Difficult Sounds

Difficult Sounds Mandarin is the official language of China and Taiwan. When you listen to Mandarin, you'll hear that there are some sounds that seem unusual and strange to English-speakers. Just be calm and carry on.  The following information will help you to help you to get through them.
Sound	Example	Explanation
c	cí / 词 – word	Like ts in Cats.
h	hěn 很  very	Like Lock Ness
j	ji鸡/ chicken	Like “dge” in judge.
q	qī / 七 – seven	(Sounds a bit like 'ch' in 'cheek'. You have to put the tip of your tongue behind your bottom teeth and really push the sound out hard.)
r	rén /Person	Similar to the English ‘r’ but the tip of the tongue is turned up and touches the roof of the mouth.
x	xī / 西 - west	This sounds like 'sh' in 'she'.
zh	zhī / 只  - (a measure word)	Try making a sound that's a cross between 'j' in 'joke' and 'dr' in 'draw'.)
z	zĭ / 子 - child	Almost exactly the same as C but stronger, almost like a hiss.)