Zhuyin, also called bopomofo, writes the sounds of Mandarin with 37 symbols, and Taiwan's elementary schools teach reading with it. Each symbol in the chart below is drawn as a picture whose name starts with its sound: ㄇ is a mailbox with a roof, two legs and no floor, and mailbox starts with m. The chart shows every symbol with its picture, its sound, and its keyword, plus the five tone marks.
How Do Zhuyin Picture Mnemonics Work?
Each picture keeps the strokes of its symbol. The capital letters in a keyword show the sound, so ㄛ is an AUtomobile and ㄢ is an ON-air sign. When the pinyin spelling looks nothing like English, the keyword uses a nearby English sound instead: ㄑ, spelled q, is a chicken, and ㄒ, spelled x, is a shaver.
Those English sounds only get you nearby. For ㄐ, ㄑ and ㄒ, the tip of your tongue rests behind your bottom teeth while the middle lifts up, and only the audio can show you that.
The Zhuyin Chart With Pictures
The chart has 42 cards: the 37 symbols and the five tone marks. The sound next to each symbol is its pinyin spelling, and the tone marks are shown on ㄇㄚ. The first tone usually has no mark at all.
Bopomofo 5
ㄅbBoomerangThe Boomerang bends across the top and hooks back at the bottom.
ㄆpPrunerThe Pruner opens its jaws on top, and its handles cross below.
ㄇmMailboxThe Mailbox has a roof and two legs, and no floor.
ㄈfFrameThe Frame is closed on three sides and open on the right.
ㄚaArtichokeThe Artichoke has pointed leaves above one long, hooked stem.
The Five Tones 5
- ˉmā
- ˊmá
- ˇmǎ
- ˋmà
- ˙ma
Tongue Behind Your Teeth 6
ㄉdDaggersTwo Daggers hang from the bar, and neither one rises above it.
ㄊtTentThe Tent sits under one long ridge pole.
ㄋnNailThe Nail has a flat head, and its bent shaft hooks at the end.
ㄌlLeverThe long arm of the Lever passes up through its crossbar.
ㄧiEvenThe level lies perfectly Even, flat as one line.
ㄨuOOpsA big red X marks the mistake. OOps!
Sounds From the Back 6
ㄍgGoTwo chevrons stack up and tell you where to Go.
ㄎkKeyThe Key has its teeth at the top, above a zigzag shaft.
ㄏhHoseThe Hose bends at the top and curves down to the left.
ㄛoAUtomobileThe AUtomobile shows its roof and body from the side.
ㄜeUmpireThe Umpire spreads his arms wide and bends his knees.
ㄝêElephantThe Elephant curls its trunk under its long back.
Sounds English Does Not Have 4
ㄐjJackThe Jack springs up out of its box.
ㄑqCHickenThe CHicken opens its beak wide.
ㄒxSHaverThe SHaver has a wide head above a straight handle.
ㄩüUniformThe Uniform pocket is a squared-off U.
Curl Your Tongue Back 6
ㄓzhJailThe Jail door stands open on its bars.
ㄔchCHimneySmoke lifts off the CHimney where it cuts through the roof.
ㄕshSHowerThe SHower head hangs from one curved pole.
ㄖrRobotThe Robot has a square face and a slanted mouth.
ㄞaiIceCracks branch down through a thick block of Ice.
ㄟeiAngelThe Angel wing turns at the top and sweeps down to the right.
The Hissing Sounds 5
ㄗzZooThe Zoo gate stands half open under its sign.
ㄘcCycloneThe Cyclone sweeps sideways and curls into a hook.
ㄙsSledThe Sled tips its nose up over one long runner.
ㄠaoHOURglassThe HOURglass pinches in at its crossed waist.
ㄡouOverallsThe Overalls cross their straps below the waistband.
How Words End 5
ㄢanON-air SignThe top rectangle is the glowing ON-air Sign, and its hanging power cord makes the bottom stroke.
ㄣenENergyA bolt of ENergy zigzags down to the terminal.
ㄤangANchorThe ANchor hangs from its bar and hooks at the bottom.
ㄥengINkOne long brush stroke ends in a hooked pool of INk.
ㄦerEARthwormsTwo EARthworms lie side by side, the right one longer.
How Should You Practice With the Chart?
Use the pictures to remember the symbols, and use the course audio for the sounds and the tones.
- Cover the SoundsLook at a symbol, say its keyword and its sound, then check the chart.
- Hear the TonesPlay ㄇㄚ with each tone mark in the free course, because a picture can't show you pitch.
- Spell a SyllablePut a consonant and a vowel together, like ㄅ and ㄚ in ㄅㄚ, which spells 八, eight.
The free Zhuyin course teaches every symbol and all five tones in eight short chapters, with an audio example for each symbol, right in your browser. The same course is free in Bubblegum, where Poppy, the AI tutor, writes 
Taiwan Mandarin lessons at your level once you can read them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Zhuyin Symbols Are There?
Zhuyin has 37 symbols and five tone marks, and together they can write every sound in Mandarin. The name bopomofo comes from its first four symbols, ㄅ ㄆ ㄇ ㄈ, read aloud.
Where Is Zhuyin Used?
Zhuyin is used mostly in Taiwan. Schools there teach reading with it, and it's the most popular way people type Mandarin on phones and computers and look up characters in a dictionary.
Which Taiwan Mandarin App Should a Beginner Choose?
If you are serious about learning Taiwan Mandarin, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. Its Zhuyin course teaches every symbol in this chart. Our Taiwan Mandarin app comparison covers more choices and what each one is good for.
Is Bubblegum Free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
