Chinese to Pinyin Converter
Paste Chinese characters and get accurate pinyin with tone marks, shown above the characters or on its own. Fix characters with more than one reading in one tap.
- 1st tone
- 2nd tone
- 3rd tone
- 4th tone
- Neutral
Your pinyin will appear here.
Underlined characters have more than one reading. Tap one to choose another.
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Check your grammar freeHow to use it
- Paste or type Chinese text. The pinyin appears as you type.
- Choose tone marks or numbers, and how to show the result: above the characters, pinyin only, or side by side.
- Tap any underlined character to pick a different reading, then copy, download, print or listen.
The four tones of Mandarin
Pinyin is the official romanization of Mandarin Chinese. A tone mark over the main vowel shows how the syllable is pronounced, and a change of tone changes the meaning: mā 妈 (mother) is not mǎ 马 (horse).
| Tone | Mark | Number | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st, high and level | mā | ma1 | 妈 mother |
| 2nd, rising | má | ma2 | 麻 hemp |
| 3rd, low dipping | mǎ | ma3 | 马 horse |
| 4th, falling | mà | ma4 | 骂 to scold |
| Neutral, light | ma | ma5 | 吗 question particle |
Tone marks or tone numbers?
Tone marks (nǐ hǎo) are what textbooks and signs use. Tone numbers (ni3 hao3) are easier to type and are common in dictionaries and flashcard apps. You can switch between them at any time.
Characters with more than one reading
Some characters are read differently depending on the word: 行 is háng in 银行 (bank) but xíng in 不行 (not OK); 长 is cháng in 长城 (the Great Wall) but zhǎng in 长大 (to grow up). The converter picks the reading from the surrounding words, and you can tap any underlined character to choose another one.
Tone changes for 一 and 不
一 and 不 change tone before other syllables: 不是 is said bú shì, and 一个 is said yí gè. With the option on, the converter shows the spoken tone. Turn it off to see the dictionary tone. Two third tones in a row (你好 is said ní hǎo) are written with their dictionary tones, as in textbooks.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the pinyin?
Very accurate for everyday text. The converter uses a large dictionary of words and phrases to choose the right reading. Names and rare words can still be wrong, so check underlined characters and tap them to fix a reading.
Can I show pinyin above the Chinese characters?
Yes. Choose “Above characters” to see pinyin over each character, like in children's books and graded readers. Use “Print” for a clean printable page.
Does it handle the tone changes of 一 and 不?
Yes. With “Tone changes for 一 and 不” on, you see the tone as it is spoken (不是 bú shì). Turn it off to see the dictionary tones.
Can I check my Chinese grammar too?
Yes. Our free Chinese Grammar Checker marks grammar mistakes, wrong characters and punctuation errors, and explains each correction.
Is my text saved or sent anywhere?
No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser, and your text is never uploaded.
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