Minimal pair · Standard Mandarin (Putonghua), isolated citation tones
Mandarin /k/ vs /kʰ/Unaspirated and aspirated k
Learn to hear the difference between k and kʰ in Mandarin words.
Practice these sounds/k/
An unvoiced back closure
A brief stop made toward the back of the mouth.
As in哥
/kʰ/
The kʰ category
Listen for the target sound in each word.
As in科
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Learn to hear the difference between k and kʰ in Mandarin words.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each word哥
/kɤ˥/older brother姑
/ku˥/paternal aunt工
/kʊŋ˥/work; labour干
/kan˥/dry锅
/kwo˥/cooking pot科
/kʰɤ˥/subject; category哭
/kʰu˥/cry空
/kʰʊŋ˥/empty开
/kʰai˥/open宽
/kʰwan˥/wide10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.