Mandarin pinyin consists of initials, finals, and tones. A syllable is usually formed by an initial plus a final, with a tone mark added. When there is no initial, a zero initial may be used; actual pronunciation starts from the final. When spelling, keep it cohesive, and do not pronounce the initial and final separately.

Mandarin has 21 common initials. An initial is the consonant at the start of a syllable, determining the starting mouth shape and airflow. Mastery of initials helps distinguish near sounds. When pronouncing initials, pay attention to voicing and the difference between aspirated and unaspirated.

Mandarin has basic mono finals and compound finals. Finals are the main body of the syllable, determining the syllable's main resonance. Monophthongs require the mouth shape to be in place, while compound finals require smooth transitions. Nasal finals ending should retain nasalization and not form a new syllable.

There are six monophthongs a o e i u ü, which form the foundation of pinyin. Each monophthong has a fixed mouth shape and articulation position. Practicing monophthongs helps improve overall blending accuracy. In words, keep the vowels pure.

Compound finals consist of two or three vowels within one syllable with a smooth transition. When pronouncing a compound final, the first vowel starts clearly and the following vowels connect smoothly. Do not pause in the middle or lengthen any single vowel. While spelling out, pay attention to the overall timbre of the sound.

Nasal finals end with n or ng; the difference is in tongue position and the degree of mouth opening. An endings an en in un ün end with n, with the tongue tip touching the alveolar ridge and air flowing through the nasal cavity. Ang eng ing ong end with ng, the tongue root lifts and the oral cavity is relatively more open. When producing nasal finals, let the sound carry nasal quality and do not swallow the nasal tone.

Blending is the process of quickly linking the initial and final into a complete syllable. When blending, the initial starts briefly, the final carries on and extends. When j q x are followed by ü, the ü sound remains, but the spelling may become u. Read syllables as a whole for unified pronunciation; do not split the pronunciation.

Mandarin has four tones and a neutral tone. Tones change the pitch contour of a syllable and can also change meaning. Tone marks in pinyin are placed on the main vowel: a, o, e are marked first; i, u, and ü are marked only when there is no a, o, or e. In iu and ui, the tone marks are placed on the i and u respectively. Correct tone marking helps accurate pronunciation and writing.

In pinyin, tone marks are placed on the main vowels. a, o, e are marked first; i, u, and ü are marked only when there is no a, o, or e. In iu and ui, the tone marks are placed on i and u respectively. Correctly marked tones help accurate pronunciation and writing.

Neutral tone is not marked with a tone; its pitch is shorter and its loudness is weaker. It often appears at the end of words or attached morphemes, expressing grammatical or lexical distinctions. When reading with a neutral tone, do not lengthen or forcibly change the pitch. Keep it clear but brief.

Mandarin has several common sets of easily confused sounds, mainly distinguished by place of articulation and aspiration. Compare zh/ch/sh with z/c/s: the former are retroflex, the latter are flat-tongued; ch and c are aspirated, but the tongue position differs. J Q X differ from zh/ch/sh: J Q X are not retroflex and have a more forward tongue position. Distinguishing these sounds can improve listening and speaking clarity.