It is impossible to give here a complete key to the pronunciation of Chinese words. For those who wish to pronounce with approximate correctness the proper names in this volume, the following may be a rough guide:—

a as in alms.
Ê " u in fun.
i " ie in thief.
o " aw in saw.
u " oo in soon.
Ü " u in French, or Ü in German.
ŭ " e in her.
ai " aye (yes).
ao " ow in cow.
ei " ey in prey.
ow " o (not as ow in cow).
ch " ch in church.
chih " chu in church.
hs " sh (hsiu=sheeoo).
j " in French.
ua and uo " wa and wo.

The insertion of a rough breathing ʽ calls for a strong aspirate.