Formation of initials, finals and tones
Syllables
Initials/Consonants
21
Final/Vowels
16
Tones
4
21
b p m f d t n l g k h j q x zh ch sh r z c S
16
a o e ie ai ei ao ou an en ang eng er i u ü
Tones
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Neutral
-
1st
/
2nd
v
3rd
\
4th
Highest and longest
1st tone
Lowest
3rd
Mmmmm….
1st
What?
2nd
Uhhhhh…
3rd
No!
4th
Happy Birthday
Zhu ni SHENG RI kuai le
Merry Christmas
Zhu ni SHENG DAN kuai le
Happy new year
Zhu ni XIN NIAN kuai le
Congratulations
Gong xi
Have a prosperous new year!
Gong xi fa cai
Congrats on your graduation
Gong xi ni bi ye
Congrats on your engagement
Gong xi ni men ding hun