LETTER

SOUND

HINT

a

ah

rhymes with jaw

ai

eye

rhymes with my

an

ahn

rhymes with john

ang

ahng

rhymes with long

ao

ow

rhymes with now

ar

are

rhymes with far

b

same as English

c

ts 

as in its

ch

same as English

d

same as English

e

u

as in push

ei

a

as in day

en

uhn 

rhymes with pun

eng

uhng

rhymes with hung

er

similar to English

f

same as English

g

same as English

h

similar to English but more guttural 

i

ee

as in free

ia

yah

as in yonder 

ian

yen

rhymes with ten

iang

yong

rhymes with long

iao

yow

rhymes with now

ie

yeh

as in yes

in

een

rhymes with green

ing

same as English

iong

yong

rhymes with long

iu

ee-oh

rhymes with Leo

j

same as English

k

same as English

l

same as English

m

same as English

n

same as English

o

aw

rhymes with saw 

ong

same as English

ou

oh

rhymes with toe

p

same as English

q

ch

as in chip 

r

cross between "r" & "j" - somewhat like the 2nd syllable of measure

s

same as English

sh

same as English

t

same as English

u

oo

rhymes with boo

ua

wah

as in water 

uai

wye

rhymes with why

uan

wahn

rhymes with swan

wen

like when if after j, q, x, or y (e.g., "yuan" = "ywen")

uang

wahng

rhymes with song

ue

oo-eh

as in who-when as if one word

ui

way

like way

un

one

similar to one but closer to the "oo" in look

win

like win if after j, q, or x (e.g., "xun" = "shwin")

uo

waw

rhymes with saw 

v

no such letter 

w

same as English

x

sh

as in shop

y

same as English

z

dz

as in kids

zh

j

as in jump