Pinyin initial: "nu"

Mouth Mechanics (step-by-step)

1. Set your jaw: Open just a little—more like you’re saying “oo” than “ah.”
2. Tongue tip for N: Touch the tip of your tongue lightly to the bumpy ridge right behind your top front teeth (the “tooth ridge”).
3. Make it nasal: Let air flow out through your nose while your tongue is touching the ridge. That’s the n.
4. Release into the vowel: Drop the tongue away from the ridge smoothly.
5. Shape the “u” (Chinese ü in “nü”):
   • Lips: Round them forward as if saying “oo,” but keep the opening small and focused.
   • Tongue: Keep the front/middle of the tongue high (closer to the roof of the mouth than for English “oo”).
   • Key feeling: It should sound fronted (brighter) compared with English “oo,” not deep/back in the throat.
6. Hold it steady: Keep the vowel one clean target, not a glide.

English Approximation (and how to modify it)

English does not have this exact vowel as a single, stable sound in most accents, so use these approximations and adjustments:

• “new” — Use the n at the start, but remove the “y” glide many English speakers insert (avoid “nyoo”). Aim for n + a pure rounded vowel.
• “noon” — Use the n and the rounded lip shape, but front the vowel: make it less like deep “oo” and more like a tighter, brighter version.
• “knee” + lip rounding trick — Say “knee” (just the vowel part), then round your lips while trying to keep the tongue position from “ee.” That rounded “ee-like” vowel is a good pathway to this sound.

What to remember: this “nu-” vowel is rounded like “oo” but positioned more forward in the mouth than English “oo.”

Common Mistakes (English speakers)

• Adding a “y” sound: Saying “nyoo” instead of a clean “nü”-type vowel. Keep it n + vowel, not n + y + vowel.
• Using plain English “oo”: English “oo” is often too back and too dark. Your target should feel more forward and focused.
• Letting the vowel wander: Many learners glide (start one vowel and slide to another). Hold a single steady vowel.
• Over-rounding the lips: Rounding is necessary, but if you overdo it, the sound gets muffled. Keep rounding small and controlled.

Practice Pairs (visual sound anchors)

Note: The English anchors are only guides. The goal is the mouth shape and steadiness, not an exact English match.

Comparisons & Caveats (similar Pinyin sounds)

• nü (written here as “nu-” in your list) vs. nu (standard spelling difference): In standard Pinyin, nu (as in “noo”) and nü (fronted rounded vowel) are different. After n, the two can be confused in writing contexts. In pronunciation, your target here is the fronted, rounded vowel (the one you can reach by saying “ee” and rounding your lips).
• nü vs. lu / lü: The vowel quality can be similar, but the initial changes:
  • nü starts with a nasal n (air through the nose at the start).
  • lü starts with l (air flows along the sides of the tongue; no nasal start).
• nuo / nuan show a “w-like” glide: In your provided syllables (nuo, nuan) the sound naturally includes a brief rounded glide into the main vowel (you can think of it as a quick “w” coloring). Keep that glide light and fast, so it stays one syllable, not “nü-wo” as two beats.
• nong has an “ng” ending: Don’t end with an English “n”. The back of your tongue should rise so the word ends with -ng (like the end of song), not sun.