Pinyin — Day 5 — Initials: g k h
Today's group is g k h — pronounced with the back of the tongue near the throat.
Today's Vocabulary
哥
older brother
哥哥
gēge
older brother
可
can / may
可以
kěyǐ
can / may
好
good
很好
hěn hǎo
very good
狗
dog
小狗
xiǎo gǒu
puppy
够
enough
够了
gòu le
that's enough
课
class / lesson
上课
shàng kè
to attend class
喝
to drink
喝水
hē shuǐ
to drink water
河
river
河水
héshuǐ
river water
Today's Grammar
g, k, h are velar initials (back of the tongue, near the throat). g is unaspirated, k is aspirated (strong puff of air), h is a breathy sound from the throat. Same rule as b/p and d/t: g/k differ by aspiration.
哥 可
gē (older brother) unaspirated, kě (can/able to) aspirated.
好 号
Practice "h" with different tones.
狗 够
gǒu (dog) dipping-rising, gòu (enough) falling.
课 客
These sound identical (kè, Tone 4) but mean different things — class/guest.
喝 河
hē (to drink) flat, hé (river) rising.