<p>Don't connect Chinese sounds to English sounds (or any other language, for that matter). It will only hinder your pronunciation.</p>

<p>For example:</p>

<p>A lot of learners want to connect 'xi' with the English 'she' - but first the Chinese 'x' is represented by the IPA letter ɕ where as the English 'sh' is represented by IPA ʃ - although it might be considered a variation (by some) but it certainly is not the same!</p>

<p>These kinds of things often leave foreigners sounding 洋腔洋调 because they're just using sounds from other languages.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-25T16:22:51.147Z
2014-04-25T16:33:22.990Z
2014-04-25T16:33:22.990Z
Mou某
<p>Many Mandarin Chinese teachers claim that the step 1 for Learning Chinese is: Sounds (Pinyins).  </p>

<p>How different is it to English sounds and are there any good tips to learn?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-25T23:56:34.497Z
When you say Sounds do you mean initials and finals or tones?
50-3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-26T01:34:28.067Z
I meant the sound or Pinyin systems, including initials and finals or tones.
Chinese.Tutor.Frank
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-28T02:45:26.187Z
Um... you need to study up on Chinese and English phonologies. This is not something that can be easily covered on a Q and A site. Closed as too broad.
deutschZuid
<pronunciation><simplified-characters><pinyin><traditional-characters><learning>
Learn Chinese Step 1: Sounds (Pinyins). How different is it to English sounds and are there any good tips to learn?
# Learn Chinese Step 1: Sounds (Pinyins). How different is it to English sounds and are there any good tips to learn?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-25)

Many Mandarin Chinese teachers claim that the step 1 for Learning Chinese is: Sounds (Pinyins).

How different is it to English sounds and are there any good tips to learn?

**Tags:** pronunciation, simplified-characters, pinyin, traditional-characters, learning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: When you say Sounds do you mean initials and finals or tones?  
> **username_0**: I meant the sound or Pinyin systems, including initials and finals or tones.  
> **username_2**: Um... you need to study up on Chinese and English phonologies. This is not something that can be easily covered on a Q and A site. Closed as too broad.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-04-25. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Don't connect Chinese sounds to English sounds (or any other language, for that matter). It will only hinder your pronunciation.

For example:

A lot of learners want to connect 'xi' with the English 'she' - but first the Chinese 'x' is represented by the IPA letter ɕ where as the English 'sh' is represented by IPA ʃ - although it might be considered a variation (by some) but it certainly is not the same!

These kinds of things often leave foreigners sounding 洋腔洋调 because they're just using sounds from other languages.


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