A little understanding. A lot of possibility.

Learn Zhuyin, one sound at a time.

Start with the symbols. Connect them into syllables. Then use what you know to read and type your first Chinese words.

A small first step

Read a sound.
Build a word.

Zhuyin, also called Bopomofo, represents Mandarin pronunciation with symbols. It helps you connect a Chinese character to its reading and enter characters on a keyboard.

Start with a few symbols and a useful word. You can return to the chart whenever a shape or key slips your mind.

Explore the symbol chart

Your first connection

ㄋinitial+ㄧvowel+ˇtone

你

nǐyou

Symbols show the reading.
The character carries the meaning.

A path you can follow

From the first symbol to your first sentence

Take one step at a time. Each lesson leads into something you can try.

01ㄅㄆㄇ

Meet the symbols

Find all 37 symbols, see real examples and connect them to the keys you will use.

Start here 02ˊ ˇ ˋ

Read the tones

Learn what each mark does and where to place it, including the quiet neutral tone.

Start here 03你好

Type your first words

Build 你好 one syllable at a time, then choose the Chinese characters you want.

Start here 04ㄋㄧˇ

Make it stick

Try short typing exercises, ask for a hint when you need one and follow your progress.

Start here

The system at a glance

What are you learning?

The name Bopomofo comes from the first four symbols: ㄅㄆㄇㄈ. The system is also called Zhuyin (注音). It is widely used for learning Mandarin and entering Chinese text in Taiwan.

Our chart groups the 37 symbols into 21 initials, 3 medials and 13 other finals. This is a study arrangement: the three medials also belong to the broader group of 16 rhyme symbols.

Some syllables need just one symbol; others combine two or three. A tone belongs to the whole syllable. Many characters can share a reading, which is why a keyboard offers a choice of characters.

A routine you can repeat

Keep your practice small

Notice three shapes.Pick a small group from the chart and say a complete example for each.
Find three keys.Use the key hints to connect what you recognize with what you type.
Recall one word.Hide the hints, enter its symbols and check the result. Revisit what you missed.

Open typing practice →

A few things beginners ask

Do I need to learn pinyin first?

No. You can learn Zhuyin directly. If you already know pinyin, the chart uses it as a reading aid. Pinyin spelling conventions mean that you cannot always replace each Zhuyin symbol with a fixed Roman letter.

Is Zhuyin the same as Chinese characters?

Zhuyin records pronunciation; Chinese characters form the written text you read and type. A beginner reader may place Zhuyin beside characters to show how to read them. The keyboard turns your phonetic input into candidate characters or words.

Should I memorize the whole keyboard before typing?

Start with the on-screen keys and a familiar word. Key hints let you practice immediately. As the positions become familiar, switch to the physical keyboard and use the chart only when you get stuck.

Where can I check handwriting and stroke order?

The Taiwan Ministry of Education provides a stroke-order learning site. Use its Zhuyin section to study standard writing. Our chart focuses on recognition, readings and typing positions.

Reference for the symbol system: Taiwan Ministry of Education · Phonetic Symbols Manual. Lessons and study layouts on this page are written for i2Bopomo.