9 Learning zhi、chi、shi、ri、zi、ci、si、yi、wu、yu、ye、yue、yin、yun、yuan、ying。

In Chinese pronunciation system, there is a special group that is called “Spell as a whole,” in Chinese “整体认读” (zhěng tǐrèn dú), a fundamental building block in learning Chinese pronunciation. Unlike most syllables combining initials (consonants) and finals (vowels), 整体认读(zhěng tǐ rèn dú) are pronounced as a whole unit in a longer sound and louder volume.

16 syllables in pinyin are classified as 整体认读 (zhěng tǐ rèn dú). These syllables cannot be broken down into separate initials and finals because they have unique pronunciations that differ from the typical combination of consonants and vowels.

The sixteen 整体认读 (zěng tǐ rèn dú) syllables are:

• zhi (只 zhī)
• chi (吃 chī)
• shi （师 shī)
• ri (日 rì)
• zi (资 zī)
• ci (此cī)
• si (丝 sī)
• yi (衣 yī)
• wu (乌 wū)
• yu (于 yū)
• ye (页 yè)
• yue (月 yuè)
• yuan (元 yuán)
• yin (因 yīn)
• yun (云 yún)
• ying (英 yīng)

Mastering – 整体认读 (zhěng tǐ rèn dú) syllables is an essential step in developing accurate Chinese pronunciation. You can practice in a word (minimal pair of the sound), or visualize the picture of the syllables to memorize the sound.

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