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.