How to pronounce Zhang Ziyi

Zhang Ziyi (the actress) is 章子怡 in Chinese, written Zhāngzǐyí in pinyin and said jahng-dzuh-yee.

章子怡 Zhāngzǐyí

jahng-dzuh-yee

Sound by sound

章zhāngjahngFirst tone: high and level
子zǐdzuhThird tone: low, dipping down
怡yíyeeSecond tone: rising, as in a question

Letters to watch

Zh is said like the j in “jam”, with the tongue curled back. Not “z”.
Z is said like the ds in “kids”, softer than an English z.
After z, c, s, zh, ch, sh and r, the i is no “ee”: the first sound is held on, like a buzz.

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How do you pronounce Zhang Ziyi?

Zhang Ziyi (the actress) is 章子怡 in Chinese, written Zhāngzǐyí in pinyin and said jahng-dzuh-yee.

What are the tones in Zhang Ziyi?

zhāng: first tone, high and level; zǐ: third tone, low, dipping down; yí: second tone, rising, as in a question.

What do English speakers get wrong in Zhang Ziyi?

Zh is said like the j in “jam”, with the tongue curled back. Not “z”. Z is said like the ds in “kids”, softer than an English z. After z, c, s, zh, ch, sh and r, the i is no “ee”: the first sound is held on, like a buzz.

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Voices recorded for our word cards. A spelling such as “shyow-mee” is the nearest English sound, not the sound itself: hear the voices.