curriculum/challenges/english/blocks/zh-a1-learn-initials/6daa494980df646c591a9e2b.md
The initial n is a nasal sound. To pronounce it, place the tip of your tongue against the ridge behind your upper front teeth. Let the air pass through your nose, not your mouth. Unlike mouth sounds like d or t, you'll feel a subtle vibration in your nose as you hum this sound.
When n combines with finals a, e, i, u, and ü, you get the syllables: na, ne, ni, nu, and nü.
This is your first time seeing an initial with ü. Only a few initials can combine with ü, and n and l are two of them.
Let's practice pronouncing n and syllables, and then use ni in different tones as an example.
| Pinyin | Character |
|---|---|
ní | 泥 |
nǐ | 你 |
nì | 腻 |
I've listened to the audio and practiced pronouncing the initial and syllables.
{
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"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": 287.34,
"finishTimestamp": 305.44
}
},
"commands": [
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"opacity": 1,
"startTime": 0
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 1,
"finishTime": 2.03,
"dialogue": {
"text": "n",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 3.31,
"finishTime": 4.07,
"dialogue": {
"text": "na",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 5.02,
"finishTime": 5.76,
"dialogue": {
"text": "ne",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 6.86,
"finishTime": 7.63,
"dialogue": {
"text": "ni",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 8.69,
"finishTime": 9.44,
"dialogue": {
"text": "nu",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 10.74,
"finishTime": 11.46,
"dialogue": {
"text": "nü",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 14.1,
"finishTime": 14.92,
"dialogue": {
"text": "ní",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 16.03,
"finishTime": 16.98,
"dialogue": {
"text": "nǐ",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"startTime": 18.31,
"finishTime": 19,
"dialogue": {
"text": "nì",
"align": "center"
}
},
{
"character": "Wang Hua",
"opacity": 0,
"startTime": 19.5
}
]
}