Tricky Mandarin Sounds: x, q, zh, ch, sh, r and ü

Most of Mandarin's sounds have a rough English match. A few do not, and getting them right makes you far easier to understand.

j, q, x: the "smile" sounds

These three are made with the tongue flat and the lips spread, as in a smile.

• j is like the "j" in "jeep", but with a lighter, tongue-flat quality: jī (鸡, chicken).
• q is like "ch" in "cheese", with a strong puff of air: qī (七, seven).
• x is like "sh" in "sheep", but made further forward with the tongue tip down: xī (西, west).

English speakers often say x as a normal "sh" and q as "k". Try saying "cheese" with a wide smile and a burst of air for q.

zh, ch, sh, r: curl the tongue

These are the "retroflex" sounds, made with the tongue tip curled up toward the roof of the mouth.

• zh — like "j" in "judge", but with the tongue curled: zhōng (中).
• ch — like "ch" in "church", curled: chī (吃, eat).
• sh — like "sh" in "shirt", curled: shì (是, to be).
• r — between English "r" and the "s" of "measure": rén (人, person).

z, c, s: the flat versions

• z — like "ds" in "kids": zì (字, character).
• c — like "ts" in "cats", with a strong puff: cài (菜, dish).
• s — like English "s": sì (四, four).

The difference between zhī and zī, chī and cī, shī and sī is tongue position: curled back versus flat. Practise them in pairs.

The ü vowel

Say "ee" and, without moving your tongue, round your lips as if to say "oo". That sound is ü, as in nǚ (女, woman) and lǜ (绿, green). Compare nǐ (你) with nǚ (女): the tongue is the same, the lips differ.

Vowel e

The letter e is not like English "e". In hē (喝, drink) it is like the "uh" in "duh" but further back in the throat. In xiè (谢) it is closer to "eh".

The final -ian

Despite the spelling, -ian is pronounced like "yen", as in tiān (天, sky) and diàn (电, electricity).

Practice pairs

• shī (诗) / sī (丝)
• chá (茶) / cā (擦)
• xī (西) / shī (诗)
• qù (去) / kù (裤)
• nǚ (女) / nǐ (你)

Study tips

1. Record yourself and compare with a native speaker.
2. Use a mirror to check lip shape for ü and smile sounds.
3. Learn words in context, not isolated syllables.
4. Look up each word with its pinyin to check the correct spelling.

Check pinyin and characters with English Chinese Dictionary →