Pronunciation
In Chinese Pinyin, the consonant p is pronounced similarly to the "p" sound in English, but with a key difference: it is aspirated, meaning there is a noticeable burst of air when you say it.
How to Pronounce p in Pinyin:
• Sound: The p sound in Mandarin is similar to the English "p" in "pat" or "pen", but it’s pronounced with a more forceful puff of air.
• Mouth Position:
1. Start by placing your lips together, just like when saying the "p" in English.
2. As you release the air, make sure there is a noticeable burst of air (a breathy sound) when you pronounce it.
3. The p should not be voiced (you don’t use your vocal cords), so it should sound like a clear p with a puff of air.
Phonetic Representation:
• The Pinyin p is pronounced like the "p" in "pat", with an added puff of air (this is what makes it aspirated).
Example Words with p:
• 皮 (pí) – skin
• 跑 (pǎo) – to run
• 葡萄 (pútáo) – grape
Tips for Pronunciation:
• Make sure to aspirate the p sound: as you say it, there should be a burst of air coming out, like the "p" in "pat".
• To test if you're aspirating correctly, place your hand in front of your mouth while saying p—you should feel a puff of air.
• Don’t confuse it with the b sound, which is unaspirated and doesn't have the burst of air. The b is softer, while the p is more forceful.
Special Notes:
• The p sound in Mandarin is always aspirated, unlike English, where the p can sometimes be unaspirated, especially in words like "spy".
• Pay attention to the tone of the word: for example, 跑 (pǎo) means "to run" with a rising tone, while 葡萄 (pútáo) means "grape" with a rising tone on the first syllable and a neutral tone on the second.
