The Chinese Phonetics (Pinyin) Part 2

Initial Sounds
Some Chinese consonants are rather similar to English consonants, but it's important to hear the differences and get all details as accurate as possible!

Labial: a sound made with use of one or both your lips.

Mandarin Pinyin	English Equivalent
b	As in English, but with no vibrations in the vocal cords. Like an English "p" with no exhalation!
p	As in English, but with strong exhalation!
m	As in English.
f	As in English.

Alveolar: formed with the tip of the tongue against the bony ridge behind the upper front teeth.

Mandarin Pinyin	English Equivalent
d	As in English, but with no vibrations in the vocal cords. Like an English "t" with no exhalation!
t	As in English, but with strong exhalation!
n	As in English.
l	As in English.

Velar: formed with the back of the tongue close to or touching the soft part of the roof of the mouth.

Mandarin Pinyin	English Equivalent
g	As in English, but with no vibrations in the vocal cords. Like an English "k" with no exhalation! As the "g" in "girl", "go".
k	As in English, but with strong exhalation!
h	Audible and strong!

Palatal: formed with the back and middle of the tongue close to or touching the roof of the mouth.

The syllables "ji", "qi" and "xi" all contain similar "ch"-like sounds.

Mandarin Pinyin	English Equivalent
j	Sounds like the "dj"-sound in "jam", "jump", with minimal exhalation. Similar to the Pinyin letter "q", but without exhalation!
q	Similar to the Pinyin letter "j", but with strong exhalation! As the ending sound in "watch", "switch" and the "ch" in "cheese".
x	Sounds like the English "ch" as in "church", but without the "t"-sound at the beginning. Also comparable with the "ch" in "chock". In some Chinese dialects pronounced just as "s".

Dental sibilant: formed with the tip of the tongue close to or touching the back of the upper front teeth.

Mandarin Pinyin	English Equivalent
z	Pronounced as the Pinyin letters "d" + "s". Similar to the Pinyin letter "c", but with no exhalation! Compare with English words such as "cats", "hats".
c	Pronounced as the Pinyin letters "t" + "s". Similar to Pinyin "z", but with strong exhalation! Comparable with the "tsh"-sound in "it's heavy".
s	As in English.

Retroflex: formed with the tongue curled back so that it touches (or almost touches) the hard part of the roof of the mouth.

Mandarin Pinyin	English Equivalent
zh	In this sound, the tongue is thrown forward from the curled back position. Rather similar to the "dj"-sound in "jam", "jewels", "George".
ch	In this sound, the tongue is thrown forward from the curled back position. Rather similar to the "tch"-sound in "church", "chain".
sh	This sound is pronounced with the tongue resting in the curled back position. Somewhat similar to the "sh"-sound in "wash", "shower".
r	This sound is pronounced with the tongue vibrating in the curled back position. Somewhat similar to the "r"-sound in "war", "raw".

Other comments on initial letters in Mandarin Chinese:

Mandarin Pinyin	English Equivalent
w	As in English. Special case: the syllable "wu" is pronounced as the Pinyin "u" (the letter "w" is in this case used to mark the beginning of a new syllable. See the following descriptions of simple finals!
y	As in the words "yes", "yet". Special cases: the syllable "yi is pronounced as the Pinyin "i" #1 and the syllable "yu" is pronounced as the Pinyin "ü" (the letter "y" is in these cases used to mark the beginning of new syllables). See the following descriptions of simple finals!

Ref: http://www.zein.se/patrick/chinen8p.html