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Although this question states that these sounds can be often mixed (though mainly in dialtects...)

Do you know where I could find a detailed description of position and movement of the tongue for these consonants - so as to learn how to make it sound properly.

For example I have very much difficutly making a different sound between 中 zhong1 and chong2 虫... because I don't know how to make them sound different. I feel like the zh should be a little more stronger, exploding. But on several audio excerpts, the ch is also strong.

Idem, I would say that x is a little more windy, and q has a soft and really short 'k' at the beginning of the beginning of the sound... but that's not precise enough to make it sound right all the time.

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Stephane, where are you from? Your native language probably has a big influence on your perception of zh and ch as being similar. – Stumpy Joe Pete Sep 13 '12 at 15:46
I am from France. Not many words pronounced with this phonem in french: most of foreign origin: Tchécolovaquie, Apparatchik... – Stephane Rolland Sep 13 '12 at 16:17
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Stop consonants and aspirates can be divided into three kinds: voiced, unvoiced-unaspirated, and unvoiced-aspirated. (Aspirated consonants have a puff of air as they are released). For example, [b], [p], and [pʰ]. In French, you have "b"=[b] and "p"=[p]. In English, it's "b"=[b] and "p"=[pʰ]. (English "p" is not the same as French "p") In Mandarin, it's "b"=[p] and "p"=[pʰ]. So... your problem is that French doesn't have aspirated consonants. (And Mandarin doesn't have any voiced stops.) So, if you need something to imitate, try the unvoiced stops in English: "t"=[tʰ] "ch"=[tʃʰ] etc. – Stumpy Joe Pete Sep 13 '12 at 16:26

1 Answer

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The difference between zh and ch has nothing to do with the position of the tongue: these two are pronounced with the tongue in the same position; the difference is aspiration -- ch is aspirated while zh is not. Both are retroflex affricates.

x and q have less in common -- actually q and ch are much closer to an untrained ear, as they're both aspirated affricates -- the only difference being the position of the tongue, ch being a retroflex, and q an alveo-palatal. x on the other hand is not aspirated, and a fricative. Actually x is close to the German Ich-laut (except ch in Ich is a palatal rather than an alveo-palatal).

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About the two consonants being aspirated... do you really mean breathing air IN while pronuncing ?. – Stephane Rolland Sep 13 '12 at 12:15
@StephaneRolland: Air should be coming out of your mouth. When you hold your hand before you mouth you should feel the difference. – BertR Sep 13 '12 at 12:48
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Aspirated consonant – dda Sep 13 '12 at 12:51

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