 - want, 也 - too |
iao | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[yao] | 小 - small | |
ie | Reads like [uh]but without stretching the sounds, it looks like a Russian sound[e] | 姐姐 - older sister | |
iou / iu | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[yo] | 六 - six | Composite ending , when it comes after any initial, is written as , and the tone sign is written above[u], For example:丢 - to lose |
ou | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[OU] | 走 - walk | |
ua | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[ya], where [y] very short | 抓 - to grab | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[u], then[u]changes to[w], For example:挖 - dig |
uai | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[wye], where [y] very short. | 块 - yuan | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[u], then[u]changes to[w], For example:外 - external |
üe | Pronounced close to the combination of Russian sounds[yue] | 学 - to teach | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[ü]
, then an unpronounceable initial is added before it[y], and two dots above[ü]
are not written, for example: 月
[ü] , stands after the initials[j], [q], [x], then two dots above[ü] are not written, for example:雪 - snow |
uei / ui | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[way], only together and with an emphasis on[uh]which is pronounced very short | 水 - water | Composite ending , when it comes after any initial, is written in abbreviated form as , and the tone sign is written above[i], For example:贵 - dear |
uo | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[woo], only pronounced as a single sound | 说 - to speak | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[u], then[u]changes to[w], For example:我 - I |
an | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[en] | 看 - watch | |
ru | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[en] | 很 - very | |
ian | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[ian] | 钱 - money | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[i], then[i]changes to[y], For example:烟 - smoke |
in | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[in] | 新 - new | If forms an independent syllable, then an unpronounceable initial is added before it[y], For example:银 - silver |
uan | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[wan]; when pronouncing[y]lips "in a tube" | 馆 – hotel, restaurant | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[u], then[u]changes to[w], For example:玩 - play |
üan | It seems not a combination of Russian sounds[yuan] | 选 - choose | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[ü]
, then an unpronounceable initial is added before it[y], and two dots above[ü]
are not written, for example:元 - yuan If the ending that starts with[ü] , stands after the initials[j], [q], [x], then two dots above[ü] are not written, for example:全 - whole |
uen / un | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[wen], where [uh]soft and short | 婚 - wedding | Composite ending
, when it comes after the initial, is written in abbreviated form as
, For example:困 - sleepy In case the finale independently forms a syllable, then[u]replaced[w], For example:问 - ask |
ün | [Jun] | 群 - crowd | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[ü]
, then an unpronounceable initial is added before it[y], and two dots above[ü]
are not written, for example:云 - cloud If the ending that starts with[ü] , stands after the initials[j], [q], [x], then two dots above[ü] are not written, for example:迅 - fast |
ang | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[en], only sound [n]- nasal | 忙 - busy | |
eng | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[en], only sound [n]- nasal | 冷 - cold | |
iang | It looks like a combination of Russian sounds[yan], only sound [n]- nasal | 想 - to want, to think | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[i], then[i]changes to[y], For example:羊 - ram |
ing | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[in], only sound [n]- nasal | 病 - to be ill | If forms an independent syllable, then an unpronounceable initial is added before it[y], For example:影 - shadow |
iong | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[yon], only sound [n]- nasal | 穷 - poor | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[i], then[i]changes to[y], For example:用 - use |
ong | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[he], only sound [n]- nasal | 红 - red | |
uang | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[wan], only sound [n]- nasal | 床 - bed | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[u], then[u]changes to[w], For example:网 - network |
ueng | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[wen], only sound [n]- nasal | 翁 - old man | If the syllable consists only of the ending that begins with[u], then[u]changes to[w]. Syllable - this is the only syllable that is formed with the help of this ending |
er | Pronounced as a combination of Russian sounds[ar]; when pronouncing, the tip of the tongue bends up and back | 二 [èr] - two | When added to the syllable
there is a process of erization. The final
can form an independent syllable, for example:儿子 [érzi] - son If stands at the end of a syllable, it loses its independence and merges with the syllable. In transcription, the syllable is added[r], in the hieroglyphic notation, a hieroglyph is added儿 , For example:哪儿 - where In this case, the pronunciation of the last consonant is usually lost, for example:玩儿 - play |
The tables show examples of monosyllabic words, during the pronunciation of which, be sure to pay attention to the tones. In words that are composed of two or more syllables, tones are sometimes modulated. Now we will analyze the most common cases of modulation.
3rd tone modulation
When reading two syllables of the 3rd tone together, the first syllable is read in the second tone. If there are three or more consecutive words of the third tone, then all tones change, except for the last one. The sign of the 3rd tone is preserved in the transcription.
For instance:
你好 (nǐ hǎo (so spelled)- ní hǎo (this is how it reads)). - Hello!
我 很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo (so spelled)- wó hén hǎo (this is how it reads)). – I'm fine.
Negative particle modulation 不 (bù)
Negation 不 (bù) is pronounced in the fourth tone. But if 不 (bù) is followed by a syllable with a fourth tone, then 不 (bù) is read in the second tone. For instance:
不是 (bú shì) - no
不去 (bú qù) - don't go
不要 (bú yào) - not to want
In sentences with a repetition of a verb (affirmative-negative), when 不 (bù) stands between the same verbs, we read 不 (bù) in a light tone, in the transcription the tone sign is not put, for example:
是 不是 - yes or no
去 不去 - go - don't go
Modulation "一" (yī)
The original tone "一" is the first tone. Pronounced "一" in the first tone, if pronounced in isolation, if it stands at the end of a phrase or sentence, if used as an ordinal number. In other cases, "一" is modulated: before the first, second and third tones, "一" is modulated into the fourth tone, and before the fourth tone, into the second tone.
Apostrophe
An apostrophe is used in transcription for a syllable section in cases where a syllable with a zero initial follows after a regular syllable, for example:
先 - first
西安 - Xi'an
As you learn the phonetics of the Chinese language, try to listen and repeat more. It's like in sports: there are a lot of techniques, but the key to success is practice.
Today, 15 october, starts course by Sergei Igoshin " Self-study any foreign language in one month".
This course will allow you master active basis of your chosen language in one month and assimilate a universal algorithm thanks to which you can independently learn any foreign languages.
The first lesson will start today at 19.00 Moscow time and you can still catch it:
Sergey Igoshin
Three women - noise or debauchery? Or where do the associations lead?
“My name is a worn out Hieroglyph
My clothes are patched with the wind
What I carry in my clenched palms
They will not ask me, and I will not answer. "
Edmund Shklyarsky, group "Picnic"
As you have already guessed, today we will talk about hieroglyphs. Surely many have a stereotype that there is nothing worse than languages that use hieroglyphs.
Some will also sympathize: how poor they are, they suffer with these squiggles! However, unusual for us does not mean inconvenient for them.
If you look closely at the characters in Japanese and Chinese, you will find that they have both convenience and logic. But above all imagery!
When an artist paints a picture, he first makes a sketch, a sketch. Then the details are drawn and the final work begins with the paints.
We can say that the hieroglyph (by no means every one, of course) made its way in the opposite direction: from painting to sketch.
A hieroglyph is a canvas rewritten by time, but has not lost its aesthetic value.
Before you is the Chinese-Japanese character for "moon".
Where is the moon? Let's figure it out! We connect the imagination and ...
I thought it was better to see once than to tell. In the photo you can see my cheerful Chinese friend.
He drew this picture specifically for this article. Now it's all clear! Once upon a time it really was a drawing of a month with two clouds.
You probably already want to know the answer to the question in the title of the article? We're getting close! Let's first find out: what are two women?
女女 Answer: quarrel! Let's add one more and get ...
女 女 女 And noise and debauchery at the same time! It all depends on ... the dialect of the Chinese language.
Here one could make a big digression about the peculiarities of the Sino-Japanese worldview, but let's leave that aside ...-)
Triplet hieroglyphs are very funny and imaginative. Especially when you find out the meaning of the base hieroglyph. Let's see:
Since there are triplets, that is, twins:
By the way, have you noticed how much space the hieroglyphs take, and how much text is in Russian? This is the obvious advantage! That is, the hieroglyphs are both convenient, logical, and figurative. They stir the imagination, stir up curiosity, develop associative thinking!
Linguistic experts believe that Chinese pronunciation is real music, which is obtained through the active use of tones and halftones of speech. Standard Chinese uses four tones. They are of great importance because sounding to a greater extent conveys the meaning of what was said.
The Chinese language is radically different from Russian both grammatically and phonetically. For beginners, it is extremely important to remember the pronunciation of Chinese sounds, because there are no analogues in the Russian language, you can get only a rough idea of how they are actually pronounced. To master it requires some skill and constant training. If you listen to audio recordings many times and record your exercises for later comparison with the native speaker - pronunciation Chinese characters will gradually improve.
The main advice given to all beginners is to read and listen a lot. Find songs you like, watch movies and shows, memorize symbols and repeat phrases aloud, copying intonation shades. Tongue twisters and verses help well, which improve memory and rhythm of speech. All sounds in Chinese are written using the Pinyin system, and syllables include two components: initials (there are 21) and final (36). In the first case, this is the initial consonant, in the second - the final vowel. There are syllables that consist only of the ending or only the initial. If you try to explain it using transcription, it will look like this.
Initials:
- b - roughly sounds like a deaf / b /;
- P - on exhalation / nx /;
- m - / m /;
- f - / f /;
- d - like / d /, but not very loud;
- t - aspirated / tx /;
- n - / n /;
- l - / l /;
- g - / g /;
- a - / a /;
- o - / o /;
- e - something in between / s / and / e / (there is nothing similar in the Russian alphabet);
- i - / and /;
- u - / y /;
- ü - similarity to the word puree (after j, q, x, n, l);
- ia - / ya /;
- ie - / ye /;
- er - resembles English / er / in sister;
- ai - / ah /;
- ei - / hey /;
- ou - / oh /;
- an - / en /;
This is just a rough outline of the letters and is a good starting point. In order to avoid errors, the pronunciation of Chinese letters is best practiced by listening to the speech of real native speakers.
Pronunciation of Chinese words, letters, sounds and characters
The pronunciation of Chinese syllables without mistakes is unthinkable if you do not master the nuances of tonalities. The first is even on a high note, you need to pronounce sounds at the same level as if you are repeating the same note. The second implies a short vocal rise from low frequencies to high. It should give the impression that you are asking again. In the third key, the pronunciation in Chinese is first lowered and then raised. The fourth is short, the voice quickly goes down from a high tone to a low one, reminding a categorical "no!"
In order for the pronunciation of Chinese words at the stage of learning to be correct in tonality, you should not rush and speak quickly. Wherein better than words record and speak out loud on a dictaphone, in order to correct mistakes later. Observe how the Chinese themselves speak - they do not open their mouths wide, slightly squeezing their jaws and stretching the corners of their mouths. Do an exercise that will help you get used to correct articulation: hold a pencil between your teeth and say something in your first native language, and then say the syllable in Chinese. To better remember the tone corresponding to the hieroglyphs, sign the desired tone over them until you can reproduce from memory.
The basic rule is persistent and systematic training, as well as interest and motivation. All this is enough to overcome any linguistic difficulties.