ㄅ Learn zhuyin for Taiwan Mandarin, and keep pinyin

What zhuyin is

Zhuyin fuhao (注音符號), officially 國語注音符號第一式, is Taiwan’s phonetic notation for Mandarin. In English it is usually called bopomofo, from the first four symbols ㄅㄆㄇㄈ. The Ministry of Education’s handbook traces the system to a design in ROC year 2 (1913) and a promulgation in ROC year 7 (1918).

The set in common use has 37 symbols, plus tone marks. A syllable is spelled with the symbols, and the tone is written beside them. In the handbook, the four full tones sit at the upper right of the last symbol, and the first tone (陰平) may be left unmarked. The neutral tone is a dot: above the syllable in vertical text, and in front of it in horizontal text.

The same word, two spellings: 台灣 is ㄊㄞˊㄨㄢ in zhuyin and Táiwān in Hanyu Pinyin. Either spelling is that one Taiwan Mandarin word.

The handbook describes zhuyin as the record of a character’s reading, as the order of a dictionary, and as the annotation in textbooks and children’s books. It also names the zhuyin input method as a way to type Chinese. The handbook itself is the Ministry’s glyph and tone-mark standard; this page does not reproduce that chart.

Sources: Ministry of Education, Manual of the Phonetic Symbols of Mandarin Chinese (國語注音符號手冊, digital edition 2017). The English name bopomofo and the count of 37 symbols are secondary, from Wikipedia, “Bopomofo”.

What pinyin is

Hanyu Pinyin (漢語拼音) writes Mandarin in the Latin alphabet. Tone marks sit on the vowels; some keyboards use tone numbers instead. It is the international romanization of Chinese in ISO 7098, Information and documentation — Romanization of Chinese.

In mainland China, the Scheme for the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet is the standard for romanizing Chinese personal names, place names and documents. That is why pinyin is the default in most international textbooks, library catalogues, maps and software. China’s Ministry of Education described ISO 7098:2015 as the international form of that scheme.

Pinyin spells a pronunciation. It is the same Mandarin that zhuyin records, written in Latin letters. Reading and writing in Taiwan still means Traditional characters.

Sources: ISO 7098:2015 and the PRC Ministry of Education note on that standard (18 February 2016), which quotes article 18 of China’s law on the standard spoken and written language.

How Taiwan uses each one

Taiwan teaches zhuyin, and it romanizes with Hanyu Pinyin. The two jobs are separate.

The Mandarin curriculum for the 12-year basic education, issued by the Ministry of Education in January 2018, lists “phonetic symbols and their use” (標音符號與運用) as one of six skill areas. In grades 1–2, the learning outcomes are to read, spell and write zhuyin, to use it while learning characters, to record messages with it, and to read books printed with it (codes 3-I-1 to 3-I-4). In grades 3–4, the outcomes are to use it for new words and for looking things up (3-II-1 and 3-II-2). The teaching notes place zhuyin lessons in the first ten weeks of the first school year. The textbook notes say writers should consider full-text zhuyin in grades 1–4, and, from grade 5, zhuyin only on difficult or ambiguous words.

Romanization is a different document. The 中文譯音使用原則, amended on 21 March 2011, says that unless another rule applies, Chinese romanization follows Hanyu Pinyin. Standard place names and street names are handled under that rule. Article 6 says overseas Mandarin teaching uses zhuyin, or Hanyu Pinyin when a romanization is used. A Latin name on a street sign is this romanization. Established conventional spellings can remain, and elementary Mandarin still teaches zhuyin.

The Ministry’s revised Mandarin dictionary (重編國語辭典修訂本) is the pronunciation source the zhuyin handbook cites. The Ministry’s romanization converter, built on that dictionary, prints zhuyin and Hanyu Pinyin side by side, with several older romanizations.

Sources: 12-year curriculum, Mandarin (gazette PDF, January 2018), also indexed by the National Academy for Educational Research; 中文譯音使用原則; the zhuyin handbook; 重編國語辭典修訂本; Ministry romanization converter.

What this means for the TOCFL

The TOCFL does not ask you to transcribe a word in zhuyin or in pinyin on the listening or reading papers. Those papers are multiple choice, in Chinese characters. SC-TOP’s notices tell candidates who need to switch between Traditional and Simplified characters to do so before the registration deadline. That choice is about the characters, not about zhuyin versus pinyin. Dates, bands and the difference between a practice paper and an official result are on the TOCFL practice page.

The writing test is typed. SC-TOP states that candidates need Chinese input with a zhuyin (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ) method or a Hanyu Pinyin method. At registration you choose pinyin or zhuyin input; another method has to be requested from the organiser. The preparation notes say to practise that input so the essay can be finished in the time allowed.

Zhuyin pays off when textbooks, children’s readers and the Ministry dictionary are annotated with it, and when you want the zhuyin keyboard for the writing test. Pinyin pays off when you already read Latin transcriptions, when you are reading romanized signs and names in Taiwan, and when you choose the pinyin keyboard for the writing test. Neither system is a pass mark. A practice score is not an official TOCFL score.

Sources: SC-TOP, TOCFL writing test, writing-test rules (computer delivery), preparation tips for writing, and SC-TOP notices on Traditional and Simplified registration.

How to choose

• Taiwan books, a Taiwan classroom, or the Ministry dictionary. Start with zhuyin. That is the annotation those materials use.
• You already read pinyin, from another course or from international dictionaries and keyboards. Keep it, and add zhuyin when you open Taiwan materials.
• You are booking the TOCFL writing test. Practise the input method you will select at registration. Listening and reading do not depend on that choice.
• Both is a normal outcome. The two systems record the same syllables. Learners often read zhuyin on Taiwan text and type pinyin when a tool only offers Latin letters.

There is no official rule that one system produces a higher TOCFL score. The organiser does not publish a conversion from the phonetic script you studied into a pass. Sample papers and pass marks belong on tocfl.edu.tw.

How Wu Ji Bi Fan shows readings

Wu Ji Bi Fan teaches Traditional Chinese as it is written and spoken in Taiwan. Each of the 14,300 words in its graded list has a zhuyin reading and a pinyin reading. You choose 注音 or pinyin when you start, and you can change it later in 我 Profile under Script. The reading on screen follows that setting. Dictionary search takes characters, pinyin or English.

White and yellow belts are free, including the TOCFL placement test and listening practice. The mock listening and reading papers and the writing tasks are part of Pro. The track reports the share you answered correctly and a level that suggests. It does not issue an official TOCFL score or certificate, and it does not guarantee a pass. Wu Ji Bi Fan is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by SC-TOP or the organisers of the TOCFL.

The course runs on iPhone, offline, with no account. The belts, the fourteen disciplines and pricing are on the homepage. For the official test’s dates and bands, use the TOCFL page.