1. Single Vowels (Simple Finals):
These are the basic building blocks, and I've listed them before, but here they are again for completeness:
- a: father, car
- o: for, caught
- e: bed, bet
- i: see, machine
- u: moon, flute
- ü: French "u", German "ü"
2. Compound Vowels (Compound Finals):
These are combinations of two or three single vowels, creating diphthongs and triphthongs:
- ai: eye, like
- Example: 爱 (ài) - love
- ei: eight, grey
- Example: 杯 (bēi) - cup
- ao: ow (in cow), loud
- Example: 好 (hǎo) - good
- ou: oh (in go), soul
- Example: 楼 (lóu) - building
- ia: ya (in yard)
- Example: 家 (jiā) - home
- ie: yeah, yes
- Example: 叶 (yè) - leaf
- iao: yow (as in "Wow!")
- Example: 小 (xiǎo) - small
- iu: yo (as in "yo-yo")
- Example: 九 (jiǔ) - nine
- ua: wa (in water)
- Example: 瓜 (guā) - melon
- uo: wor (in worm)
- Example: 国 (guó) - country
- uai: why
- Example: 外 (wài) - outside
- ui: way, sway
- Example: 回 (huí) - return
- üe: yue (similar to "ü" with a slight "e" glide)
- Example: 月 (yuè) - moon
- iao: yow (as in "Wow!")
- Example: 鸟 (niǎo) - bird
3. The Special Case of "er":
As we discussed, "er" is a unique syllable that combines a vowel and a retroflex "r" consonant. It's often considered a vowel because it can function as the nucleus of a syllable.
4. Nasal Finals:
Many of the compound vowels can also be combined with nasal endings (-n or -ng), creating even more vowel sounds.
- an: ahn
- Example: 安 (ān) - safe
- en: un (in "sun")
- Example: 门 (mén) - door
- in: een (in "seen")
- Example: 因 (yīn) - because
- ang: ahng
- Example: 方 (fāng) - direction
- eng: ung (in "sung")
- Example: 灯 (dēng) - lamp
- ing: ing (in "sing")
- Example: 听 (tīng) - listen
- ong: ohng
- Example: 龙 (lóng) - dragon
Important Considerations:
- Tones: Remember that each of these vowel sounds can be pronounced with four different tones (plus a neutral tone), which can drastically change the meaning of a word.
- Regional Variations: There can be variations in how these vowels are pronounced in different regions of China.