Mandarin Chinese Problem Initials J Q X - How to pronounce them correctly?

Chinese initials J, Q and X are only ever followed by either “ -i” (pronounced like “ee”) or by “-ü”. They are never combined with the finals “-a”, “-e”, “-o” or “-u/wu”. Ji, Qi, Xi and Ju, Qu, Xu are all with the exact same tongue position, yet they sound different from English "J", "Ch" and "Sh". When saying “Ji, Qi or Xi”, smile! Same tension as smiling when saying these three syllables. The tip of your tongue should be touching your bottom teeth. While saying these 3, the tongue should move due to air flow, but the mouth should not. The airflow for all of these should be fairly soft and smooth, but “xi” should be the softest and most sounding like a deflating tyre.
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[@Brazbrah]

Wow, I've been learning mandarin for 4 years and this is the single best piece of pronounciation advice I've got. Thanks!

[@katyafransheskahernandezsi6519]

OMG, I don't know why a lot of language teachers don't teach oral posture from the start. Half of the problems that comes with pronunciation stem from people not understanding how to place tongue and lips. English is my second language, and hopefully Mandarin will be my third. This was so incredibly useful, so I'm subscribing right away. Thanks!

[@quidditch4801]

I am a Chinese teacher and it is the most helpful video I've found in KZbin to explain how to pronounce jqx! One of my student has difficulties on pronouncing them. We tried for more than two weeks but failed. However, she pronounced these initials perfectly the moment she watched this video! Look forward the videos about zcs and zh, ch,sh!!!!

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Thanks Charlotte! We have everything explained very clearly on our video course "Pronunciation Mastery" which is available with any subscription of our course. Plus, I think that you will find the video you want by searching our youtube channel :D

[@quidditch4801]

@@MandarinBlueprint Thank you! I appreciate every video you have made!

[@assoihoufatma2088]

​@@MandarinBlueprint❤❤

[@highfiveguy]

The bit about the middle of your tongue folding up against the roof of your mouth was *exactly* I was hoping to hear. Wife/in-laws are Chinese and when I specifically asked them if the middle of their tongue folded up (like saying “he”) they said, “... I don’t know. I just say the sound.” Lots of other videos emphasize the front of the tongue on the bottom teeth, but nobody else seems to mention the middle/back of the tongue. Thanks for the post, and props for the short video that gets straight to the point.

[@AbdoAzeez-tq9hv]

Very professional, Thank you so much. I struggle with J sound but your way of explanation is amazing

[@kafjaf6387]

I am really struggling with pronunciation - this is awesome thank you!

[@MandarinBlueprint]

You are so welcome!

[@maumdeo]

This was beyond helpful. Thank you so much!!

[@luce08]

How do you pronounce these quickly so it sounds fluent? I feel like I am releasing too much air when I try saying "zi ji" (自己 - yourself) or "yi qi qu" (一起去 - go together) quickly.

[@MandarinBlueprint]

There are shortcuts that you will pick up through lots of listening exposure and speaking practice.

[@hippopotomostrosesquippeda5804]

I guess non-native English speakers had the same issue when it comes to "th" sounds. It takes too much effort to pronounce them at first

[@吴轩-l9z]

As native speakers, we pronounce those as "zi i" and “yi i qu” when speaking really fast.

[@alexw650]

​@@hippopotomostrosesquippeda5804YES! lol, been speaking english for many years and those th sounds at the begining of a word are a pain.

[@stellar_styles1]

Can you do a vedio of how to pronounce San, si, and ling am stuck there

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Hey Stellar, Please check out this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ3Ee2RoqdKnq5Y . It should help

[@ImproveYourMagic]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@svttc]

impressively good

[@ovickmanson6792]

Why using latin "Q" if u pronounce it like a "Ch"? I mean why don't use different kind of "C" instead of "Q"

[@MandarinBlueprint]

That's because both C. CH and Q are matched to distinctly different pronunciations in Chinese, thus the need to differentiate them.

[@iks_.]

very useful!

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kokonina5401]

Is Chinese j the same with English? Like, joke? For me they have no difference at all😭😭😭😭😭

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Only difference is the tongue position!

[@HabilUddine-u4i]

Howell Turnpike

[@KatherineDavis-n9q]

Hugh Stravenue

[@itshry]

Is Xi same as English "see" ?

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Yes, just the tongue position is different.

[@FDE-fw1hd]

See is done with the teeth. xi like 洗 is done with the tounge on bottom teeth and air out from the top like an arc. Like he explained

[@ThePlataf]

I did the old Wade Gilles system,which was easy. I just hate pinyin.

[@DiegoBarett-f2i]

Mikayla Parkway

[@patriciajacobson4066]

Rodriguez Melissa Taylor Mary Anderson Cynthia