Fengshui or other superstition...

I'd ignore the h.
But... to be a bit more specific I wouldn't say soy like when it's the end of a sentence, (to me that seems a tad harsh). I'd say it like the word "soy bean", as a midword syllable it's a lot lighter/less emphasised.

Ps. This sounds right to me but I guess others may have other opinions.

 

Pronounciations in English - UK and US:

feng shui Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary

feng shui - definition of feng shui in English | Oxford Dictionaries

 

The US version is the one I would usually hear. The UK one is weird.

On a separate note: the pronounciations I gave are the ones I would say if I was saying those particular words in Canto.

 

I think your explanation was excellent Gockie.

I had an interesting experience after living in Japan for many years, however. When I returned to Australia, I pronounced Japanese words and brands like a Japanese person ( su ba lu instead of Subaru, with equal emphasis on words etc) and people here thought it was very odd.

So, I learned that the correct pronounciation may not necessarily be understood by many outside the originating country.

 

Yes agree. Foreign speakers can significantly change the way the words are actually said from the originating language. Chinese is usually a hard one too because the way it translates into English sounds from the Chinese, it hadn't always been consistent. My surname is apparently the same as Kwok, but it was written down differently when my family got to Australia. Therefore it's Gock. But in Chinese characters it's exactly the same as Kwok. It all depends on who noted down the sounds of your name imo.

 

Go with the second pronounciation. Ps.
Canto pronounces "Shui" (water) different to Mandarin, therefore I don't have the "sh". But the pronounciation of the second one sounds fine to me.

 

Pronunciation of Mandarin varies around the country, with that being more typical of southern China (and Canton is about as southern as it gets). Beijing speakers have rather strong "sh" and "zh" sounds, and very guttural "h" sounds, whereas southerners tend to pronounce those more like "s" and "z".

You can listen to the north/south difference (and try the test) here. It doesn't matter what they're saying, just the accent they're saying it with.

 

The phung rhymes with

The Fung rhymes with "hung".

The "Shoi" bit like the "oy" in boy.

Again, "feng schway" is cringeworthy (much like how to a French person would reach to a non French person saying "Moway" for Moët Champagne). It's just uncouth.

 

Correct! It is hard to explain the exact sound to a non canto speaker but I think with the guidance gockie and I have given you will get 90% there. The tones and exact pronunciation as a native speaker would only come if you really practiced it direct with a native speaker.

 

But in Aussie talk, it's accepted.

 

Whoo hoo! I got them all right!

It's the long a's in canto at the end of the sentences mostly that defines it... And just different sounds.... Just comes with experience and exposure.

 

You might want to tell native Mandarin speakers that, including this one.

And for what it's worth, Moët is a Dutch name pronounced "Mowett". Claude Moët had Dutch ancestry.

 

Also in Mandarin.

Here's an explanation of the difference between Cantonese and Mandarin.

 

Good stuff. That's good and they are both OK to me.

But...shooi/schooey that was mentioned as a (British) pronunciation is not right.... At least to me.

 

You've got to be joking! At least, I hope so. About the uncouth bit, I mean.

With these sorts of things, a little bit of kindness and tolerance goes a long way.

Would we find the mispronunciation of English words by French speakers in France, uncouth?

Not likely. We'd most likely find it charming and appreciate the effort!

 

This! For every country you go to. Learning to say the basic niceties (hello, goodbye, thankyou, excuse me) shows respect for their language and culture and they will show you respect back. You don't have to be perfect but it's a great icebreaker.