Pinyin final: "o5"
/ɔ/
The Pinyin final "o5" is used in the second half of Pinyin syllables. In MandarinBanana's mnemonic system, the second half of a Pinyin syllable is always represented by a location. You can visit the Pinyin index to see all Pinyin syllables from this mnemonic group, or to see all Pinyin syllables "o5" can appear in.
Pronunciation Tips
The “Cheat Code”
Think of the open “aw” sound in awe—but keep it short, clean, and without turning it into “oh.”
Mouth Mechanics (step-by-step)
- Relax your jaw and drop it slightly (more open than English “oh”).
- Round your lips gently—as if you’re about to say “oh,” but don’t push them forward too much.
- Keep your tongue low and relaxed in the middle of the mouth (not bunched up; not pulled back hard).
- Make one steady vowel: an open, rounded “aw”-like sound.
- Stop cleanly—don’t let it glide into a second vowel.
When this final appears after sounds like w / y / u, you will often feel a quick “w”-like start (lip rounding happens early), then you land on the same open rounded vowel.
English Approximation (2–3 words)
English doesn’t have a perfect match in all accents, but these get you very close:
- “awe” — use the vowel sound in the middle (aw).
Match: the open rounded vowel. - “law” — use the vowel sound (aw).
Match: the “aw” part (ignore the final “w” feeling; keep it simple). - “caught” — use the vowel (caw-).
Match: the open rounded vowel.
How to modify English to get closer:
If your English “aw” tends to become a longer sound that slides toward “oh”, freeze it early: make the “aw” and do not move your tongue or lips toward a tighter “o/oh” position.
Common Mistakes (English-speaker pitfalls)
- Accidentally turning it into “oh” (a tighter, more closed vowel). This happens when the lips push forward and the tongue rises.
- Adding a glide (making it sound like “aw-uh” or “o-uh”). Keep it one pure vowel.
- Over-rounding the lips, which can make it sound too “oo”-like at the beginning.
Practice Pairs (Pinyin vs. English “anchor”)
| Pinyin (target) | English anchor (approx.) | What to copy from the English word |
|---|---|---|
| o5 | awe | Copy the aw vowel; keep it short and steady |
| wo5 | war (in accents where it starts with “waw”) | Copy the w + aw feeling at the start |
| yo5 | wore (only the w start, then open to “aw”) | Use the w start, but don’t finish with “oh” |
| luo5 / lo5 | law | Copy l + aw; keep lips rounded but not tight |
| guo5 | gwar (approx.) | Copy gw + aw; keep the vowel open |
| bo5 | bought (only the b + aw) | Copy b + aw; avoid adding an English final “t” |
Note: These English words are only “anchors.” The goal is the open rounded vowel quality, not perfect English spelling matches.
Comparisons & Caveats (how this differs from nearby sounds)
- o5 is not English “oh.”
English “oh” usually glides (it changes shape while you say it). This Chinese final should be more stable and more open. - Watch the “w” effect in syllables like wo5 / guo5 / luo5.
The “w” is a quick lip-rounding lead-in, not a separate big vowel. Don’t make it “woo-oh.” It should feel like one smooth syllable. - Be careful not to drift toward “uo/wo” as two beats.
Even when spelled with -uo in many learners’ minds, the pronunciation should stay tight and unified: quick rounding → open rounded vowel, no extra vowel added. - Compared with “e” or “ou” finals:
If you feel your tongue rising and your lips narrowing into a tighter circle (like “oh/oo”), you’ve moved away from o5. Keep the jaw a bit more open and the sound more “aw” than “oh.”
Pinyin with o5
Mnemonics for o5
