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Turn your pinyin notes into Chinese pronunciation flashcards

Upload pinyin charts, slides or class notes and get initial, final and tone cards you can review with spaced repetition. No credit card needed to start.

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Why a custom deck beats a generic pinyin list

Printable pinyin charts and ready-made sheets cover the basics, but your class moves through initials, finals and tones in its own order. DeckOwl turns your own material into Chinese pronunciation flashcards, then schedules reviews with spaced repetition.

Cards built from the exact sounds your teacher covered
Tone marks and pinyin on the front, the sound and a model example on the back
Missed cards return sooner so tricky finals get more practice
Mind maps for grouping initials, finals and tones by family

Example Chinese pronunciation flashcards for pinyin and tones

What is the difference between zh and z?zh is a retroflex affricate with the tongue tip curled back, while z is an alveolar affricate with the tongue tip against the back of the upper teeth.

What tone is the dipping third tone, and how does it change before another third tone?The third tone falls then rises. Before another third-tone syllable it becomes a second tone, as in nǐ hǎo, which is said as ní hǎo.

How is 不 (bù) pronounced before a fourth tone?It changes to a second tone, so 不是 is read bú shì, because two fourth tones in a row are avoided.

How are ü and u written after j, q and x?The two dots are dropped, so 居 is written ju and the sound stays rounded like ü, because j, q and x never combine with plain u.

What is the difference between -ing and -in finals?-ing ends in a velar nasal with the back of the tongue raised, while -in ends in an alveolar nasal with the tongue tip touching the ridge behind the teeth.

Generate the full set

Pinyin and tone cards from your notes

Upload a PDF or slide deck of your pinyin chart and get cards for initials, finals and tones.

Spaced repetition

Cards you miss come back sooner, so hard tones and tricky finals get more practice.

Quizzes and mind maps

Check tone recognition with multiple choice or true/false questions, or map initials and finals in a mind map.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text notes or a photo of a page.

Generate and review

Check the generated cards, then study them in the browser.

Study on a schedule

Spaced repetition brings back the cards you find hardest.

Start with the sounds that trip you up most, such as zh and z or ü and u, and let the cards return until they stick. Say each syllable aloud before you flip the card, then check your tone against the marks.

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Frequently asked questions

How many Chinese pronunciation flashcards should I study at once?

Start with one group of about 10 to 15 cards, such as the retroflex initials, and add more once you can say each one without checking the pinyin.

How do I practice tones with flashcards?

Say the syllable aloud before you flip the card, then compare your tone with the mark and a native speaker recording. Mixing tones within one session works better than drilling a single tone for a long stretch.

Can I export these cards to Anki?

Yes, but export is a paid feature. Plus ($99.90/year or $9.99/month) includes PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV export, while the free plan lets you study in the browser with 3 generations per month.

Will it read photos of printed pinyin charts?

Yes, photos of pages are read with text recognition, so you can upload a picture of a printed chart and review the generated cards before you study.

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Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.