<p>I am very unfond of pinyin, but it makes more sense looking at it like:</p>
<ul>
<li>(y)i</li>
<li>(w)u</li>
<li>(y)ü</li>
</ul>
<p>since the () is situational. Again with regards to the semivowels, these specifically merely change if they're beginning a word/syllable. It's easier to say &amp; to read this way. It's a helpful feature.</p>
<hr />
<p>That said, there are plenty of mapping issues within the entire vowels system for pinyin, and the general solution is to teach each as exceptions in pronunciation in &quot;special cases&quot; or ignore the point. Neither seems particularly efficient however, especially from a learning perspective.</p>
<p>Zhuyin maps 1-to-1, and personally I just made my own romanisation to match it and maintain accuracy. Regardless, how you speak is priority over spelling matters, try to ingrain good examples of different syllables for reference when needed in new contexts.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-12-29T20:31:09.140Z
2021-04-14T00:43:26.453Z
2021-04-14T00:43:26.453Z
Vyaiskaya
<p>You can find the explanation in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin#Rules_given_in_terms_of_English_pronunciation" rel="noreferrer">page for Pinyin</a> on wikipedia:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Note on <em>y</em> and <em>w</em></strong></p>
<p><em>y</em> and <em>w</em> are equivalent to the semivowel medials <em>i</em>, <em>u</em>, and <em>ü</em> (see below). They are spelled differently when there is no initial consonant in order to mark a new syllable: <em>fanguan</em> is <em>fan-guan</em>, while <em>fangwan</em> is <em>fang-wan</em> (and equivalent to <em>fang-uan</em>). With this convention, an apostrophe only needs to be used to mark an initial <em>a</em>, <em>e</em>, or <em>o</em>: <em>Xi'an</em> (two syllables: [ɕi.an]) vs. xian (one syllable: [ɕi̯ɛn]). In addition, <em>y</em> and <em>w</em> are added to fully vocalic <em>i</em>, <em>u</em>, and <em>ü</em> when these occur without an initial consonant, so that they are written <em>yi</em>, <em>wu</em>, and <em>yu</em>. Some Mandarin speakers do pronounce a [j] or [w] sound at the beginning of such words—that is, <em>yi</em> [i] or [ji], <em>wu</em> [u] or [wu], <em>yu</em> [y] or [ɥy],—so this is an intuitive convention. See below for a few finals which are abbreviated after a consonant plus <em>w/u</em> or <em>y/i</em> medial: <em>wen</em> → C+<em>un</em>, <em>wei</em> → C+<em>ui</em>, <em>weng</em> → C+<em>ong</em>, and <em>you</em> → C+<em>iu</em>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Well, this note is so detailed, I really feel it difficult to add something… maybe it can be concluded as this:</p>
<p>When [i] and [u] sounds appear at the beginning of a Chinese character, they're written as <em>y</em> and <em>w</em>, in other cases they're written as <em>i</em> and <em>u</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-07T12:56:50.150Z
2012-11-07T18:05:50.027Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
xzczd
<p>I am referring to the <em>Origin of zhuyin</em> symbols table on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bopomofo#Origin_of_symbols" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a>. Under <em>Rhymes and Medials</em> the following 3 entries confuse me:</p>
<div class="s-table-container">
<table class="s-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Zhuyin</th>
<th>IPA</th>
<th>Pinyin</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ㄧ</td>
<td>i</td>
<td>i/y</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ㄨ</td>
<td>u</td>
<td>u/w</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ㄩ</td>
<td>y</td>
<td>ü/yu/u</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p>Why are there multiple Pinyin symbols for the same IPA sound? Are there any general rules as to which one of these symbols should be preferred?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-14T12:55:36.667Z
The answer to the last question "are there any general rules" is a definite Yes; pinyin is very clear about which letters to use for specific sounds. It depends on various conditions.
goPlayerJuggler
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-08T01:42:59.603Z
If you're asking from a learning or teaching perspective, you can check [this article](http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=1550) I wrote about this.
Olle Linge
<pinyin><phonology><zhuyin-fuhao>
Why one-to-many mapping between IPA and Pinyin?
# Why one-to-many mapping between IPA and Pinyin?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-11-07)

I am referring to the *Origin of zhuyin* symbols table on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bopomofo#Origin_of_symbols). Under *Rhymes and Medials* the following 3 entries confuse me:

| Zhuyin | IPA | Pinyin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ㄧ | i | i/y |
| ㄨ | u | u/w |
| ㄩ | y | ü/yu/u |

Why are there multiple Pinyin symbols for the same IPA sound? Are there any general rules as to which one of these symbols should be preferred?

**Tags:** pinyin, phonology, zhuyin-fuhao

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: If you're asking from a learning or teaching perspective, you can check [this article](http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=1550) I wrote about this.  
> **username_1**: The answer to the last question "are there any general rules" is a definite Yes; pinyin is very clear about which letters to use for specific sounds. It depends on various conditions.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-11-07. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

You can find the explanation in [page for Pinyin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin#Rules_given_in_terms_of_English_pronunciation) on wikipedia:

> **Note on *y* and *w***
>
> *y* and *w* are equivalent to the semivowel medials *i*, *u*, and *ü* (see below). They are spelled differently when there is no initial consonant in order to mark a new syllable: *fanguan* is *fan-guan*, while *fangwan* is *fang-wan* (and equivalent to *fang-uan*). With this convention, an apostrophe only needs to be used to mark an initial *a*, *e*, or *o*: *Xi'an* (two syllables: [ɕi.an]) vs. xian (one syllable: [ɕi̯ɛn]). In addition, *y* and *w* are added to fully vocalic *i*, *u*, and *ü* when these occur without an initial consonant, so that they are written *yi*, *wu*, and *yu*. Some Mandarin speakers do pronounce a [j] or [w] sound at the beginning of such words—that is, *yi* [i] or [ji], *wu* [u] or [wu], *yu* [y] or [ɥy],—so this is an intuitive convention. See below for a few finals which are abbreviated after a consonant plus *w/u* or *y/i* medial: *wen* → C+*un*, *wei* → C+*ui*, *weng* → C+*ong*, and *you* → C+*iu*.

Well, this note is so detailed, I really feel it difficult to add something… maybe it can be concluded as this:

When [i] and [u] sounds appear at the beginning of a Chinese character, they're written as *y* and *w*, in other cases they're written as *i* and *u*.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-12-29. Score: 0

I am very unfond of pinyin, but it makes more sense looking at it like:

* (y)i
* (w)u
* (y)ü

since the () is situational. Again with regards to the semivowels, these specifically merely change if they're beginning a word/syllable. It's easier to say & to read this way. It's a helpful feature.

---

That said, there are plenty of mapping issues within the entire vowels system for pinyin, and the general solution is to teach each as exceptions in pronunciation in "special cases" or ignore the point. Neither seems particularly efficient however, especially from a learning perspective.

Zhuyin maps 1-to-1, and personally I just made my own romanisation to match it and maintain accuracy. Regardless, how you speak is priority over spelling matters, try to ingrain good examples of different syllables for reference when needed in new contexts.


---

