Phonetic classification of sounds in MPS2
Initials
| Labials |
b |
p |
m |
f |
| Apicals |
d |
t |
n |
l |
| Velars |
g |
k |
h |
|
| Palatals |
j(i) |
ch(i) |
sh(i) |
|
| Retroflexes |
j |
ch |
sh |
r |
| Dentals |
tz |
ts |
s |
|
Finals
| Single Finals |
r, z |
|
|
|
| i, yi |
u, wu |
iu, yu |
|
| a |
o |
e |
ê |
| Double Finals |
ai |
ei |
au |
ou |
| Nasal-end Finals |
an |
en |
ang |
eng |
| Retroflex Final |
er |
|
|
|
The single vowels r and z refer to apical vowels; i, yi, u, wu, iu, yu are the high
vowels that can function as glides and a, o, e, * are vowels without glides.
Compound Finals (Used with Initials)
| With i on-glide |
ia |
io |
ie |
|
|
iai |
iau |
iou |
|
|
ian |
in |
iang |
ing |
| With u on-glide |
ua |
uo |
uai |
uei |
|
uan |
uen |
uang |
ung |
| With iu on-glide |
iue |
iuan |
iun |
iung |
For the use of the Compound Finals with initials, see Transliteration Rule 7.
Tones
| First Tone |
̄ |
| Second Tone |
́ |
| Third Tone |
̌ |
| Fourth Tone |
̀ |
| Neutral Tone |
(unmarked) |
This text on Mandarin Phonetic Symbols II (MPS II), Taiwan's former official romanization system for Mandarin Chinese, is from a July 1986 book by Taiwan's Ministry of Education.
