curriculum/challenges/english/blocks/zh-a1-learn-initials/625b5bbc4d5e84da4928c1d3.md
To pronounce zh, curl the tip of your tongue upward and back until it presses against the hard palate, blocking the airflow completely. Then, release your tongue slightly to create a narrow channel. Expel the air through this channel without a strong puff to produce a firm, buzzing sound that begins instantly.
When zh combines with the finals a, e, and u, you get the syllables: zha, zhe, and zhu.
Let's practice pronouncing these syllables, and then use zhu in different tones as an example.
| Pinyin | Character |
|---|---|
zhū | 猪 |
zhú | 竹 |
zhǔ | 主 |
zhù | 住 |
I've listened to the audio and practiced pronouncing the initial and syllables.
{
"setup": {
"background": "company3-reception.png",
"characters": [
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"position": {
"x": 50,
"y": 15,
"z": 1.4
},
"opacity": 0
}
],
"audio": {
"filename": "ZH_A1_pinyin_initials.mp3",
"startTime": 1,
"startTimestamp": 676.23,
"finishTimestamp": 692.25
}
},
"commands": [
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"opacity": 1,
"startTime": 0
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 1,
"finishTime": 1.5,
"dialogue": {
"text": "zh",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 2.99,
"finishTime": 3.73,
"dialogue": {
"text": "zha",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 4.89,
"finishTime": 5.63,
"dialogue": {
"text": "zhe",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 7.04,
"finishTime": 7.74,
"dialogue": {
"text": "zhu",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 9.14,
"finishTime": 9.92,
"dialogue": {
"text": "zhū",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 11.07,
"finishTime": 11.94,
"dialogue": {
"text": "zhú",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 13.18,
"finishTime": 14.19,
"dialogue": {
"text": "zhǔ",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 15.44,
"finishTime": 16.02,
"dialogue": {
"text": "zhù",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"opacity": 0,
"startTime": 16.52
}
]
}