Task 4: To pronounce the initial `p`, firmly press your...

To pronounce the initial p, firmly press your lips together and then release them with a quick, strong burst of air. This puff of air is what makes p different from b, which uses the same lip position but releases the sound gently without pushing out air.

It should feel like a small explosion at your lips, with clear airflow that you can feel if you hold your hand in front of your mouth while saying it.

As mentioned earlier, you might sometimes hear this initial pronounced as po. Adding the simple final o makes it easier to hear.

When p combines with the finals a, o, i, and u, you get the syllables: pa, po, pi, and pu.

Similar to b, when pronouncing these syllables, smoothly link the p sound directly into the finals without pausing between them. The only difference will be the mouth shape you make for each specific final.

Let’s practice pronouncing p and the syllables, and then use po in different tones as an example.

Pinyin	Character
pō	坡
pó	婆
pǒ	叵
pò	珀