Why is pinyin pronounced one sound with one syllable for each character?

The principle of one sound with one syllable for each character in Chinese pinyin is primarily for clarity and consistency in pronunciation. Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language, meaning that the tone in which a syllable is pronounced can change its meaning. Therefore, by having one sound for each syllable, it helps learners and speakers accurately produce the correct tones.

Additionally, Mandarin Chinese has a relatively simple syllable structure compared to some other languages. Most syllables consist of a consonant followed by a vowel, with a few syllables ending in a consonant. This simplicity allows for the one-to-one correspondence between sounds and syllables in Pinyin.

Maintaining a consistent sound-to-syllable mapping also facilitates the learning process for non-native speakers, making it easier to associate specific sounds with written symbols. This consistency is especially helpful in the early stages of language learning when mastering pronunciation is crucial.