This section takes a closer look at the pronunciation of finals based around the vowel i. They are i, ia, iao, ian, ie , in, ing, iong and iu. These finals can appear with a range of initials. Note that the i following zh, ch, sh, r, z, c, s is not the vowel i but a buzzing vocalized continuation of the preeceding initial.

The table below shows all combinations. Click on an entry to hear an example (using first tone).

b	bi		biao	bian		bie	bin	bing
p	pi		piao	pian		pie	pin	ping
m	mi		miao	mian		mie	min	ming		miu
d	di	dia	diao	dian		die		ding		diu
t	ti		tiao	tian		tie		ting
n	ni		niao	nian	niang	nie	nin	ning		niu
l	li	lia	liao	lian	liang	lie	lin	ling		liu
j	ji	jia	jiao	jian	jiang	jie	jin	jing	jiong	jiu
q	qi	qia	qiao	qian	qiang	qie	qin	qing	qiong	qiu
x	xi	xia	xiao	xian	xiang	xie	xin	xing	xiong	xiu
zh	zhi
ch	chi
sh	shi
r	ri
z	zi
c	ci
s	si
y*	yi					ye	yin	ying

y is not proper initial. It replaces i at the beginning of the syllable.