Pinyin final: "ei2"

Mouth Mechanics (step-by-step)

1. Start position (“eh”):
   • Relax your jaw slightly open.
   • Tongue is forward and fairly flat; the tip rests behind the lower front teeth.
   • Lips are neutral (not rounded, not spread into a smile).
2. Glide forward (“ee” direction):
   • Without moving the jaw much, slide the tongue forward and slightly higher as you move toward an “ee-like” ending.
   • The lips may tighten slightly, but do not round.
3. Keep it one smooth motion:
   • It should feel like one vowel that shifts, not two separate vowels (“eh” + “ee”).
   • The ending is short and light—don’t hold the “ee” too long.
4. Add Tone 2 (rising):
   • Start in a comfortable mid pitch and rise (like asking a neutral “Huh?” in English).
   • Keep the mouth movement steady while the pitch rises.

Key feeling: a quick glide from “eh” → “ee-ish”, with neutral lips, plus a rising pitch.

English Approximation (and what part matches)

These English examples are close, but you must “clean them up”:

• “say” — the vowel in sAY is similar to the ei glide.
  • Modify it: don’t let it drift into a heavier, more complex English diphthong. Make the glide shorter and more pure.
• “eight” — the vowel in eIGHT is similar.
  • Modify it: avoid the English habit of making it too long and too tense.
• “they” — the vowel in thEY is similar.
  • Modify it: keep your lips neutral and don’t “drag” the ending.

If you speak American English: many people naturally add an extra “color” or tail to the vowel in “say/they.” For Mandarin ei, aim for a simpler, cleaner glide.

Common Mistakes (English-speaker traps)

• Making it too long: English “ay” can be stretched; Mandarin ei is usually shorter and tighter.
• Overdoing the “ee” ending: don’t finish with a strong, held “eeee”—the end is light.
• Turning it into “eh + y” (two syllables): it must be one smooth vowel, not “eh…yee.”
• Forgetting the rising tone: ei2 must rise in pitch; the vowel quality alone isn’t enough.
• Changing the vowel because of the initial: after initials like sh-, zh-, ch-, r-, English speakers may darken or pull the vowel back. Keep ei forward and bright.

Practice Pairs (visual “anchor” table)

Note: Some English anchors (like “tway/chway/hway”) are not common standalone words for everyone; they are meant as sound anchors to show the consonant + “way” vowel pattern.

Comparisons & Caveats (what it’s not, and nearby sounds)

• ei vs. e (as in “de” / “he”):
  • e is more like a steady “uh/eh” quality (depending on context), while ei has a clear glide toward “ee.”
  • If you keep ei too steady, it can start sounding like plain e.
• ei vs. ai:
  • ai starts more open (closer to the “a” in “father”) and glides to “ee-ish.”
  • ei starts higher and more “eh-like” (closer to “say”). Don’t open your mouth too wide at the start for ei.
• ei vs. en / eng:
  • en/eng end with a nasal sound (air resonates in the nose).
  • ei has no nasal ending—it should finish cleanly without “n/ng.”
• In “-ui” syllables (wei2, tui2, kui2, hui2, rui2, chui2, sui2):
  • The written final ui is pronounced with a main vowel very close to ei after a w-like glide.
  • Keep it as one syllable: don’t split it into “oo + ee” (not “too-ee”). It’s closer to “tway” than “too-ee.”
• With retroflex initials (shei2, chui2, rui2):
  • The consonant may feel “curled back,” but the ei vowel should stay clear and forward, not muffled or swallowed.

This final is best mastered by aiming for a short, clean “say”-like glide plus a clear rising Tone 2, keeping the vowel smooth and not over-Englishing the ending.