sit (CVC),
spit (CCVC) and
split (CCCVC).
English syllables can also end with 1, 2 or 3 consonants:
sit (CVC),
silt (CVCC) and
silts (CVCCC).
Chinese syllables can only start with one consonant (C) and usually end with a vowel (V): CV. Some Chinese syllables end with a consonant: CVC, and some start with a vowel and end with a consonant: VC. Chinese syllables (Mandarin syllables) are much simpler than English syllables.
The character 蔣 is pronounced
jeang (Gwoyeu Luomaatzyh)/jiǎng (Hanyu Pinyin)/ㄐㄧㄤˇ(bopomofo)
Traditionally, Chinese syllables are divided into two parts: initials and finals.
ㄐ | ㄧ | ㄤ | ˇ |
聲母 | 韻母 | ||
Initial | Final | ||
Init- means the “beginning”
Fin- means “the end”
ㄐ | ㄧ | ㄤ | ˇ |
聲母 | 介音 | 韻尾 | 聲調 |
Initial | Medial | (Coda) | Tone |
Chinese syllables usually end with a vowel (= an open syllable). A few syllables end with a consonant, but there are only two choices: -n or –ng.
Summary:
English syllables can start or end with several consonants (CCCVCCC).
Chinese syllables can only start and end with one consonant (CVC).
