There are many alphabetical type in this world. And some examples of the variants are Latin, Greece, Hebrew, Tagalog, Japanese Hiragana, until the Sign language. The most popular of the alphabetical use is the Latin alphabet (from a to z). Many countries is using the Latin alphabet to represents their words. And now, we will discuss about original Mandarin alphabetical model.
We won't talk about hanzi! Because hanzi is already represents any words and having any specific means, in other word the hanzi isn't an alphabet. But, we will talk about from where the pronunciation guidelines of the hanzi. For example, how come the character 我 is called "wo3"?
The mandarin alphabet is distinguished with 2 kinds : Zhu Yin (注音) and Pin Yin (拼音). Zhu Yin is the one of authentic Mandarin alphabet, and usually called MPS (Mandarin Phonetic Symbols) or Bopomofo. And the Pin Yin is the Mandarin alphabet that have adjusted with the Latin alphabethical system.
So, the Pin Yin and Zhu Yin can be reverted to the Latin alphabet with some additional guidelines and its usually called the "Pin Yin Guidelines"
So, the Pin Yin and Zhu Yin can be reverted to the Latin alphabet with some additional guidelines and its usually called the "Pin Yin Guidelines"
Today, the International standard of Mandarin pronunciation is the Pin Yin. And the Zhu Yin is only used in Taiwan state.
Pin Yin
The Pin Yin pronunciation method is almost same with the Latin methods. And the writing methods is from left to right with Sheng diao above the suitable vowel. The Sheng diao can be wrote with the numbers code too (e.g. : 我 = wo3).
The Pin Yin Sheng Diao variants : "-" for the first tone, "/" for the second tone, "v" for the third tone, and "\" for the fourth tone. And "empty" for repetition tone.
The Pin Yin Sheng Diao variants : "-" for the first tone, "/" for the second tone, "v" for the third tone, and "\" for the fourth tone. And "empty" for repetition tone.
Pin Yin is only used for the beginner. Actually, you won't see any Pin Yin guidelines in a magazine or newspaper.
Zhu Yin
Zhu Yin is a symbol that represents any vowel or consonants. In Taiwan State, almost of all keyboard is equipped with Zhu Yin input compatibility.
The Zhu Yin isn't same with the Latin alphabet read and write methods (e.g. ; 我 = ㄨㄛˇ). The non computing writing methods is from above to below, and the Sheng Diao is written in the right side.
Zhu Yin Sheng Diao variants : "empty" for the first tone. "/" for the second tone, "v" for the third tone. amd "v" for the fourth tone. The repetition tone is written as ".".
The Zhu Yin isn't same with the Latin alphabet read and write methods (e.g. ; 我 = ㄨㄛˇ). The non computing writing methods is from above to below, and the Sheng Diao is written in the right side.
Zhu Yin Sheng Diao variants : "empty" for the first tone. "/" for the second tone, "v" for the third tone. amd "v" for the fourth tone. The repetition tone is written as ".".
Learning Zhu Yin could be very frustrating for the beginners. It is because of no relation between Zhu Yin, Pin Yin, and Hanzi. The students also need to memorize all of the phonetics symbol with the correct pronunciation.
You can see the relation between Zhu Yin and Pin Yin in table below:
| Zhu Yin | Pin Yin |
| ㄚ | a |
| ㄛ | o |
| ㄝ | e (like "leave") |
| ㄜ | e (like "learn") |
| ㄧ | i |
| ㄨ | u |
| ㄩ | v |
| ㄅ | b |
| ㄆ | p |
| ㄇ | m |
| ㄈ | f |
| ㄉ | d |
| ㄊ | t |
| ㄋ | n |
| ㄌ | l |
| ㄐ | j |
| ㄑ | q |
| ㄒ | x |
| ㄍ | g |
| ㄎ | k |
| ㄏ | h |
| ㄗ | z |
| ㄘ | c |
| ㄙ | s |
| ㄓ | zh |
| ㄔ | ch |
| ㄕ | sh |
| ㄖ | r |
| ㄞ | ai |
| ㄟ | ei |
| ㄠ | ao |
| ㄡ | ou |
| ㄢ | an |
| ㄣ | n |
| ㄤ | ang |
| ㄥ | ng |
| ㄦ | er |
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