Pinyin Initials: zh ch sh r, j q x and z c s Explained

Mandarin has three sets of hissing and hushing consonants that English speakers tend to merge: the retroflex zh ch sh r, the palatal j q x, and the dental z c s. Pinyin writes them with letters that look familiar but mislead: q is not a k sound, x is not ks, and c is not k or s. This guide explains each series and how to tell them apart.

First: aspiration, not voicing

In English, b and p differ in voicing. In Mandarin, all the stops and affricates are voiceless; pairs differ in whether a puff of air follows:

Hold a tissue in front of your mouth: it should move for p, t, k, c, ch, q and stay still for b, d, g, z, zh, j. English spy, sty and sky have unaspirated p, t, k, so that is the sound to aim for with b, d, g.

The dental series: z, c, s

The tongue tip touches or approaches the back of the upper front teeth.

• s [s] is English s: 三 sān, 四 sì.
• z [ts] is like ds in kids but voiceless: 在 zài, 字 zì.
• c [tsʰ] is like ts in cats with a strong puff: 菜 cài, 次 cì.

The retroflex series: zh, ch, sh, r

The tongue tip curls up and back toward the area just behind the gum ridge (the front of the hard palate). The lips are slightly rounded or neutral.

• sh [ʂ]: like English sh but with the tongue tip raised further back: 山 shān, 是 shì.
• zh [ʈʂ]: like j in judge, voiceless, tongue curled: 中 zhōng, 知 zhī.
• ch [ʈʂʰ]: like ch in church, tongue curled, with a puff: 吃 chī, 茶 chá.
• r [ʐ ~ ɻ]: say sh, then add voice; the result is between the s of pleasure and an English r: 人 rén, 日 rì, 热 rè.

The palatal series: j, q, x

The tongue tip rests behind the lower front teeth, and the front of the tongue body rises to the hard palate. The lips are spread (or rounded before ü). These initials only appear before i and ü.

• x [ɕ]: a soft hiss between s and sh, with spread lips, like a whispered see: 西 xī, 谢 xiè, 学 xué.
• j [tɕ]: like j in jeep, voiceless, tongue flat: 鸡 jī, 家 jiā.
• q [tɕʰ]: like ch in cheese, tongue flat, with a puff: 七 qī, 钱 qián, 去 qù.

Comparing the three series

The special i after these initials

After z, c, s, zh, ch, sh and r, the letter i does not mean [i]. It represents a vowel that simply prolongs the consonant's tongue position with voice: 四 sì is roughly "sz", and 是 shì roughly "shr". Saying see for 四 or she for 是 is one of the most common beginner errors. By contrast, after j, q and x, the i really is [i]: 西 xī rhymes with English see.

Frequently asked questions

Is pinyin zh like English j?

Close, but not the same. Pinyin zh is voiceless and made with the tongue tip curled back toward the roof of the mouth. English j is voiced. Using English j is understood, but it sounds foreign.

What is the difference between q and ch?

Both are aspirated affricates, with a puff of air. For q the tongue is flat, its tip behind the lower teeth, and the lips are spread, as in cheese. For ch the tongue tip curls up behind the gum ridge.

Why are j, q and x always followed by i or ü?

Because these sounds only occur before i and ü sounds in Mandarin. They are in complementary distribution with z/c/s, zh/ch/sh and g/k/h, which never occur before i or ü. That is why pinyin can write ü as u after j, q and x without confusion.

Sources and further reading

• Lee, W.-S. and Zee, E. (2003). Standard Chinese (Beijing). Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 33(1), 109–112.
• Lin, Y.-H. (2007). The Sounds of Chinese, chapter 3. Cambridge University Press.
• Ladefoged, P. and Wu, Z. (1984). Places of articulation: an investigation of Pekingese fricatives and affricates. Journal of Phonetics, 12(3), 267–278.

Read More in This Topic

• Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation for Beginners: Pinyin, Tones and Syllables
• Pinyin Finals: ü, e, -i and the Vowels Pinyin Hides
• Voiced vs Voiceless Consonants in English: The Acoustic Difference That Matters

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