Minimal pair · Standard Mandarin (Putonghua), isolated citation tones
Mandarin /s/ vs /ʂ/Pinyin s and sh
Adds a missing dental versus retroflex fricative comparison, with a restricted ordinary-word group.
Practice these sounds/s/
An unvoiced hiss
Listen for the narrow, hissing sound in the target consonant.
As in三
/ʂ/
The Russian ш sound
A darker, retracted sound than /s/. Russian ш is conventionally hard.
As in山
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Adds a missing dental versus retroflex fricative comparison, with a restricted ordinary-word group.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each word三
/san˥/three搜
/sou˥/search酸
/swan˥/sour松
/sʊŋ˥/pine tree山
/ʂan˥/mountain收
/ʂou˥/receive; collect栓
/ʂwan˥/bolt; stopper书
/ʂu˥/book8 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.