---
title: "b vs p, d vs t, g vs k: 97 Mandarin Minimal Pairs with Audio | Mandarin The Wild"
description: "Hear the difference between b or p, d or t, g or k in Mandarin: 97 minimal pairs (bāo/pāo, bā/pā, bō/pō, bāi/pāi, bēi/pēi) to hear in a female or male voice, a ten-question listening quiz and how to say each. Free, no sign-up."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/pinyin-minimal-pairs/b-p"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[Mandarin minimal pairs](https://mandarinthewild.com/pinyin-minimal-pairs) · b / p

# b vs p, d vs t, g vs k

97 pairs to hear, from 宝 bǎo and 跑 pǎo on. Take the quiz, then tap any pair below to hear both.

Voice

Hear

## How to tell them apart

Mandarin’s **b**, **d**, **g**, **z**, **zh** and **j** are not voiced like English b and d; they are plain, with no puff of air. **p**, **t**, **k**, **c**, **ch** and **q** carry a strong puff: hold a sheet of paper in front of your mouth and it moves.

So listen for the breath, not for a voice: 饱 bǎo is crisp, 跑 pǎo comes with a burst of air.

## All 97 pairs

## Questions

### What is the difference between b or p, d or t, g or k in pinyin?

Mandarin’s b, d, g, z, zh and j are not voiced like English b and d; they are plain, with no puff of air.

### What is a minimal pair in Mandarin?

Two syllables that differ by one sound and nothing else, such as zhī and zī, or fàn and fàng. Hearing them apart is the first step to saying them apart, and to understanding fast speech.

## Practise the tones too

[Tone pair chart](https://mandarinthewild.com/tone-pairs): all 20 tone pairs, each a word to hear. [Pinyin trainer](https://mandarinthewild.com/pinyin-trainer): hear a word and name its tones. [Tone practice](https://mandarinthewild.com/tone-practice): say a word and see your pitch over a native speaker’s. [Pinyin chart](https://mandarinthewild.com/pinyin-chart): every syllable in all four tones.

Voices by ElevenLabs, the same two as the app’s word cards.