<p>Sure.<br>
We don't have pinyin(the one used today) until the foundation of PRC. The creator of Pinyin is this man, zhoyouguang <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Youguang" rel="nofollow">(wiki)</a>
In my point of view, pinyin has little to do with English. So don't mess them up. Pinyin has its own pronunciation, its own combination rules. The practice of Pinyin is to, reduce the illiteracy of Chinese people, to better facilitate people's needs (say, type Chinese chars in QWERTY keyboard).<br>
One thing to note is, other than pinyin, there is also a widely used kanji notation, namely zhuyin. It is also designed in the 20th century, and remains its popularity in Taiwan.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-22T13:42:51.473Z
Can I say that "English Word" representation of pinyin is just a notation by using English Word? @FunkyBaby
gaoxinge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-22T14:53:13.653Z
@gaoxinge yes, by the using of English letters.
FunkyBaby
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-22T22:46:51.100Z
Sorry, that is not English letters, it's Latin letters.
tomriddle_1234
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-23T04:19:08.030Z
yes. To be precise, latin(roman) characters. What is interesting(shocking) is, there was even a debate (in 1950s iirc), that people should abolish chinese characters and use the romanisation version Chinese only.
FunkyBaby
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-22T13:39:22.973Z
2014-01-22T13:39:22.973Z
FunkyBaby
<p>another wiki link here that with much detail:</p>

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-23T01:00:10.213Z
Please don't use external links as the only source to your answer. Summarise what's on the linked page in your answer and use the link as a supplement for further reading. As it stands right now, this is a very poor answer and should've been a comment to the question instead.
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-22T14:30:52.163Z
2014-01-22T14:30:52.163Z
faraday
<blockquote>
  <p>Pinyin is really strange. It is like the English word, but with
  different meaning and pronunciation.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I want to know the origin of pinyin. If someone can give a clear answer, I will be very thankful. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-23T00:48:18.967Z
It's a romanisation system using the Latin alphabet. It has barely anything to do with English.
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-23T01:44:45.187Z
Why does PRC use Latin alphabet to represent pinyin? @deutschZuid
gaoxinge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-23T15:46:48.417Z
@gaoxinge Latin alphabets are popular, aren't they?
Mike Manilone
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-24T01:45:27.400Z
@MikeManilone I don't know very well about the history around the foundation of PRC.
gaoxinge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-28T22:49:41.303Z
@gaoxinge I don't think I can explain this in a comment box with 600 character limit. You might want to do some research into it yourself. But my guess? The Latin script was/is the most widely adopted writing system in the world. You can guess the rest.
deutschZuid
<etymology><pinyin>
The origin of pinyin
# The origin of pinyin

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-22)

> Pinyin is really strange. It is like the English word, but with
> different meaning and pronunciation.

I want to know the origin of pinyin. If someone can give a clear answer, I will be very thankful.

**Tags:** etymology, pinyin
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It's a romanisation system using the Latin alphabet. It has barely anything to do with English.  
> **username_0**: Why does PRC use Latin alphabet to represent pinyin? @deutschZuid  
> **username_2**: @gaoxinge Latin alphabets are popular, aren't they?  
> **username_0**: @MikeManilone I don't know very well about the history around the foundation of PRC.  
> **username_1**: @gaoxinge I don't think I can explain this in a comment box with 600 character limit. You might want to do some research into it yourself. But my guess? The Latin script was/is the most widely adopted writing system in the world. You can guess the rest.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-01-22. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Sure.  
We don't have pinyin(the one used today) until the foundation of PRC. The creator of Pinyin is this man, zhoyouguang [(wiki)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Youguang)
In my point of view, pinyin has little to do with English. So don't mess them up. Pinyin has its own pronunciation, its own combination rules. The practice of Pinyin is to, reduce the illiteracy of Chinese people, to better facilitate people's needs (say, type Chinese chars in QWERTY keyboard).  
One thing to note is, other than pinyin, there is also a widely used kanji notation, namely zhuyin. It is also designed in the 20th century, and remains its popularity in Taiwan.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Can I say that "English Word" representation of pinyin is just a notation by using English Word? @FunkyBaby  
> **username_3**: @gaoxinge yes, by the using of English letters.  
> **username_4**: Sorry, that is not English letters, it's Latin letters.  
> **username_3**: yes. To be precise, latin(roman) characters. What is interesting(shocking) is, there was even a debate (in 1950s iirc), that people should abolish chinese characters and use the romanisation version Chinese only.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-01-22. Score: 0

another wiki link here that with much detail:

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin>

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Please don't use external links as the only source to your answer. Summarise what's on the linked page in your answer and use the link as a supplement for further reading. As it stands right now, this is a very poor answer and should've been a comment to the question instead.  

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