MODULE 1

UNIT 1- hàn yǔ pīn yīn

After studying this module, you are expected to:

> be able to recognize, read and write Chinese phonetics.
> can pronounce each tone correctly.
> know the right place to put a tone mark for each word.

Priming Activity:
Instruction: before we get started. Let me show you a video clip. Just click the
link and be inspired! https://youtu.be/NYmsbqGlbyk
Questions:
1. Were you inspired by what is shown in the video?
2. Can you imagine yourselves someday to be like the girl in the video?
3. Have you ever wondered if a Filipino can speak fluent Chinese?
Start Up!
拼音 Pin Yin is a Romanization system used to learn Mandarin.
It transcribes the sounds of Mandarin using the western alphabet. There
have been many different systems of transcription used for learning to
pronounce Chinese. Today the official transcription accepted on an
international basis is the PinYin alphabet, developed in China at the end of
the 1950’s
Learning PinYin is important. It provides a way to read and
write Chinese without using Chinese characters. It is consist of
three parts:
声母 Initials or consonants. It is a syllable in Chinese that is composed
of an initial, which is a consonant that begins the syllable. There are 23
initials in Chinese phonetics.

Click on to this link. listen and follow to the pronunciation

https://youtu.be/Dq8zmqYAmYo
韵母 Finals or Vowels. Which covers the rest of the syllables

The 6 Chinese Pinyin Simple Finals a o e i u ü are the most fundamental

elements of Chinese basics. Also, they are all vowels. For every Pinyin beginner,
the 6 of them are probably the first thing you will learn. And ü – the “Pinyin u with
two dots” needs some extra attention because it is a very unique sound. In this
lesson, we will focus on the techniques of the 6 Chinese vowel pronunciations,
repeat and practice them until you become natural with their pronunciation.
Now that we've learned the 6 simple finals: a o e i u ü, and it’s much easier for
us to learn the compound ones, as they are normally constructed by two or more
simple vowels.
Click this Link for your guide. Follow and learn how each letter is pronounced.
https://youtu.be/9XbQJPF817I

https://youtu.be/T6vlx3M5h0o

声调 This is the 3 rd
important part…... The Tone mark is to distinguish
every Chinese character, with many Chinese characters along with exact
pronunciation of Pin Yin but with different tone marks may connote
different meanings. Chinese tones are classified into four categories and 1
neutral tone. Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language. In order to differentiate
meaning, the same syllable can be pronounced with different tones.
Mandarin's tones give it a very distinctive quality, but the tones can also be
a source of miscommunication if not given due attention. Mandarin is said
to have four main tones and one neutral tone (or, as some say, five tones).
Each tone has a distinctive pitch contour which can be graphed using the
Chinese 5-level system.

First Tone (-)

The first tone is high and level. It is important to keep one's voice even (almost
monotone) across the whole syllable when pronouncing the first tone. It is
represented by a straight horizontal line above a letter in pinyin (or sometimes by
a number "1" written after the syllable).
Ex: mā ( 妈 means mother )

Second Tone ( / )
The second rises moderately. In English we sometimes associate this rise in pitch
with a question. The second tone is represented by a rising diagonal line above a
letter in pinyin (or sometimes by a number "2" written after the syllable).
Ex: má ( 麻 means fiber )
Third Tone ( )
The third tone falls and then rises again. When pronounced clearly, its tonal
"dipping" is very distinctive. It is represented by a curved "dipping" line above a
letter in pinyin (or sometimes by a number "3" written after the syllable).
Ex: mǎ ( 马 means horse )

Fourth Tone ( \ )
The fourth tone starts out high but drops sharply to the bottom of the tonal range.
English-speakers often associate this tone with an angry command. It is
represented by a dropping diagonal line above a letter in pinyin (or sometimes by
a number "4" written after the syllable).
Ex: mà （ 骂 means to curse ）

.
Fifth Tone ( )
The neutral tone is not mapped on the tone chart because it differs from the other
four tones in that it does not have a defined pitch contour. The neutral tone is
pronounced quickly and lightly without regard to pitch. Syllables with a neutral
tone have no tone mark (but are sometimes marked with a "5" or a "0" after the
syllable).
This tone is usually very easy to pick up. Note that aside from grammatical
particles, single syllable words cannot have a neutral tone.

Ex: ma ( 吗 means a question mark )

Check out this link for your guide: https://youtu.be/TnwOEBISYqU

 The Tone Rules of Chinese Phonetic

Tone Rule #1:

3-3 to 2-3 When there are two third tones in a row, the first one becomes the
second tone. This rule is always followed, automatically.

Originally After applying the rule

你好 (nǐ + hǎo) 你好 (ní hǎo)

很好 (hěn + hǎo)
很好 (hén hǎo)

好懂 (hǎo + dǒng)
好懂 (háo dǒng)

Tone Rule #2:

不 When the word 不 (bù) precedes a fourth tone, 不 changes to second tone
(bú). This rule is always followed, automatically.
Originally After applying the rule

不对 (bù + duì)
不对 (bú duì)

不去 (bù + qù)
不去 (bú qù)

不错 (bù + cuò)
不错 (bú cuò)
Tone Rule #3:

一 The character 一 (yī), meaning "one," is first tone when alone, second tone
when followed by a fourth tone, and fourth tone when followed by any other
tone. This rule is always followed, automatically.

Originally After applying the rule

一个 (yī + gè)
一个 (yí gè)

一次 (yī + cì)
一次 (yí cì)

一半 (yī + bàn)
一半 (yí bàn)

一般 (yī + bān)
一般 (yì bān)

一毛 (yī + máo)
一毛 (yì máo)

一百 (yī + bǎi)
一百 (yì bǎi)