 | Vowels and vowel combinations - a – like a in bath
- ai – like ie in pie, or eye
- ao – like ow in cow
- e – like ur in fur (without rolling the r)
- ei – like ay in May
- er – similar to ‘are’ when said in an Irish accent
- i – like ee in bee after most letters, BUT
- i – after s, z, r, c, sh, ch, zh, it sounds more like ‘uh’, and serves to lengthen the sound of those consonant preceding it.
- ia / ya – combine i and a, like ya in Yahoo
- iao / yao – combine i and ao, like yow in yowl
- ie / ye – like ye in yellow
- iu / yu – like yo in yo-yo
- ian / yan – like yen, the Japanese currency
- iang / yang – combine i and ang, like yan in yank
- iong yong – combine i and ong
- o – like o in more
- ou – like oa in boat
- ong – like ong in song
- u – like u in flute, BUT when after j, q, x or y it sounds like the u sound in French tu
- ü - like the u sound in French tu
- ua / wa – combine u and a
- uo / wo – combine u and o
- uai / wai – combine u and ai
- uan /wan – combine u and an
- un – like oon in spoon, but said faster
- uang / wang – combine u and ang, like wang in wangle
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