Pinyin • Combination Charts
Pinyin Chart 3: G K H · J Q X Initials
This chart covers two distinct groups. G, k, h are velar consonants that combine with back-vowel finals. J, q, x are palatal consonants that only take i- and ü-based finals — they never combine with plain u, a, o, e.
Important spelling rule: after j, q, x the ü final is written as u (the two dots are dropped). So jū is actually pronounced with the ü vowel, not the plain u sound.
Red cells are valid combinations shown in 1st tone. Grey cells are not valid in standard Mandarin.
| Initial | a | o | e | -i | i | u | ü | ai | ei | ao | ou | an | en | ang | eng | ong | ia | iao | ie | iou | ian | in | iang | ing | iong | ua | uo | uai | uei | uan | un | uang | ueng | üe | üan | ün |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| g- | gā | · | gē | · | · | gū | · | gāi | · | gāo | gōu | gān | gēn | gāng | gēng | gōng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | guā | guō | guāi | guī | guān | gūn | guāng | · | · | · | · |
| k- | kā | · | kē | · | · | kū | · | kāi | · | kāo | kōu | kān | kēn | kāng | kēng | kōng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | kuā | kuō | kuāi | kuī | kuān | kūn | kuāng | · | · | · | · |
| h- | hā | · | hē | · | · | hū | · | hāi | · | hāo | hōu | hān | hēn | hāng | hēng | hōng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | huā | huō | huāi | huī | huān | hūn | huāng | · | · | · | · |
| Palatal initials — only i- and ü-based finals (ü written as u after j/q/x) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| j- | · | · | · | · | jī | jū | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | jiā | jiāo | jiē | jiū | jiān | jīn | jiāng | jīng | jiōng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | juē | juān | jūn |
| q- | · | · | · | · | qī | qū | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | qiā | qiāo | qiē | qiū | qiān | qīn | qiāng | qīng | qiōng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | quē | quān | qūn |
| x- | · | · | · | · | xī | xū | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | xiā | xiāo | xiē | xiū | xiān | xīn | xiāng | xīng | xiōng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | xuē | xuān | xūn |
All syllables shown in 1st tone. The “u” column for j/q/x represents the ü sound — the umlaut is omitted per standard pinyin orthography.