Tongyong Pinyin is a romanization of Mandarin Chinese, or a way to write Mandarin in the Roman alphabet, that was invented in Taiwan. It was created by the Taiwanese to oppose Hanyu Pinyin, which is the official romanization of Mandarin in Mainland China, the UN, and most other international organizations, because many Taiwanese do not want to use a writing system created by the Chinese Communist Party. In 2002, it became the official romanization in Taiwan, even though no one was forced to use it. However, in 2009, Taiwan replaced Tongyong with Hanyu as the island's official romanization. While Taipei mostly uses Hanyu spelling today, many cities, particularly in southern Taiwan, still use many different romanizations, including Tongyong spelling, and it can still be seen in many places.
Tongyong Pinyin vs. Hanyu Pinyin
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Most Tongyong spellings of Chinese syllables are the same as Hanyu spellings. However, one major difference is that Tongyong does not use letters 'x' and 'q', which are both used in Hanyu. Below is a chart that compares syllables in Hanyu to those in Tongyong. Below is not an exhaustive list, but a list that show major differences between the two systems.[1]
| Hanyu Pinyin
|
Tongyong Pinyin
|
| xi
|
si
|
| xiu
|
siou
|
| xing
|
sing
|
| xu
|
syu
|
| xue
|
syue
|
| xuan
|
syuan
|
| xun
|
syun
|
| xiong
|
syong
|
| qi
|
ci
|
| qiu
|
ciou
|
| qing
|
cing
|
| qu
|
cyu
|
| que
|
cyue
|
| quan
|
cyuan
|
| qun
|
cyun
|
| qiong
|
cyong
|
| wen
|
wun
|
| si
|
sih
|
| ci
|
cih
|
| zi
|
zih
|
| shi
|
shih
|
| chi
|
chih
|
| zhi
|
jhih
|
| zhao
|
jhao
|
| zhong
|
jhong
|
| jiu
|
jiou
|
| gui
|
guei
|
| feng
|
fong
|
| weng
|
wong
|
| shui
|
shuei
|
| chui
|
chuei
|
| zhui
|
jhuei
|
| ri
|
rih
|
| rui
|
ruei
|
Below are examples of sentences written in Chinese characters, Hanyu Pinyin, and Tongyong Pinyin with English translations.
| Chinese characters
|
你是中国人吗？
|
| Hanyu
|
Nǐ shì Zhōngguó rén ma?
|
| Tongyong
|
Nǐ shìh Jhongguó rén ma?
|
| English
|
Are you Chinese?
|
| Chinese characters
|
你在四川的时候，你喜欢吃什么菜？
|
| Hanyu
|
Nǐ zài Sìchuān de shíhòu, nǐ xǐhuān chī shénme cài?
|
| Tongyong
|
Nǐ zài Sìhchuān de shíhhòu, nǐ sǐhuan chih shénme cài?
|
| English
|
What food do you like to eat when you are in Sichuan?
|
| Chinese characters
|
回族人不可以喝酒吃猪肉。
|
| Hanyu
|
Huízú rén bù kěyǐ hējiǔ chī zhūròu.
|
| Tongyong
|
Hueízú rén bù kěyǐ hejioǔ chih jhūròu.
|
| English
|
Hui people cannot drink alcohol or eat pork.
|
| Chinese characters
|
瑞天文要去日本温泉。
|
| Hanyu
|
Ruì Tiānwén yào qù Rìběn wēnquán.
|
| Tongyong
|
Rueì Tiānwún yào cyù Rìhběn wuncyuán.
|
| English
|
Rui Tianwen is going to the Japanese hot springs.
|
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