you need know how to pronunce every single vowels and consonants, then follow the dictionary. Merriam-Webster is the best dictionary/corrct pronunciation to follow. if you don't know the every single syllables pronunciation, just imitate, many cases, you still could not catch the right pronunciation.
貼一個我上語音課時其中一頁的筆記！希望對大家有用！(posted several years ago, copy here and wish it helps )
第二 按發音位置分類(輔音):place (not include all consonants)
1.bilabial [p] [b] [m] [w]
雙唇音--由上唇和下唇接觸，使語流受阻而成的一種輔音。
2.labiodental (just two [f] [v] but difficult for Chinese)
唇齒音--由唇與牙齒的咬合而發出的輔音。
3.lingua-dental (just two [θ] [ð] but difficult for Chinese)
舌齒音--牙齒咬著舌頭發出的音。
4. lingua--alveolar [t] [d] [s] [z] [t?] [d?] [n] [l]
齒槽音– 舌頭貼著齒槽發出的音
5. lingua--palatal [?] [?] [r] [j]
上齶音--舌頭貼著上齶發出的音。
6.lingua-velar [k] [g] [?]
軟顎音--舌頭貼著軟顎發出的音
7.glotta (just one: [h])
聲門(聲帶)音--自聲門發出的音。
Potentially difficult contrasts for speakers of Chinese:
[i:] & [i] beat-bit, peak-pick
[?] & [?u] cot-coat, cod-code,
[?] & [au] dot-doubt, shot-shout, fond-found
[w] & [v] [w] 半元音, 嘴型是圓的. [v] 為唇齒音, 上牙齒必須touch下嘴唇.
eg, west -vest, wail-veil, worse-verse
[θ] & [s] thank-sank, thing-sing, thumb-some [θ] 舌齒音
[ð] & [z] then-Zen, teethe-teaser [ð] 舌齒音
[n] & [l] 兩都是齒槽音, 但[n]為鼻音especially at the begin of a word eg, night-light
[n] & [?] especially in the end of a word. eg fan-fang, thin-thing
[r] & [l] especially in the end of a word eg, fire-file, wall-war, whole-whore
