National Putonghua Proficiency Test Practice Questions - National Putonghua Proficiency Test (国家普通话水平测试, PSC) Exam

Dental sibilants (z, c, s) are articulated with the tip of the tongue contacting or approaching the back of the upper front teeth, whereas retroflex sibilants (zh, ch, sh) are articulated with the tip of the tongue raised toward the front of the hard palate. Dental sibilants (z, c, s) involve raising the back of the tongue against the soft palate (velum), whereas retroflex sibilants involve the blade of the tongue contacting the alveolar ridge. Dental sibilants (z, c, s) are exclusively voiced fricatives, whereas retroflex sibilants (zh, ch, sh) are entirely unvoiced aspirated plosives. Dental sibilants (z, c, s) are produced by curling the tip of the tongue backward toward the uvula, whereas retroflex sibilants are produced with the lower lip touching the upper teeth.