pronouncekit

INITIAL

g: unaspirated back stop

Pinyin g is an unaspirated [k] at the soft palate. Learn the release that keeps gē and kē apart.

g
Broad IPA
[k]

Mouth & tongue

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Vocal folds: vibrating

TongueTeethUvula

Simplified human pronunciation. The small uvula hangs from the palate; it is not the vocal folds. The wave indicates voicing.

Sound to demonstrate
Tone

High and level, around 55 on the five-level pitch scale.

Voice settings

The mouth starts slightly open. Movement is slowed for observation; the synthetic sound plays once at its original speed. Pause holds the current mouth shape; reset returns to the relaxed position. The panda is a symbolic teaching aid for human pronunciation, not animal anatomy. A simplified teaching model, not a measured or anatomically validated simulation. It shows the soft palate lowering for nasal sounds, but not airflow. Single syllables use eSpeak NG, a synthetic voice on your device. Its pitch range is narrower than natural speech, so use the tone diagrams and word buttons as well. Words and sentences use a voice from your browser or device when one is available. No native recordings are bundled.

Words to practice

Sentence to practice

Listen and compare

Alternate, changing only the air after the release.

Pinyin here shows dictionary tones. Spoken tones change in some contexts, such as nǐ hǎo; see the lessons on tone changes.

What you are learning

Pinyin g follows the same logic as b and d: no puff, and usually no strong voicing.

What your mouth is doing

The back of the tongue seals against the soft palate and releases with little air, then the vowel begins.

Compared with English

The k in English sky is the closest cue. English g in go is often voiced, and k in key has a puff. Use sky to find the release, then remove the s.

Build the sound, step by step

  1. Say sky slowly and notice the k.
  2. Keep that release and say gē.
  3. Check with a tissue: gè should not move it.

What to watch for

  • A puff turns gǒu (dog) into kǒu (mouth).
  • Do not swallow the release in gēge; both syllables begin with a clean closure.

Related lessons

Keep practicing

References & editorial notes

PronounceKit wrote this lesson as practical guidance for English speakers, based on the references below. The comparisons are editorial teaching suggestions. It describes common Mainland Standard Mandarin patterns, not every accent or regional variety, and it has not been independently reviewed by a pronunciation specialist or Mandarin teacher.

Published 5 November 2026