What are pinyin finals?
A final contains the vowel nucleus and any ending sound in a Mandarin syllable. Finals can be simple, compound, or nasal, and their spelling changes slightly after some initials.
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Mandarin Pinyin Finals
Pinyin finals are the vowel and ending parts of Mandarin syllables, such as a, ai, an, ang, and iao. Learn simple finals first, then combine them with initials and tones while listening to example characters and words.
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A practical learning order
Begin with a, o, e, i, u, and ü, then add common combinations such as ai, ei, ao, ou, an, en, ang, and eng. Practice each one with tones and real characters.
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Common finals
Common questions
About mandarin pinyin finals
What is a final in pinyin?
A final is the vowel or vowel-plus-ending part of a Mandarin syllable, such as an in san or iao in jiao.
What is the difference between an initial and a final?
The initial starts a syllable with a consonant sound; the final carries the vowel and ending sound. A syllable can also have a final without an initial.
How should I learn pinyin finals?
Learn simple vowels first, combine them into common finals, and practice them with tones, example characters, and audio rather than in isolation only.