1.7 Spelling rules
Now that you have some knowledge of initials and finals, you can begin learning about Chinese Pinyin spelling. The seven groups of single syllables cover all spelling in Chinese Pinyin.
The final “iou” changes into the form “iu” when spelled with an initial. (iou = iu)
- For example: liu, niu, jiu, qiu, xiu
The final “uei” changes into the form “ui” when spelled with an initial. (uei = ui)
- For example: dui, tui, kui, gui, zhui, chui, shui, zui, cui, sui
The final “uen” changes into the form “un” when spelled with an initial. (uen = un)
- For example: dun, tun, zhun, chun, zun, cun, sun
Finals beginning with ü should be spelled as u when they are used with the initials j, q, and x, and also üen, üan, üe changes into un, uan, ue. (ü = u, üen = un)
- For example: ju, qu, xu, jun, qun, xun, juan, quan, xuan, jue, que, xue
Initials z, c, s and zh, ch, sh are never followed by the ü sound.
For i, u, ü without an initial consonant:
- i = y, for example: ya, yao, yang, ye, you, yong, yi, yin, ying
- u = w, for example: wa, wo, wai, wei, wu, wang, wan, wen, weng
- ü = yu, for example; yu, yue, yuan, yun
In order to avoid confusion, an apostrophe is used to separate two syllables with connecting vowels.
- For example: Xī’ ān 西安 （a city in China）, shí’èr 十二（twelve）
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