Pronunciation Guide
Chinese words and names are often transcribed in Pinyin, a system of romanization officially adopted by The People's Republic of China in 1979 to standardize spellings in foreign languages. In general, Pinyin words are pronounced as they naturally appear to English speakers.
Exceptions are listed below.
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 |
C is pronounced TS | |
OU is pronounced OH | |
|
example: Cong | |
example: Zhou | |
|
Q is pronounced CH | |
U is pronounced OO | |
|
example: Qi | |
example: Hu | |
|
UI is pronounced AY | |
X is pronounced SH | |
|
example: Sui | |
example: Xi'an | |
|
Z is pronounced DS | |
ZH is pronounced JH | |
|
example: Zun | |
example: Zhou | |
Glossary
Things
|
Bi | bee | pierced jade disc |
|
Cong | tsong | jade tube |
|
Ding | ding | tripod food vessel |
|
Fangjia | fang-geeah | wine warmer |
|
Gang | gang | urn-shaped vessel |
|
Gu | goo | narrow-waisted wine-drinking vessel |
|
Gui | gway | vessel for food offering |
|
Hu | hoo | wine vessel |
|
Jia | gee-ah | three-legged wine vessel with posts |
|
Jiao | gee-aow | tripod wine vessel with pointed lip |
|
Jue | jew-eh | tripod wine vessel with spouted mouth |
|
Mingqi | ming-chee | tomb figures or models |
|
Pan | pan | shallow water basin |
|
Taotie | taow-tee-eh | masklike decorative motif |
|
You | yoh | wine vessel with lid and handle |
|
Yu | you | jade |
|
Zhong | jong | bell |
|
Zun | tsun | wine vessel |
Cultures and Dynasties
|
Han | hahn |
|
Jin | gin |
|
Liangzhu | lee-ang-jew |
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Liao | lee-aow |
|
Longshan | long-shan |
|
Qi | chi |
|
Qin | chin |
|
Shu | shoe |
|
Sui | sway |
|
Shang | shang |
|
Tang | tang |
|
Taosi | tao-seh |
|
Wei | way |
|
Xia | she-ah |
|
Zhou | joe |
Places
|
Sanxingdui | san-shing-dway |
|
Shaanxi | sha-an-she |
|
Shanxi | shan-she |
|
Xiaotun | she-aow-tun |
|
Xiasi | she-ah-seh |
|
Xi'an | she-an |
People
|
Fu Hao | foo how |
|
Qin Shi Huangdi | chin she huang-dee |
|
Shi Qiang | she chi-ang |
|
Si Mu Xin | seh moo shin |
|
Zenghou Yi | dseng-ho-yee |