Pinyin chart: every syllable in the HSK, with characters

By Carson 木林森 · October 2026

This pinyin chart is counted from the HSK 3.0 character list. Its 2,974 characters use 394 syllables and 1,053 syllable and tone combinations. Every one is below, grouped by the consonant it starts with, with the characters that carry each tone. Each character links to its dictionary entry, where you can hear it.

Jump to: b p m f d t n l g k h j q x zh ch sh r z c s y w a e o

b 16 syllables

p 17 syllables

m 19 syllables

f 8 syllables

d 20 syllables

t 19 syllables

n 23 syllables

l 25 syllables

g 19 syllables

k 18 syllables

h 19 syllables

j 14 syllables

q 14 syllables

x 14 syllables

zh 19 syllables

ch 17 syllables

sh 19 syllables

r 14 syllables

z 17 syllables

c 15 syllables

s 16 syllables

y 14 syllables

w 9 syllables

No initial 9 syllables

How to read the chart

• Rows are syllables, columns are tones. Up to four characters are shown in each cell, the ones met earliest in the HSK first.
• An empty cell means no character in the HSK 3.0 list has that syllable in that tone as its main reading.
• One reading per character. Many characters have more than one reading; the chart files each under its primary one. The dictionary entry lists the others.
• The neutral tone is left out of the columns. Only a few particles such as 的, 了 and 吗 have it as their main reading.

The tones themselves are explained in the four tones, explained, and the characters level by level start at the new HSK 1 character list.

Frequently asked questions

How many pinyin syllables are there?

Mandarin has a little over 400 syllables before tone. The characters of the HSK 3.0 list use 394 of them, and 1,053 syllable and tone combinations, counted from the primary reading of 2,974 characters. That is the whole sound inventory you need for the exam.

What is a pinyin chart?

A table of every syllable Mandarin allows, usually arranged by its opening consonant (the initial) and the rest of the syllable (the final). This one is arranged by initial and adds the four tones, with real characters for each, so a cell is something you can look up and hear.

Does every syllable exist in all four tones?

No. Many combinations have no common character at all, which is why some cells in the chart are empty. The gaps are a feature of the language and the same for every learner.

What are initials and finals?

The initial is the consonant a syllable starts with, such as b, zh or x. The final is everything after it, such as a, ian or ong. Mandarin has 21 initials, plus y and w, which are written in place of an initial when a syllable starts with i, u or ü.

How do I type the tone marks?

Type the syllable with a tone number and convert it with the pinyin tone converter, or see how to type pinyin with tone marks.

Related guides: Pinyin tone converter · The four tones, explained · Type pinyin with tone marks · New HSK character lists · HSK 3.0, complete