How to pronounce Sun Tzu (孙子) in Chinese
Sun Tzu is 孙子, Sūnzǐ, "Master Sun": "swun dzz", high and level, then low. Hear 孙子 (sūn zǐ) spoken, see what it means, then record yourself for instant AI feedback on your pronunciation.
孙子
sūn zǐ
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Characters & meanings
(surname) grandchild
master (title)
Common mistake
Keep the third tone on 子. Said sūnzi, with a light neutral tone, it means "grandson".
Sun Tzu in Mandarin: what to get right
Sun Tzu, the general traditionally credited with The Art of War (孙子兵法), is known in English by the Wade–Giles spelling. In pinyin he is Sūnzǐ. Said with a light neutral tone on 子, sūnzi is the everyday word for "grandson" — the tone on the second syllable is the whole difference.
How English speakers usually say it
English speakers say "Sun Tzoo" or "Sun Zoo", with "sun" as in the sky. Pinyin un after s is "wun" ("swun"), the z is "dz", and the vowel is a buzz rather than "oo".
How to say 孙子 tone by tone
Sūn: "swun", high and level. Zǐ: "dz" plus a buzz, low, with its full length. Hold the contrast: a high syllable and then a clearly low one, not a short, light one.
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