<p>most of the time you don't need to distinguish them. JQX are always followed by i or ü, which never happens with ZCS. In fact, in many dialects, JQX are pronounced as ZCS. People will understand you with 0 confusion or information loss.</p>

<p>On the other hand, if you do wish to improve your pronunciation, try this:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/FWibi.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/FWibi.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>ZCS are articulated between your teeth and gum. English J and Sh are pronounced more back. JQX are even more back, but before palatal consonants like y in "yes" or German ch in "China", which is why they're called alveolo-palatal. </p>

<p>Just try to feel the continuous spectrum, it'll be hard to step on the exact point where JQX are pronounced, but it's definitely reachable. With sufficient training you'll surely remember that location.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-22T12:51:49.483Z
2020-01-22T12:51:49.483Z
Xiaoxiong Lin
<p>Q = Ch (as an "<strong>ch</strong>ocolate")<br>
X = Sh (as in "<strong>sh</strong>ower") <br>
J = J (as in "<strong>J</strong>ennifer") <br>
Z = Ds (as in "be<strong>ds</strong>", plural of "bed")<br>
C = Ts (as in "ca<strong>ts</strong>", plural of "cat")<br>
S = S (as in "<strong>s</strong>and")</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-10T18:14:44.400Z
2020-02-10T18:14:44.400Z
Nike Dattani
<p>The way I think of it is that they are pronounced similarly, except they are used with different vowels, as you can see in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin_table" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pinyin table</a>. Vowels starting with an "i" or "ü" sound are only used with J, Q, and X (except that "ü" is written as "u" since there is no need to disambiguate), whereas vowels starting with an "a", "e", "o", or "u" sound, or the special "i" sound like in "si", are only used with Z, C, and S.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-09T19:56:43.827Z
2020-02-09T19:56:43.827Z
user102008
<p>I'm struggling with some sounds in Chinese. I can't distinguish J, Q, X initials and Z, C, S initials. I feel that they are pronounced similarly.
Am I right? Can you tell me how to pronounce these initials correctly?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-22T19:52:24.417Z
Try these English spelling for J, Q, X: gee, chi, shi(but with smiling face). And for Z and C, try to pronounce from your teeth.
Shaw
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-22T21:46:37.823Z
Updated, gee, chee, shee, with smiling face.
Shaw
<pronunciation><pinyin>
Difference between j, q, x sounds and z, c, s sounds?
# Difference between j, q, x sounds and z, c, s sounds?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-01-22)

I'm struggling with some sounds in Chinese. I can't distinguish J, Q, X initials and Z, C, S initials. I feel that they are pronounced similarly.
Am I right? Can you tell me how to pronounce these initials correctly?

**Tags:** pronunciation, pinyin

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Try these English spelling for J, Q, X: gee, chi, shi(but with smiling face). And for Z and C, try to pronounce from your teeth.  
> **username_1**: Updated, gee, chee, shee, with smiling face.  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-01-22. Score: 5

most of the time you don't need to distinguish them. JQX are always followed by i or ü, which never happens with ZCS. In fact, in many dialects, JQX are pronounced as ZCS. People will understand you with 0 confusion or information loss.

On the other hand, if you do wish to improve your pronunciation, try this:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/FWibi.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/FWibi.png)

ZCS are articulated between your teeth and gum. English J and Sh are pronounced more back. JQX are even more back, but before palatal consonants like y in "yes" or German ch in "China", which is why they're called alveolo-palatal.

Just try to feel the continuous spectrum, it'll be hard to step on the exact point where JQX are pronounced, but it's definitely reachable. With sufficient training you'll surely remember that location.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2020-02-10. Score: 0

Q = Ch (as an "**ch**ocolate")  
X = Sh (as in "**sh**ower")   
J = J (as in "**J**ennifer")   
Z = Ds (as in "be**ds**", plural of "bed")  
C = Ts (as in "ca**ts**", plural of "cat")  
S = S (as in "**s**and")


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### Answer by username_4 on 2020-02-09. Score: 0

The way I think of it is that they are pronounced similarly, except they are used with different vowels, as you can see in a [Pinyin table](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin_table). Vowels starting with an "i" or "ü" sound are only used with J, Q, and X (except that "ü" is written as "u" since there is no need to disambiguate), whereas vowels starting with an "a", "e", "o", or "u" sound, or the special "i" sound like in "si", are only used with Z, C, and S.


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