Pronunciation of Mandarin (Ji1 = 乩) vs.(汁 = Zhi1)?

Question

In Pinyin theory, the consanont "J" should represent the "dy" sound, but when I listen to CDs it sound so me like they are just pronouncing the consanant "J" as "J" as in English ("Just", "Jump" for example).

I know Mandarin speakers use Hanzi instead of characters, so I use Zhongwen Zi below as examples:

When you pronounce (就 = Jiu4) do you say the "dy" sound or the English "J" used in "Jump", "Just"

How does the pronounciation of (Ji1 = 乩) compare to (汁 = Zhi1)....Do you say the "乩" with a "dy" sound or an English "J" sound.

I think the best thing for me to do is to make a Mandarin friend, and hear him/her speak, but I have no Mandarin people in my surroundings or in my neighberhood ect. thus I ask this question on Y/A

Thank you for sharing your culture and your knowlege with me.
I appreciate your kindness.

OK,

According to Mandarin Pinyin theory,

The Pinyin "J" sounds like the English "dy".

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Let me Just ask you, simply,

is there any differance (what so ever) in the pronunciation of: Ji1 = 乩) vs. (汁 = Zhi1

Thank you

Answer 1

I studied Mandarin and the sound for pinyin "J" was taught to us as: "dz" (d - as in "dog", z - as in "zero"). The pinyin "ZH" is very similar to English "J" - as in John.

I've lived in China for over a year and of course pronunciation varies from province to province but I never heard of J pronounced as "dy".
Getting a native speaker friend would be the best thing to do.

Answer 2

In standard Mandarin, j is the alveolopalatal affricate [tɕ] and zh is the retroflex affricate [ʈʂ]. J has the blade of the tonge behind the alveolar ridge, and the body of the tongue raised toward the roof of the mouth. Zh has the blade of the tongue touching the roof of the mouth.
To me (an English speaker), they both sound like English j.

Answer 3

I do not know where you got the idea that j is pronounced dy, but that is not at all correct. As you recognized, j is a better sound for j.