Pinyin • Combination Charts
Pinyin Chart 4: ZH CH SH R · Z C S · Zero Initial
This chart covers the retroflex initials (zh, ch, sh, r) and the sibilant initials (z, c, s). Both groups use the special apical vowel -i — written as zhī, chī, shī, rī, zī, cī, sī — which sounds nothing like the regular i in bī.
Below the main table you will find all zero-initial syllables — syllables with no consonant opening, written with y- or w- to prevent ambiguity in running text.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| zh- | zhā | · | zhē | zhī | · | zhū | · | zhāi | · | zhāo | zhōu | zhān | zhēn | zhāng | zhēng | zhōng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | zhuā | zhuō | zhuāi | zhuī | zhuān | zhūn | zhuāng | · | · | · | · |
| ch- | chā | · | chē | chī | · | chū | · | chāi | · | chāo | chōu | chān | chēn | chāng | chēng | chōng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | chuā | chuō | chuāi | chuī | chuān | chūn | chuāng | · | · | · | · |
| sh- | shā | · | shē | shī | · | shū | · | shāi | shēi | shāo | shōu | shān | shēn | shāng | shēng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | shuā | shuō | shuāi | shuī | shuān | shūn | shuāng | · | · | · | · |
| r- | · | · | rē | rī | · | rū | · | · | · | ráo | róu | rān | rēn | ráng | réng | róng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ruō | · | ruī | ruān | rūn | · | · | · | · | · |
| Sibilant initials — flat tongue (z, c, s vs. retroflex zh, ch, sh) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| z- | zā | · | zē | zī | · | zū | · | zāi | · | zāo | zōu | zān | zēn | zāng | zēng | zōng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | zuō | · | zuī | · | zūn | · | · | · | · | · |
| c- | cā | · | cē | cī | · | cū | · | cāi | · | cāo | cōu | cān | cēn | cāng | cēng | cōng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | cuō | · | cuī | · | cūn | · | · | · | · | · |
| s- | sā | · | sē | sī | · | sū | · | sāi | · | sāo | sōu | sān | sēn | sāng | sēng | sōng | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | suō | · | suī | · | sūn | · | · | · | · | · |
The -i column represents the apical vowel (not the palatal i). It only appears after zh, ch, sh, r, z, c, s.
Zero-Initial Syllables
These syllables have no initial consonant. In written pinyin, a leading y- or w- is added to mark the syllable boundary and prevent misreading in connected text (e.g. xian vs xi + an).
Simple vowels
Diphthongs & triphthongs
Nasal finals
W- syllables (u-based)
Y- syllables (i-based)
Y- syllables (ü-based)