Vowels Print E-mail
The six vowels in Pinyin pronunciation are listed in the following page. They will be read in the first tone, which sounds like a sustained sung note. Please listen and repeat after me.


a 
It sounds like the noise you might make when your doctor is examining the inside of your mouth. Open your mouth wide and say: “aah”. 

________________________________________________________

o 


Push your lips forward into a small circle, with your tongue at the bottom of your mouth, leaving a hollow space above it. Say: “o”. Your lips should make the shape they take when you say the English word “law”. ________________________________________________________

e            
                                                                  

Make a sound as if you have seen something really disgusting: “ergh”. When e is used with other vowels it can also be pronounced “ê” which is similar to “e” in the English word “bed”.

________________________________________________________

i

Pull your lips slightly back and push your tongue up towards the hard palate without touching it. It is similar to the “ea” sound in the English word “squeak”. ________________________________________________________

u


Push your lips forward and make a narrow gap through which your breath can vibrate. Your lips should take the shape they make when you say the word “fool”. ________________________________________________________

ü

It is similar to the umlaut ü in German or the French “u”. Say “ee” through tightly pursed lips (form the shape they make when you say the “sh” of the English word fish). ________________________________________________________

 
Top! Top!
eXTReMe Tracker