Mandarin Pronunciation Tips: z/c/s vs. zh/ch/sh

Mandarin Chinese initials are consonant sounds that appear at the beginning of syllables. When describing consonants, we generally focus on two things: place of articulation (where the sound is produced) and manner of articulation (how the airflow is produced).

Some Mandarin consonants have no direct equivalent in English and many other languages, which can make them particularly challenging for Chinese learners. Two commonly confused groups are z/c/s and zh/ch/sh.

Based on years of Mandarin teaching experience, I have collected some of the most common pronunciation problems students encounter with these initials. In this guide, I explain the articulation position and airflow of each sound in a simple, practical way. I also introduce useful pronunciation techniques, including hand gestures, airflow awareness, and sound-pair comparison, together with exercises that learners can easily practice on their own.

Each sound is accompanied by a short slow-motion video showing the correct mouth and tongue position, while the vocabulary practice sections include audio recordings for imitation and shadowing. If you would like guided practice with a teacher, you can also explore our Mandarin courses at Skybridge Mandarin.

z/c/s — Dental-Alveolar Sounds (Flat-Tongue Sounds)

In general, most students can learn to produce z, c, and s accurately. However, several common problems may occur:

• The tongue tip curls too far back → the sound becomes more like zh/ch/sh.
• The tongue tip is placed between the upper and lower teeth → the sound becomes similar to the English "th" sound.
• Not enough airflow when pronouncing c → c sounds too much like z.

A Real Student Example

One American student I taught had difficulty distinguishing z and c when he first started learning Mandarin. He often pronounced 菜 (cài) as 在 (zài), so whenever he said 中国菜 (Zhōngguó cài), it sounded almost like 中国在 (Zhōngguó zài).

I explained that one of the key differences between z and c is the amount of airflow. When pronouncing c, you should feel a strong burst of air. When pronouncing z, the airflow is much weaker. A simple way to practice this difference is to place your hand in front of your mouth or hold a small piece of paper in front of your lips and observe how strongly the air moves.

At first, his pronunciation felt somewhat stiff because he was consciously focusing on the airflow. But with repeated practice, he gradually developed a better sense of the difference and was able to produce z and c accurately.

How to Pronounce z/c/s

Place of articulation

The tip of the tongue touches or approaches the back of the upper front teeth. Do not curl the tongue tip upward, and do not touch the hard palate.

What z, c, and s have in common

All three are voiceless sounds, meaning the vocal cords do not vibrate when you pronounce them. Try placing your fingers lightly on your throat. You should not feel any vibration.

How to pronounce z

When pronouncing z, keep the tongue relatively flat, with the tongue tip touching the back of the upper front teeth. Briefly stop the airflow and then release it through a narrow opening. The airflow for z is relatively weak, so you do not actively push a strong burst of air out of your mouth.

Examples: 字 (zì), 足 (zú), 在 (zài), 杂 (zá)

How to pronounce c

The tongue position and mouth shape are essentially the same as for z, but c is strongly aspirated. Release a noticeable burst of air when pronouncing it. You can place a small piece of paper in front of your mouth — the paper should move clearly when you pronounce c.

Examples: 次 (cì), 擦 (cā), 菜 (cài), 醋 (cù)

z vs. c

The main difference between z and c is aspiration (airflow strength). The tongue position and mouth shape are essentially the same.

• z → unaspirated, weaker airflow
• c → aspirated, stronger airflow

How to pronounce s

For s, the tongue tip approaches the back of the upper front teeth without touching them. Leave a narrow gap between the tongue and the teeth. The air passes continuously through this narrow gap, creating friction. Unlike z and c, there is no complete blockage of the airflow followed by a release.

Examples: 思 (sī), 素 (sù), 色 (sè), 赛 (sài)

Easy way to remember

z, c, s — keep the tongue flat and close to the upper teeth. z = no strong burst of air; c = strong burst of air; s = keep a narrow gap and let the air flow through.

Comparison Practice

Listen to each sound, then repeat. Pay attention to the airflow difference between z and c, and the continuous friction of s.

• z: 字 (zì) — character; written word → 写字 (xiězì) — write characters
• c: 次 (cì) — time; occurrence → 三次 (sān cì) — three times
• s: 四 (sì) — four → 四年 (sì nián) — four years
• z: 在 (zài) — be at; be located at → 在家 (zàijiā) — be at home
• c: 菜 (cài) — dish; vegetable → 做菜 (zuò cài) — cook a dish
• s: 赛 (sài) — competition; race → 比赛 (bǐsài) — competition; match

zh/ch/sh — Retroflex Sounds (Curled-Tongue Sounds)

For many Mandarin learners, zh/ch/sh are particularly challenging because these consonants do not have direct equivalents in many other languages.

Common pronunciation problems

Foreign learners frequently make the following mistakes:

• The tongue tip is too far forward and touches the back of the upper teeth → the sound becomes more like z/c/s.
• The tongue is curled too far back → the sound becomes overly heavy or unnatural.
• Not enough aspiration when pronouncing ch → ch sounds too much like zh.

It is important to note that zh/ch/sh do not require an exaggerated tongue curl. The tongue tip should simply be raised slightly toward the front part of the hard palate.

A Real Student Example

One intermediate-level Japanese student I worked with could pronounce most Mandarin sounds accurately, but zh/ch/sh continued to cause her difficulties. The main problem was the position of her tongue tip. It was too far forward, so her zh/ch/sh sounded very similar to the dental-alveolar sounds z/c/s.

Although she understood the pronunciation rules, she still had difficulty finding the correct tongue position. I opened my mouth and used my finger to point to the front part of the hard palate — the area just behind the upper front teeth, where you can feel the slight ridges on the roof of your mouth. This helped her visualize and understand where the tongue should be positioned.

We spent two lessons, around 30 minutes each, specifically working on this problem through sound discrimination and repetition exercises. With focused practice, she gradually became more comfortable with the correct tongue position.

How to Pronounce zh/ch/sh

Place of articulation

Raise the tip of the tongue toward the front part of the hard palate, slightly behind the upper front teeth. The tongue tip should curl upward slightly, but do not over-curl the tongue.

What zh, ch, and sh have in common

All three are voiceless sounds, meaning the vocal cords do not vibrate. Place your fingers lightly on your throat while pronouncing them. You should not feel any vibration.

How to pronounce zh

Raise the tongue tip slightly and place it against the front part of the hard palate, just behind the upper front teeth. Briefly block the airflow, then slightly release the tongue so that the air escapes through a narrow opening. The airflow is relatively weak.

Examples: 知 (zhī), 住 (zhù), 窄 (zhǎi), 站 (zhàn)

How to pronounce ch

The tongue position is essentially the same as for zh, but ch is strongly aspirated. Release a strong burst of air when pronouncing it. You can use a small piece of paper in front of your mouth to check the airflow — the paper should move noticeably.

Examples: 吃 (chī), 出 (chū), 茶 (chá), 长 (cháng)

zh vs. ch

The main difference between zh and ch is aspiration (airflow strength). The tongue position and mouth shape are essentially the same.

• zh → unaspirated, weaker airflow
• ch → aspirated, stronger airflow

How to pronounce sh

For sh, raise the tongue tip toward the front part of the hard palate, but do not let the tongue touch the palate. Leave a narrow gap for the air to pass through and create friction. There is no complete blockage and release of the airflow.

Examples: 师 (shī), 树 (shù), 上 (shàng), 山 (shān)

Easy way to remember

zh, ch, sh — raise the tongue tip slightly toward the hard palate. zh = weaker airflow; ch = stronger airflow; sh = keep a narrow gap and let the air flow through.

Comparison Practice

Listen to each sound, then repeat. Pay attention to the tongue position difference between flat-tongue and retroflex sounds.

• zh: 知 (zhī) — know; knowledge → 知道 (zhīdào) — know
• ch: 吃 (chī) — eat → 吃饭 (chīfàn) — eat a meal
• sh: 湿 (shī) — wet → 淋湿 (línshī) — get wet; get soaked
• zh: 站 (zhàn) — stand; station → 车站 (chēzhàn) — train station; bus station
• ch: 颤 (chàn) — tremble; shake → 颤抖 (chàndǒu) — tremble; shiver
• sh: 扇 (shàn) — fan → 扇子 (shànzi) — fan

Flat-Tongue vs. Retroflex Sounds

One of the most important pronunciation contrasts for Mandarin learners is the difference between z/c/s and zh/ch/sh. Try comparing these pairs slowly and pay attention to where your tongue is positioned:

• 资 (zī) — resources; capital ↔ 知 (zhī) — know; knowledge
• 疵 (cī) — flaw; defect ↔ 吃 (chī) — eat
• 思 (sī) — think; thought ↔ 师 (shī) — teacher
• 暂 (zàn) — temporarily ↔ 站 (zhàn) — stand; station
• 擦 (cā) — wipe; rub ↔ 插 (chā) — insert
• 四 (sì) — four ↔ 是 (shì) — be; is

The goal is not to exaggerate the tongue movement. Instead, focus on finding the correct articulation position and keeping it consistent.

Vocabulary Practice

Try reading these words aloud. First listen to the audio, then repeat slowly, and finally practice at a natural speaking speed.

• 厨师 (chúshī) — chef; cook
• 上车 (shàng chē) — get on a vehicle
• 出差 (chū chāi) — go on a business trip
• 超市 (chāoshì) — supermarket
• 早上 (zǎoshang) — morning
• 操场 (cāochǎng) — sports field; school playground
• 打扫 (dǎsǎo) — clean; tidy up
• 昨天 (zuótiān) — yesterday

For better results, record yourself while practicing and compare your pronunciation with the model audio.

Coming Next: j/q/x vs. z/c/s

Some learners also have difficulty distinguishing j/q/x from z/c/s. In the next article, we will take a closer look at the pronunciation of j, q, and x, including their tongue position, airflow, common pronunciation mistakes, and practical exercises.

Stay tuned for the next Mandarin pronunciation guide!