University of Texas Collage of Liberal Arts

Learning: Unit Ten

Pronunciation Tips

Finals:
ua uai ueng

"ua" is a combination of "u" and "a." See Unit 1 for the pronunciation of "a" and Unit 2 for the pronunciation of "u." The stress is on "a;" therefore, the tone mark should be placed on top of "a." , , ,

When "ua" is not following an initial, it is written as "wa."

"uai" is a combination of "u" and "ai." See Unit 3 for the pronunciation of "ai" The stress is on "a;" therefore, the tone mark should be placed on top of "a." wāi, wái, wǎi, wài

When "uai" is not following an initial, it is written as "wai."

"ueng" is a combination of "u" and "eng." See Unit 5 for the pronunciation of "eng." The stress is on "eng;" therefore, the tone mark should be placed on top of "e." wēng, wéng, wěng, wèng

"ueng" is always written as "weng" since it never follows an initial.

huā huá huǎ huà
guā guá guǎ guà
guāi guái guǎi guài
kuāi (kuái) kuǎi kuài
shuāi (shuái) shuǎi shuài
wēng wéng wěng wèng
wáwa (doll) huàxué (chemistry) kuàicān (fast food) wàiguó (foreign country)
huáiyùn (pregnant) qīngwā (frog) shuāyá (to brush teeth) zhòng huā (to plant flowers)
huài rén (a bad person) fùwēng (very rich man) xīguā (watermelon) shuài gē (a handsome guy)
yúwēng (fisherman) qíguài (strange) wénhuà (culture) kuāzhāng (to exaggerate)
huángguā (cucumber) guǎfù (widow) bāguà (gossip) huá chuán (to row a boat)
kuàguó (transnational) kuàyuè (to step over) cáihuá (talent) huáqiáo (overseas Chinese)
shuōhuà (to speak) páihuái (to dither) yáshuā (tooth brush) guǎiwān (to make a turn)
kuājiǎng (to praise) wā dòng (to dig a hole) wājué (to unearth) huàzhuāng (to put on make-up)
huáiyí (to suspect) guāiqiǎo (lovely child) wāiqū (to distort) shuàilǐng (to lead)
wǎjiě (to collapse) wǎpiàn (tile) xiàohuà (joke) guǎizhàng (walking stick)
kuàilè (happy) yāoguài (monster) kuàizi (chopsticks) huā qián (to spend money)
guàizuì (to blame) kuàijì (accouning) wàijiāo (diplomacy) chā huā (flower arrangement)