Each syllable is divided into three parts: the initial consonant, the rime (vowel and any final consonant), and the tone. For example, 盤,
pun4 is written , with initial
p, final
un and tone
4. (See
Cantonese phonology.) Among initials, aspirated consonants (''p t ts k kw = p' t' ts' k' kw'
) are derived by adding dots to the unaspirated consonants (b d dz g gw = p t ts k kw''): •
M and
ng may also be used as rimes (syllabic nasals), in which case they are followed directly by the tone. • When
i or
u (but not
y) begins a syllable, a dummy consonant
j or
w is prefixed. † represents the symbol was abolished in the revised version in 1990. The rimes
eu, em, ep do not exist in braille. High tone (tones 1 and 7) is not transcribed. Otherwise tone is written after the rime, as follows: In numerical order, the cells are as follows:
Punctuation Some of the punctuation marks are distinguished from the onset or rime of a syllable by the strategic use of the space. The spaces are therefore included in the table below, though they are not technically part of the punctuation mark. The emphasis marks, are equivalent to running dots alongside the characters in print, while proper names are marked in print by an underline or overline. ==See also==