q sounds like ch as in cheap (chinese example: Qi)
j sounds like a soft g as in gesture
x sounds like a cross between s as in sip and sh as in ship (chinese example: Xian)
z sounds like a d and s pronounced together, as in cards (chinese example: Zun)
c sounds like t and s pronounced together as in cats (chinese example: Cong)
zh similar to the ge as in large (chinese example: Zhou)
ch similar to the ch in larch
sh similar to the sh in shrub
u sounds like oo as in too (chinese example: Hu)
Compound Vowels
ou sounds like o sounds as in no (chinese example: Zhou)
ui sounds like the word way (chinese example: Sui)
Useful Words
Objects:
Bi | bee | pierced jade disc |
Cong | tsong | jade tube |
Ding | ding | tripod food vessel |
Fangjia | fang-geeah | wine warmer |
Gang | gang | urn-shaped vessel |
Gu | goo | narrow-waisted wine-drinking vessel |
Gui | gway | vessel for food offering |
Hu | hoo | wine vessel |
Jia | gee-ah | three-legged wine vessel with posts |
Jiao | gee-aow | tripod wine vessel with pointed lip |
Jue | jew-eh | tripod wine vessel with spouted mouth |
Mingqi | ming-chee | tomb figures or models |
Pan | pan | shallow water basin |
Taotie | taow-tee-eh | masklike decorative motif |
You | yoh | wine vessel with lid and handle |
Yu | you | jade |
Zhong | jong | bell |
Zun | tsun | wine vessel |
Dynasties, Etc:
Han | hahn |
Jin | gin |
Liangzhu | lee-ang-jew |
Liao | lee-aow |
Longshan | long-shan |
Qi | chi |
Qin | chin |
Shu | shoe |
Sui | sway |
Shang | shang |
Tang | tang |
Taosi | tao-seh |
Wei | way |
Xia | she-ah |
Zhou | joe |
This is not a complete list, but should help you with most of the difficult pronunciation.