Chinese is a graceful language whose four tones make speaking Chinese sound like singing songs. In standard Chinese, the pronunciation of one Chinese word is a syllable. For instance, “我的书” (my book) is written in three characters, which is pronounced in three syllables "wodeshu".
Chinese syllable consists of three parts: the initial consonant of a syllable, a vowel and a tone. There are totally 21 initial consonants, 39 vowels and 4 tones, which are combined by different rules and regulations to enrich Chinese compound pronunciation.

汉语是一种优美的语言，它的四个声调使说话像唱歌一样动听。汉语普通话中，一个汉字的读音就是一个音节。例如“我的书”写下来是三个汉字，读起来就是三个音节wǒdeshū。汉语的音节包括声母、韵母和音调三部分。普通话共有21个声母，39个韵母，4种声调，这些元素通过不同的规则组合在一起就构成了丰富多彩的汉语语音。

About Chinese Initials:

The initial sound of a syllable is called initial consonant. For instance, the initial consonant of "大" is d. The initial consonant of "小" is x. Some syllables begin with vowels without any sound, e.g. "安" (an) 鹅(e). Such syllables are called "zero initial consonant" of a syllable.

About Chinese Vowel:

Vowel follows the initial consonant of the syllable. E.g. "e" in "歌" (song) (ge), "ie" in "姐" (sister) (jie). 

Simple vowel: A simple vowel is composed of single vowel. For example: a, o, e, i, u, ü.

Compound vowel: A compound vowel is composed of combined vowels.

Nasal vowel: A nasal vowel is a vowel followed by a nasal consonant such as "n" or "ng".

About Chinese Tone:

There are four tones in Chinese: the first tone, the second tone, the third tone and the fourth tone.

About Chinese Rules:

1.Spelling rules of a syllable
（1）Use of "y" and "w": (function: sound insulation)
1)　Vowels in "i" line of Vowel Form should begin with "y" in zero initial consonant of a syllable.
　　A．If there are other vowels after "i", change "i" into "y".
　　　　ia　　 ya　　 ie　　 ye　　 iao　　 yao　　iou　　 you 　　ian 　　yan
　　　　iang　　 yang　　 iong　　 yong
　　B．If there are no other vowels after "i", add "y" in front of "i".
　　　　i 　　yi　　 in 　　yin 　　ing　　 ying
2)　Vowels in "u" line of Vowel Form should begin with "w" in zero initial consonant of a syllable.
　　A．If there are other vowels after "u", change "u" into "w".
　　　　ua　　 wa　　 uo 　　wo　　 uai 　　wai 　　uei
　　　 　wei 　　uan 　 wan　　 uen　　 wen 　　uang　　 wang
　B．If there are no other vowels after "u", add "w" "u" "wu".
3)　Vowels in "ü" line of Vowel Form should also begin with "y" in zero initial consonant.
 
（2）Usage of sound insulation symbol
When syllables beginning with "a, o, e" are linked after other syllables, sound insulation symbol "’" should be used if the dividing line of syllables are confused.
 
（3）Ellipsis
1)　iou 　 iu　 uei　ui 　uen　 un
2)　Two points above "ü" usually can be omitted when "ü" is combined with initial consonants except for "n" and
　 　"l".
 
（4）Marking tones
1)　Tone symbol must be marked on major vowels.
2)　"i" and "u" should be marked afterwards side by side.
3)　The point above "i" should be omitted if tone symbol is marked on "i" by chance.
4)　Light tone syllables do not need to be marked.

Keyword: Chinese, Phonetics,