Peng'im

Peng'im (simplified Chinese: 潮州话拼音方案; traditional Chinese: 潮州話拼音方案: Diê⁵ziu¹uê⁷ Pêng¹im¹ huang¹uan³ (Teochew) Dio⁵ziu¹uê⁷ Pêng¹im¹ huang¹uan³ (Swatow), Pe̍h-ūe-jī : Tiê-chiu-ūe Pheng-im Huang-uàⁿ or Tiô-chiu-ūe Pheng-im Huang-uàⁿ, Pe̍h-ōe-jī : Tiê-chiu-ōe Pheng-im Hoang-òaⁿ or Tiô-chiu-ōe Pheng-im Hoang-òaⁿ) is a way to write the Teochew language using the Latin alphabet. It was made by the Guangdong Provincial Education Department in 1960. This system helps people write and understand Teochew sounds more easily.

The Teochew language is spoken by many people. Before Peng'im, another system called Pe̍h-ūe-jī was used. This older system was created by missionaries in 1875. Because Teochew sounds very similar to Hokkien, another language, systems like Pe̍h-ōe-jī and Tai-lo can also be used to write Teochew words.

The name "Peng'im" comes from a way to say "拼音" in this writing system. It is important for people who want to learn or study the Teochew language.

Contents

Alphabet

This system uses the Latin alphabet, but it does not include the letters f, j, q, v, w, x, or y. The letter ê is written as e with a circumflex.

Initials

There are 18 initials. Syllables that do not start with consonants are called zero initials.

The letters b and g can also be used as ending consonants.

Finals

There are 59 finals:

Tones

Symbols for tones are placed at the top right of consonants or vowels that have high loudness. For example:

• 詩 – si¹
• 死 – si²
• 世 – si³
• 薛 – sih⁴

Differences in rime

This section shows how sounds, called "rimes," can change in different areas where people speak the Teochew language. The tones in Raoping are very similar to those in Swatow. Only the main differences are listed here, and some smaller differences in specific words are not included.