Pinyin — Day 3 — First Initials: b p m f, and d t n l
Today we learn our first 8 initials, plus the single most important concept for Mandarin consonants: aspiration.
Today's Vocabulary
爸爸
dad
我爸爸很忙。
Wǒ bàba hěn máng.
My dad is very busy.
妈妈
mom
妈妈在家。
Māma zài jiā.
Mom is at home.
弟弟
younger brother
弟弟在学校。
Dìdi zài xuéxiào.
My younger brother is at school.
爬
to climb
他爬山了。
Tā pá shān le.
He climbed the mountain.
他
he
他是老师。
Tā shì lǎoshī.
He is a teacher.
路
road
这条路很长。
Zhè tiáo lù hěn cháng.
This road is very long.
饭
rice; meal
我们吃饭吧。
Wǒmen chīfàn ba.
Let's eat.
拿
to hold; to take
请拿给我。
Qǐng ná gěi wǒ.
Please hand it to me.
Today's Grammar
Mandarin doesn't distinguish consonants by voicing (like Thai บ vs ป) — it distinguishes by ASPIRATION (a puff of air, or not): b = a soft, breathless "p" sound (NOT an English/Thai "b"!) | p = a strongly aspirated "p" (a big puff of air) d = a soft, breathless "t" sound (NOT "d"!) | t = a strongly aspirated "t" m, n, l sound like their English/Thai equivalents; f = upper teeth touching lower lip Test yourself: hold a thin piece of paper in front of your mouth. p/t should make it flutter. b/d should not move it at all.
爸爸
"dad" — b is unaspirated
妈妈
"mom" — m sounds like Thai/English
弟弟
"younger brother" — d is unaspirated
爬
"to climb" — p is strongly aspirated
他
"he" — t is strongly aspirated
路
"road" — l sounds like Thai/English