Yuen Ren Chao

Yuen Ren Chao
趙元任
c. 1916 portrait of Chao
Born(1892-11-03)3 November 1892
Tianjin, Qing dynasty
Died25 February 1982(1982-02-25) (aged 89)
Citizenship
  • China (1892–1982)
  • United States (1954–1982)
Education
Known forChinese language reform
Works
Spouse
(m. 1921; died 1981)
Scientific career
FieldsDialectology, phonology
Institutions
Notable students
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhào Yuánrèn
Bopomofoㄓㄠˋ ㄩㄢˊ ㄖㄣˋ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhJaw Yuanrenn
Wade–GilesChao4 Yüan2-jên4
Tongyong PinyinJhào Yuánrèn
Yale RomanizationJàu Ywánrèn
MPS2Jàu Yuánrèn
IPA[ʈʂâʊ ɥɛ̌n.ɻə̂n]
Gan
RomanizationCeu5 Ngion4 Nin5
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationJiuh Yùhn-yahm
JyutpingZiu6 Jyun4-jam6
IPA[tsiw˨ jyn˩.jɐm˨]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJTiō Goân-jīm
Tâi-lôTiō Guân-jīm

Yuen Ren Chao (3 November 1892 – 25 February 1982), also known as Zhao Yuanren, was a Chinese-American linguist, educator, scholar, poet, and composer, who contributed to the modern study of Chinese phonology and grammar. Chao was born and raised in China, then attended university in the United States, where he earned degrees from Cornell University and Harvard University. A naturally gifted polyglot and linguist, his Mandarin Primer was one of the most widely used Mandarin Chinese textbooks in the 20th century. He invented the Gwoyeu Romatzyh romanization scheme, which, unlike pinyin and other romanization systems, transcribes Mandarin Chinese pronunciation without diacritics or numbers to indicate tones.