ㄗ = z

ㄗ is an initial: the consonant at the start of a syllable. In pinyin it is written z.

Pinyin zIPA /ts/Initial · Sibilants2 strokesFrom 卩

How to say it

Tongue flat behind the top teeth, like ds in “kids”. No puff.

Do not mix up

ㄓ curls the tongue back. ㄗ keeps it flat behind the teeth. See ㄓ (zh) →

Where it comes from

ㄗ comes from the character 卩. Zhuyin symbols were made from parts of old characters in the 1910s.

Stroke order, step by step

Stroke order from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. The dot shows where the new stroke starts.

Stroke 1

Stroke 2

字

ㄗˋ

zì · character; word · TOCFL Novice 1

桌子

ㄓㄨㄛ ˙ㄗ

zhuō zi · table; desk

名字

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ˙ㄗ

míng zi · name; given name · TOCFL Novice 1

現在

ㄒㄧㄢˋ ㄗㄞˋ

xiàn zài · now; right now · TOCFL Novice 1

昨天

ㄗㄨㄛˊ ㄊㄧㄢ

zuó tiān · yesterday · TOCFL Novice 1

早上

ㄗㄠˇ ㄕㄤˋ

zǎo shàng · morning · TOCFL Novice 1

Zhuyin Pro teaches ㄗ with sound, mouth diagrams, tracing and real words. Then it reminds you before you forget.