Bopomofo

Chinese Phonetic Symbols

Mandarin Chinese

Mandarin Chinese initial consonants675
labial dental velar palatal retroflex dental
sibilant
plosive unaspirated /p/ ㄅ ⟨b⟩ /t/ ㄉ ⟨d⟩ /k/ ㄍ ⟨g⟩ /tɕ/ ㄐ ⟨j⟩ /ʈʂ/ ㄓ ⟨zh⟩ /ts/ ㄗ ⟨z⟩
aspirated /pʰ/ ㄆ ⟨p⟩ /tʰ/ ㄊ ⟨t⟩ /kʰ/ ㄎ ⟨k⟩ /tɕʰ/ ㄑ ⟨q⟩ /ʈʂʰ/ ㄔ ⟨ch⟩ /tsʰ/ ㄘ ⟨c⟩
nasal /m/ ㄇ ⟨m⟩ /n/ ㄋ ⟨n⟩ (/ŋ/ ㄫ ⟨ng⟩) (/ɲ/ ㄬ ⟨gn⟩)
continuant voiceless /f/ ㄈ ⟨f⟩ /x/ ㄏ ⟨h⟩ /ɕ/ ㄒ ⟨x⟩ /ʂ/ ㄕ ⟨sh⟩ /s/ ㄙ ⟨s⟩
voiced (/v/ ㄪ ⟨v⟩) /l/ ㄌ ⟨l⟩ /ʐ/ ㄖ ⟨r⟩

Mandarin Chinese finals67
glide coda retroflex
high low mid -/i/ -/u/ -/n/ -/ŋ/
/i/ ㄧ /a/ ㄚ /o/ ㄛ /ai/ ㄞ /au/ ㄠ /an/ ㄢ /aŋ/ ㄤ /ɚ/ ㄦ
⟨er⟩
-⟨r⟩
/u/ ㄨ /ɤ/ ㄜ /əi/ ㄟ /əu/ ㄡ /ən/ ㄣ /əŋ/ ㄥ
/y/ ㄩ /e/ ㄝ

Mandarin Chinese rhymes67
(Ø) ㄚ
/a/		 ㄛ
/o/		 ㄜ
/ɤ/		 ㄝ
/e/		 ㄞ
/ai/		 ㄟ
/əi/		 ㄠ
/au/		 ㄡ
/əu/		 ㄢ
/an/		 ㄣ
/ən/		 ㄤ
/aŋ/		 ㄥ
/əŋ/
(Ø) ⟨i⟩ ⟨a⟩ ⟨o⟩ ⟨e⟩ ⟨ê⟩ ⟨ai⟩ ⟨ei⟩ ⟨ao⟩ ⟨ou⟩ ⟨an⟩ ⟨en⟩ ⟨ang⟩ ⟨eng⟩
ㄧ /i/ ⟨yi⟩
-⟨i⟩		 ⟨ya⟩
-⟨ia⟩		 ⟨ye⟩
-⟨ie⟩		 ⟨yao⟩
-⟨iao⟩		 ⟨you⟩
-⟨iu⟩		 ⟨yan⟩
-⟨ian⟩		 ⟨yin⟩
-⟨in⟩		 ⟨yang⟩
-⟨iang⟩		 ⟨ying⟩
-⟨ing⟩
ㄨ /u/ ⟨wu⟩
-⟨u⟩		 ⟨wa⟩
-⟨ua⟩		 ⟨wo⟩
-⟨uo⟩		 ⟨wai⟩
-⟨uai⟩		 ⟨wei⟩
-⟨ui⟩		 ⟨wan⟩
-⟨uan⟩		 ⟨wen⟩
-⟨un⟩		 ⟨wang⟩
-⟨uang⟩		 ⟨weng⟩
-⟨ong⟩
ㄩ /y/ ⟨yu⟩
-⟨ü⟩		 ⟨yue⟩
-⟨üe⟩		 ⟨yuan⟩
-⟨üan⟩		 ⟨yun⟩
-⟨ün⟩		 ⟨yong⟩
-⟨iong⟩

Cantonese

Cantonese consonants
labial alveolar velar/
glottal		 alveolar
sibilant		 labialized
velar
plosive unaspirated /p/ ㄅ /t/ ㄉ /k/ ㄍ /ts/ ㄐ /kʷ/ ㆼ
aspirated /pʰ/ ㄆ /tʰ/ ㄊ /kʰ/ ㄎ /tsʰ/ ㄑ /kʷʰ/ ㆽ
nasal /m/ ㄇ /n/ ㄋ /ŋ/ ㄫ
continuant /f/ ㄈ /l/ ㄌ /h/ ㄏ /s/ ㄒ

Cantonese vowels
- - -/i/ -/u/ -/n/ -/ŋ/ -
/i/ ㄧ /aː/ ㄚ /aːi/ ㄞ /aːu/ ㄠ /aːn/ ㄢ /aːŋ/ ㄤ /ø/ ㆾ
/u/ ㄨ /o/ ㄛ /ɐi/ ㄟ /ɐu/ ㄡ /ɐn/ ㄣ /ɐŋ/ ㄥ /ɐ/ ㆿ
/y/ ㄩ /e/ ㄝ

Taiwanese Hokkien

Taiwanese Hokkien initial consonants8.2
bilabial alveolar velar/
glottal		 sibilant
plosive tenuis /p/ ㄅ ⟨p⟩ /t/ ㄉ ⟨t⟩ /k/ ㄍ ⟨k⟩ /ts, tɕ/ ㄗ, ㄐ ⟨ts⟩
aspirated /pʰ/ ㄆ ⟨ph⟩ /tʰ/ ㄊ ⟨th⟩ /kʰ/ ㄎ ⟨kh⟩ /tsʰ, tɕʰ/ ㄘ, ㄑ ⟨tsh⟩
voiced /b/ ㆠ ⟨b⟩ /g/ ㆣ ⟨g⟩ /dz, dʑ/ ㆡ, ㆢ ⟨j⟩
nasal /m/ ㄇ ⟨m⟩ /n/ ㄋ ⟨n⟩ /ŋ/ ㄫ ⟨ng⟩
continuant /l/ ㄌ ⟨l⟩ /h/ ㄏ ⟨h⟩ /s, ɕ/ ㄙ, ㄒ ⟨s⟩

Taiwanese Hakka

Taiwanese Hakka initial consonants9
labial alveolar velar/
glottal		 palatal alveolar
sibilant		 palato-
alveolar
plosive voiced /b/ ㆠ ⟨bb⟩
tenuis /p/ ㄅ ⟨b⟩ /t/ ㄉ ⟨d⟩ /k/ ㄍ ⟨g⟩ /tɕ/ ㄐ ⟨j⟩ /ts/ ㄗ ⟨z⟩ /tʃ/ ㄓ, ㄐ ⟨zh⟩
aspirated /pʰ/ ㄆ ⟨p⟩ /tʰ/ ㄊ ⟨t⟩ /kʰ/ ㄎ ⟨k⟩ /tɕʰ/ ㄑ ⟨q⟩ /tsʰ/ ㄘ ⟨c⟩ /tʃʰ/ ㄔ, ㄑ ⟨ch⟩
nasal /m/ ㄇ ⟨m⟩ /n/ ㄋ ⟨n⟩ /ŋ/ ㄫ ⟨ng⟩
continuant voiceless /f/ ㄈ ⟨f⟩ /h/ ㄏ ⟨h⟩ /ɕ/ ㄒ ⟨x⟩ /s/ ㄙ ⟨s⟩ /ʃ/ ㄕ, ㄒ ⟨sh⟩
voiced /v/ ㄪ ⟨v⟩ /l/ ㄌ ⟨l⟩ /j/ ⟨r⟩ /ʒ/ ㄖ ⟨rh⟩

Taiwanese Hakka finals9
front central back
high /i/ ㄧ ⟨i⟩ /ɨ/ ㄭ ⟨ii⟩ /u/ ㄨ ⟨u⟩
mid /e/ ㄝ ⟨e⟩ /ə/ ㄜ ⟨er⟩ /o/ ㄛ ⟨o⟩
low /ɛ/ ⟨ee⟩ /a/ ㄚ ⟨a⟩ /ɔ/ ⟨oo⟩
occlusive /m/ ㄇ ⟨m⟩ /n/ ㄋ ⟨n⟩ /ŋ/ ㄫ ⟨ng⟩
/p/ ㄅ ⟨b⟩ /t/ ㄉ ⟨d⟩ /k/ ㄍ ⟨g⟩
nasalization /˜/ ⟨nn⟩

Hmu

Hmu initial consonants10
labial alveolar alveolar
sibilant		 palatal
sibilant		 velar/
uvular/
glottal
plosive unaspirated /p/ ㄅ ⟨b⟩ /t/ ㄉ ⟨d⟩ /ts, tʂ/ ㄗ, ㄓ ⟨z⟩ /tɕ/ ㄐ ⟨j⟩ /k, q/ ㄍ ⟨g, gh⟩
aspirated /pʰ/ ㄆ ⟨p⟩ /tʰ/ ㄊ ⟨t⟩ /tsʰ/ ㄘ ⟨c⟩ /tɕʰ/ ㄑ ⟨q⟩ /kʰ, qʰ/ ㄎ ⟨k, kh⟩
nasal voiced /m/ ㄇ ⟨m⟩ /n/ ㄏ ⟨n⟩ /ŋ/ ㄫ ⟨ng⟩
aspirated /m̥ʰ/ ㄇㄆ ⟨hm⟩ /n̥ʰ/ ㄏㄊ ⟨hn⟩
continuant tenuis /f/ ㄈ ⟨f⟩ /ɬ/ ㆹ ⟨dl⟩ /s/ ㄙ ⟨s⟩ /ɕ/ ㄒ ⟨x⟩ /h/ ㄏ ⟨h⟩
aspirated /fʰ/ ㄈ ⟨hf⟩ /ɬʰ/ ㆹ ⟨hl⟩ /sʰ/ ㄙㄏ ⟨hs⟩ /ɕʰ/ ㄒ ⟨hx⟩ /xʰ/ ㄏ ⟨hv⟩
voiced /v/ ㄪ ⟨w⟩ /l/ ㄌ ⟨l⟩ /z/ ㄖ ⟨r⟩ /ʑ/ ㄧ, ㆺ ⟨y⟩ /ɣ/ ㆸ ⟨v⟩

Hmu finals10
- - -/i/ -/u/ -/n/ -/ŋ/
/i/ ㄧ /a/ ㄚ /ai/ [ɛ] ㄞ /au/ ㄠ /an/ [ɛ] ㄢ /aŋ/ ㄤ
/u/ ㄨ /o/ ㄛ /ei/ ㄟ /əu/ [ə, u] ㄡ /ən/ [en] ㄣ /əŋ/ [en] ㄥ
/y/ ㄩ /e/ ㄝ

Hmu tones10
class standard
pronunciation		 dialect
pronunciation		 mark description Latin
1st [33] [33] ㄨ〪 middle ⟨b⟩
2nd [55] [55] ㄨ〫 high ⟨x⟩
3rd [35] [44] ㄨ〪〫 high-middle ⟨d⟩
4th [11] [22] ㄨ〪〭 low ⟨l⟩
5th [44] [12] ㄨ〬 rising ⟨t⟩
6th [13] [21] ㄨ〭 falling ⟨s⟩
7th [53] [42] ⟨k⟩
8th [31] [42] ⟨f⟩

References

  1. Unicode Character Code Charts. unicode.org.
    1. “Spacing Modifier Letters.” unicode.org.
    2. “Bopomofo.” unicode.org.
    3. “Bopomofo Extended.” unicode.org.
  2. WG2 Document Registry, Unicode® Technical Committee Document Registry, unicode.org, unicode.org.
    1. Proposal to add 24 extended Bopomofo and 2 modifier letters for Minnan and Hakka languages in ISO/IEC 10646-1. 1998-03-19, N1713R, L2/98-090, dkuug.dk.
    2. Everson, Michael; Ho, H. W.; West, Andrew. Proposal to encode one Bopomofo character in the UCS. 2006-10-19, N3179, L2/06-338, unicode.org, unicode.org.
    3. Proposal to encode two Bopomofo characters in UCS. 2007-04-20, N3246, L2/07-215, unicode.org, unicode.org.
    4. West, Andrew. Proposal to encode three Bopomofo letters for Hmu and Ge. 2009-01-25, N3570, L2/09-049, unicode.org, unicode.org.
    5. West, Andrew; Hai, Liang. Discussion of 2CEF1. 2015-10-22, N4695, L2/15-284, unicode.org, unicode.org.
    6. West, Andrew. Proposal to encode one Bopomofo letter. 2016-04-21, N4717, L2/16-106, unicode.org, unicode.org.
    7. Tung, Bobby; Ko, But; Wei, Selena. Proposal to Fix Glyphs in Bopomofo Extended Block and Encode One Bopomofo Letter. 2018-06-13, N4980, L2/18-255, unicode.org, unicode.org.
    8. Chan, Eiso. Preliminary proposal to encode four extended Bopomofo letters for Cantonese in BMP. 2019-04-08, L2/19-100, unicode.org.
    9. Yang, Ben; Chan, Eiso. Proposal to encode Cantonese Bopomofo Characters. 2019-05-02, N5052, L2/19-177R, unicode.org, unicode.org.
  3. The Unicode® Standard: Version 15.0 – Core Specification. September 2022, unicode.org.
    1. “Bopomofo.” pp. 764–766, unicode.org.
  4. Li, Jinxi 黎锦熙. Chinese Phonetic System and Language 國語學講義. Shanghai, 1919, hathitrust.org, hathitrust.org.
    1. Translated into English by Alex R. Mackenzie, second edition, Commercial Press, Limited, Shanghai, 1922, hathitrust.org.
  5. Gwoyeu romatzyh pin in farshyh: Gwoin-tzyhmuu dih ell shyh 國語羅馬字拼音法式: 國音字母第二式. 1926, hathitrust.org.
  6. [Hanyu Pinyin Scheme] 汉语拼音方案. 11 February 1958, wikisource.org, moe.gov.cn.
  7. Duanmu, San. The Phonology of Standard Chinese. Oxford University Press, Second Edition, 2007, openlibrary.org.
  8. [Tâi-lô Manual] 臺灣閩南語羅馬字拼音方案使用手冊. Ministry of Education, Taiwan.
    1. 1st edition, March 2007, archive.org.
    2. 2nd edition, December 2008, moe.gov.tw, moe.gov.tw.
  9. [Hakka Pinyin Manual] 客家語拼音方案使用手冊. Ministry of Education, Taiwan, November 2012, moe.edu.tw, moe.edu.tw.
  10. Enwall, Joakim. A Myth Become Reality – History and Development of the Miao Written Language. Institute of Oriental Languages: Stockholm University.
    1. Volume 1. Stockholm East Asian Monographs no. 5, 1994, kb.se.
    2. Volume 2. Stockholm East Asian Monographs no. 6, 1995, kb.se.
  11. Enwall, Joakim. “Introductory remarks on M. H. Hutton’s Keh Deo writing.” Mon-Khmer Studies, 28, 1998, received 8 January 1996, pp. 152–159, mksjournal.org.
  12. Enwall, Joakim. “The Bible Translations into Miao: Chinese Influence versus Linguistic Autonomy.” Bible in Modern China: The Literary and Intellectual Impact, Monumenta Serica Monograph Series 43, Institut Monumenta Serica, Sankt Augustin, 1999, pp. 199–234.
  13. ScriptSource, SIL International, scriptsource.org.
    1. Bopomofo [Bopo]. scriptsource.org.
    2. Han with Bopomofo (alias for Han + Bopomofo) [Hanb]. scriptsource.org.