Why do "u" sound sometimes pronounce like "ü" sound?

Wu

Student: "This is so irritating! Why do "u" sound sometimes pronounce like"ü" sound?"

 

 

That's because in the Chinese Pinyin system, the two dots (¨) used to represent the "ü" sound disappear in certain situations:

 
  • When followed by the initials "j", "q", "x", or "y", the "ü" sound is represented simply by "u". For example:

  • 居 "ju" is pronounced like "jü" ("ju" is written as "ju" )

  • 區"qu" is pronounced like "qü" ("qu" is written as "qu" )

  • 需"xu" is pronounced like "xü" ("xu" is written as "xu" )

  • 瘀"yu" is pronounced like "yü" ("yu" is written as "yu" )

 

 

We have similar mouth shape when we pronounce initials "j", "q", "x", and "y" sounds

 

- our mouth shape become flat

 

 

You may try to memorize that when "ü" sound meets flat mouth shape initials "j", "q", "x", and "y",

 

two dots (¨) wanna run away.

 

 

希望對你有幫助!

 

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This column was published by the author in their personal capacity.
The opinions expressed in this column are the author's own and do not reflect the view of Cafetalk.

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