your for Mandarin speakers — pronunciation and common errors

Pronunciation

Mandarin lacks the post-alveolar approximant /r/ in the coda position, so speakers frequently substitute it with a neutral schwa /ə/ or omit the rhoticity entirely, pronouncing 'your' as /jɔː/ rather than /jɔːr/.

Grammar

Mandarin does not distinguish between subject and possessive pronouns through inflection; the possessive is formed by adding the particle '的 (de)' to the pronoun '你 (nǐ)'. Consequently, learners may occasionally substitute the subject pronoun 'you' where the possessive determiner 'your' is required.

Examples

• Is this your coat?
• Please make sure you have all your personal belongings before you leave the train.