Reference library
Resources for learning Mandarin Chinese, including grammar, vocabulary, and culture.
Explore why the Chinese capital was historically spelled “Peking,” the romanization systems behind it, and the modern rules that guide how Beijing is written in English today.
A comprehensive guide to converting Chinese names into the Latin alphabet. Learn about major romanization systems, detailed spelling rules, tone marks, and practical examples for academic, travel, and digital use.
This guide demystifies Mandarin pinyin by detailing its initials, finals, tone marks, and the most widely used romanization system. Learn the rules, see side‑by‑side charts, and discover practical tools for accurate transcription.
Explore the differences between tone‑mark and tone‑number romanization of Mandarin Chinese. Learn the major systems, rules, examples, and best practices for academic, travel, and digital use.
Explore the essential differences between Hanyu Pinyin and Wade–Giles, the two most influential romanization systems for Chinese. Learn the rules, tone marks, examples, and when to choose each system for academic, travel, or digital use.