Pinyin Chart — Printable
All initials, finals, and tones on one page. Print it, pin it to your wall, and never wonder "how do I say that?" again.
🖨️ How to print: Click the button below or File → Print (Ctrl+P / ⌘+P), select Landscape orientation and "Save as PDF". Fits on one A4 page.
The 4 Tones + Neutral
mā
1st — High & Flat
Steady and high, like holding a note.
妈 (mother)
má
2nd — Rising
Rises up, like asking "huh?"
麻 (hemp)
mǎ
3rd — Dip & Rise
Dips down, then comes back up.
马 (horse)
mà
4th — Sharp Falling
Falls sharply, like a firm "No!"
骂 (to scold)
ma
Neutral — Light
Short and toneless, said quickly.
吗 (question particle)
21 Initials (Consonants)
| Initial | Like English... | Example | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b | b in "boy" | 爸 | bà | dad |
| p | p in "pop" (with a puff) | 怕 | pà | to fear |
| m | m in "mom" | 妈 | mā | mom |
| f | f in "fun" | 飞 | fēi | to fly |
| d | d in "dad" | 大 | dà | big |
| t | t in "top" (with a puff) | 他 | tā | he |
| n | n in "no" | 你 | nǐ | you |
| l | l in "love" | 来 | lái | to come |
| g | g in "go" | 高 | gāo | tall |
| k | k in "kite" (with a puff) | 看 | kàn | to look |
| h | h in "hot" (a bit rougher) | 好 | hǎo | good |
| j | like "jee" but tongue flat | 家 | jiā | home |
| q | like "chee" but tongue flat | 七 | qī | seven |
| x | like "shee" but tongue flat | 西 | xī | west |
| zh | like "j" in "judge" (tongue curled back) | 中 | zhōng | middle |
| ch | like "ch" in "church" (tongue curled back) | 吃 | chī | to eat |
| sh | like "sh" in "shoe" (tongue curled back) | 是 | shì | to be |
| r | like "r" in "run" but tongue curled back | 人 | rén | person |
| z | like "ds" in "beds" | 字 | zì | character |
| c | like "ts" in "cats" (with a puff) | 从 | cóng | from |
| s | like "s" in "sun" | 三 | sān | three |
35+ Finals (Vowels & Combinations)
| Final | Like English... | Example | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | "ah" as in "father" | 啊 | ā | ah! |
| o | "aw" as in "paw" | 哦 | ó | oh |
| e | "uh" as in "duh" (no English equivalent) | 饿 | è | hungry |
| i | "ee" as in "see" | 一 | yī | one |
| u | "oo" as in "too" | 五 | wǔ | five |
| ü | Say "ee" and round your lips (French "u") | 绿 | lǜ | green |
| ai | "eye" | 爱 | ài | love |
| ei | "ay" as in "say" | 杯 | bēi | cup |
| ao | "ow" as in "cow" | 好 | hǎo | good |
| ou | "oh" as in "go" | 六 | liù | six |
| an | "ahn" (like "on" but with "ah") | 安 | ān | peace |
| en | "uhn" as in "taken" | 很 | hěn | very |
| ang | "ahng" (like "song" with "ah") | 忙 | máng | busy |
| eng | "uhng" as in "sung" | 冷 | lěng | cold |
| ong | "oong" as in "song" | 红 | hóng | red |
| er | "ar" as in "car" (American accent) | 二 | èr | two |
| ie | "yeh" as in "yes" | 谢 | xiè | thanks |
| iu | "yo" as in "yo-yo" | 六 | liù | six |
| in | "een" as in "seen" | 心 | xīn | heart |
| ing | "ing" as in "sing" | 听 | tīng | to listen |
| ia | "yah" | 家 | jiā | home |
| iao | "yaow" (like "meow") | 小 | xiǎo | small |
| ian | "yen" | 天 | tiān | sky |
| iang | "yahng" | 想 | xiǎng | to think |
| ua | "wah" | 花 | huā | flower |
| uo | "waw" | 我 | wǒ | I, me |
| uai | "why" | 快 | kuài | fast |
| ui | "way" | 水 | shuǐ | water |
| uan | "wahn" | 乱 | luàn | messy |
| uang | "wahng" | 王 | wáng | king |
| un | "wun" as in "one" | 春 | chūn | spring |
| üe | "yweh" (rounded lips) | 月 | yuè | moon |
| ün | "yween" (rounded lips) | 云 | yún | cloud |
🔤 Ready to practice? Try the interactive Pinyin Chart → with audio, or test yourself with the Tone Quiz →