ᠮᠠᠨᠵᡠ ᡤᡳᠰᡠᠨ
Manchu
Tungusic > Southern
Manchu is a Tungusic language that served as the imperial language of the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). For Han characters encountered in Chinese texts, Manchu speakers used their own rich native vocabulary — emu, juwe, ilan for numbers; šun for sun; abka for heaven — alongside Sino-Manchu pronunciations derived from late-Ming northern Mandarin, documented in the bilingual 御製清文鑑 (1708). The Manchu script, derived from the Mongolian alphabet, was used in official documents alongside Chinese throughout the Qing period. By the late 19th century Manchu had become endangered, with Qingyu (Sibe) emerging as its closest living relative. Modern scholarship relies on Norman's Concise Manchu-English Lexicon and the Qing imperial dictionaries for reconstruction.
Where it is spoken
Han character readings in Manchu
| Character | Meaning | Reading | Form | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 一 | one | ᡝᠮᡠemu | /emu/ | |
| 二 | two | ᠵᡠᠸᡝjuwe | /d͡ʒuwə/ | |
| 三 | three | ᡳᠯᠠᠨilan | /ilan/ | |
| 四 | four | ᡩᡠᡳᠨduin | /duin/ | |
| 五 | five | ᠰᡠᠨᠵᠠsunja | /sund͡ʒa/ | |
| 六 | six | ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡠᠨninggun | /niŋɡun/ | |
| 七 | seven | ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠨnadan | /nadan/ | |
| 八 | eight | ᠵᠠᡴᡡᠨjakūn | /d͡ʒakʰuːn/ | |
| 九 | nine | ᡠᠶᡠᠨuyun | /ujun/ | |
| 十 | ten | ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨjuwan | /d͡ʒuwan/ | |
| 日 | sun | ᡧᡠᠨšun | /ʃun/ | |
| 月 | moon | ᠪᡳᠶᠠbiya | /bija/ | |
| 山 | mountain | ᠠᠯᡳᠨalin | /alin/ | |
| 水 | water | ᠮᡠᡴᡝmuke | /mukə/ | |
| 火 | fire | ᡨᡠᠸᠠtuwa | /tuwa/ | |
| 木 | tree | ᠮᠣᠣmoo | /moː/ | |
| 土 | soil | ᠪᠣᡳᡥᠣᠨboihon | /bojxon/ | |
| 天 | sky | ᠠᠪᡴᠠabka | /abka/ | |
| 地 | ground | ᠨᠠna | /na/ | |
| 海 | sea | ᠮᡝᡩᡝᡵᡳmederi | /medəri/ | |
| 龍 | dragon | ᠮᡠᡩᡠᡵᡳmuduri | /muduri/ | |
| 虎 | tiger | ᡨᠠᡧᠠtasha | /taʃa/ | |
| 犬 | dog | ᡳᠨᡩᠠᡥᡡᠨindahūn | /indaxuːn/ | |
| 馬 | horse | ᠮᠣᡵᡳᠨmorin | /morin/ | |
| 鳥 | bird | ᡤᠠᡧᠠgasha | /ɡaʃa/ | |
| 魚 | fish | ᠨᡳᠮᠠᡥᠠnimaha | /nimaxa/ | |
| 牛 | ox | ᡳᡥᠠᠨihan | /ixan/ | |
| 羊 | sheep | ᡥᠣᠨᡳᠨhonin | /xonin/ | |
| 貓 | cat | ᡴᡝᠰᡳᡴᡝkesike | /kəsikə/ | |
| 人 | person | ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠯᠮᠠniyalma | /njalma/ | |
| 手 | hand | ᡤᠠᠯᠠgala | /ɡala/ | |
| 足 | foot | ᠪᡝᡨᡥᡝbethe | /bətxə/ | |
| 目 | eye | ᠶᠠᠰᠠyasa | /jasa/ | |
| 耳 | ear | ᡧᠠᠨšan | /ʃan/ | |
| 口 | mouth | ᠠᠩᡤᠠangga | /aŋɡa/ | |
| 頭 | head | ᡠᠵᡠuju | /ud͡ʒu/ | |
| 心 | heart | ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠮᠠᠨniyaman | /njaman/ | |
| 血 | blood | ᠰᡝᠩᡤᡳsenggi | /səŋɡi/ | |
| 肉 | meat | ᠶᠠᠯᡳyali | /jali/ | |
| 上 | up | ᡩᡝᠯᡝdele | /dələ/ | |
| 下 | down | ᡶᡝᠵᡳᠯᡝfejile | /fəd͡ʒilə/ | |
| 中 | middle | ᡩᡠᠯᡳᠮᠪᠠdulimba | /dulimba/ | |
| 中 | hit | ᡤᠣᡳᠪᡠᠮᠪᡳgoibumbi | /ɡoibumbi/ | |
| 央 | center | ᡩᡠᠯᡳᠮᠪᠠᡳdulimbai | /dulimbai/ | |
| 左 | left | ᡥᠠᡧᡡhashū | /xaʃuː/ | |
| 右 | right | ᡳᠴᡳici | /it͡ʃi/ | |
| 東 | east | ᡩᡝᡵᡤᡳdergi | /dərɡi/ | |
| 西 | west | ᠸᠠᡵᡤᡳwargi | /warɡi/ | |
| 南 | south | ᠵᡠᠯᡝᡵᡤᡳjulergi | /d͡ʒulərɡi/ | |
| 北 | north | ᠠᠮᠠᡵᡤᡳamargi | /amarɡi/ | |
| 行 | go | ᠶᠠᠪᡠᠮᠪᡳyabumbi | /jabumbi/ | |
| 行 | row | ᡶᠠᡳᡩᠠᠨfaidan | /faidan/ | |
| 来 | come | ᠵᡳᠮᠪᡳjimbi | /d͡ʒimbi/ | |
| 去 | leave | ᡤᡝᠨᡝᠮᠪᡳgenembi | /ɡənəmbi/ | |
| 見 | see | ᠰᠠᠪᡠᠮᠪᡳsabumbi | /sabumbi/ | |
| 聞 | hear | ᡩᠣᠨᠵᡳᠮᠪᡳdonjimbi | /dond͡ʒimbi/ | |
| 食 | eat | ᠵᡝᠮᠪᡳjembi | /d͡ʒəmbi/ | |
| 飲 | drink | ᠣᠮᡳᠮᠪᡳomimbi | /omimbi/ | |
| 走 | run | ᠰᡠᠵᡠᠮᠪᡳsujumbi | /sud͡ʒumbi/ | |
| 坐 | sit | ᡨᡝᠮᠪᡳtembi | /təmbi/ | |
| 立 | stand | ᡳᠯᡳᠮᠪᡳilimbi | /ilimbi/ |
Sources
- 御製清文鑑 (Yuzhi Qingwenjian, 1708)
- 御製增訂清文鑑 (Yuzhi Zengding Qingwenjian, 1771)
- 大清全書 (Daiqing Quanshu, 1683)
- Norman, Jerry — A Concise Manchu-English Lexicon (1978)
- Wiktionary Manchu entries (mnc)
Words compared
Compared with related Tungusic (Manchu-Tungus, Southern) languages
| Meaning | Manchu | Sibe | Jurchen | Nanai | Even (Lamut) | Evenki | Udege |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ᠮᡠᡴᡝ /mukə/ | ᠮᡠᡴᡝ /mukə/ | muke /muke/ | муэ /mue/ | му /mu/ | му /mu/ | уй /uj/ |
| Fire | ᡨᡠᠸᠠ /tuwa/ | ᡨᡠᠸᠠ /tuwa/ | tuwa /tuwa/ | това /tova/ | тоог /toːɡ/ | того /toɡo/ | тогбо /toɡbo/ |
| Sun | ᡧᡠᠨ /ʃun/ | ᠰᡠᠨ /sun/ | šun /ʃun/ | сиун /siun/ | нөлтэн /nølten/ | дылача /dɯlatɕa/ | даигаси /daiɡasi/ |
| Moon | ᠪᡳᠶᠠ /bija/ | ᠪᡳᠶᠠ /bija/ | biya /bija/ | биа /bia/ | бяг /bjaɡ/ | бега /beɡa/ | биа /bia/ |
| Mother | ᡝᠨᡳᠶᡝ /ənijə/ | ᡝᠨᡞᠶᡝ /ənije/ | eme /eme/ | энин /enin/ | эньэн /eɲen/ | эни /eni/ | энэ /ene/ |
| Father | ᠠᠮᠠ /ama/ | ᠠᠮᠠ /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ама /ama/ | ама /ama/ | ама /ama/ | амэ /amə/ |
| Eat | ᠵᡝᠮᠪᡳ /dʒəmbi/ | ᠵᡝᠮᠪᡞ /d͡ʒəmbi/ | jefu /dʒefu/ | депу /depu/ | дьэб /dʒeb/ | дептэ /depte/ | джевэ /d͡ʒevə/ |
| Drink | ᠣᠮᡳᠪᡳ /omibi/ | ᠣᠮᡳᠪᡞ /omibi/ | omi /omi/ | омичи /omitʃi/ | ум /um/ | умӣ /umiː/ | омимэ /omimə/ |
| Love | ᡥᠠᡳᡵᠠᠮᠪᡳ /xairambi/ | ᠴᡳᠯᡨᡠᠮᠪᡳ /t͡ʃiltumbi/ | gosi /ɡosi/ | эйини /ejini/ | аякан /ajakan/ | аявдави /ajavdavi/ | чисанай /t͡ʃisanaj/ |
| Heart | ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠮᠠᠨ /nijaman/ | ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠮᠠᠨ /nijaman/ | niyaman /nijaman/ | миаван /miavan/ | мяван /mjavan/ | меван /mevan/ | миаван /miavan/ |
| Tree | ᠮᠣᠣ /moː/ | ᠮᠣᠯᠣ /molo/ | mo /mo/ | мо /mo/ | мо /mo/ | мо /mo/ | мо /mo/ |
| House | ᠪᠣᠣ /boː/ | ᠪᠣᠣ /boː/ | boo /boː/ | дё /dʒo/ | дьу /dʒu/ | дю /dʒu/ | дзугди /d͡zuɡdi/ |
| Dog | ᡳᠨᡩᠠᡥᡡᠨ /indaxuːn/ | ᠨᡳᠨᠳᠠᡥᡡᠨ /nindaxun/ | indahǔn /indahuːn/ | инда /inda/ | нгин /ŋin/ | нгинакин /ŋinakin/ | инай /inaj/ |
| Cat | ᡴᡝᠰᡳᡴᡝ /kəsikə/ | ᡴᡝᠰᡳᡴᡝ /kəsikə/ | kesike /kesike/ | коси /kosi/ | кошка /koʂka/ | кошка /koʂka/ | кошк /koʃk/ |
| Hand | ᡤᠠᠯᠠ /ɡala/ | ᡤᠠᠯᠠ /ɡala/ | gala /ɡala/ | нгала /ŋala/ | нгал /ŋal/ | нгалэ /ŋale/ | нала /nala/ |
| Eye | ᠶᠠᠰᠠ /jasa/ | ᠶᠠᠰᠠ /jasa/ | yasa /jasa/ | насал /nasal/ | яса /jasa/ | эса /esa/ | писа /pisa/ |
| Hello | ᠰᡳ ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /si sain/ | ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡝ ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /niŋɡe sain/ | — /—/ | банди-банди /bandi bandi/ | дорова /dorova/ | дорообо /doroːbo/ | бандиба /bandiba/ |
| Thank you | ᠪᠠᠨᡳᡥᠠ /banixa/ | ᠪᠠᠨᡳᡥᠠ /banixa/ | — /—/ | банихан /banihan/ | пасиба /pasiba/ | пасиба /pasiba/ | нюхча /ɲuxt͡ʃa/ |
| One | ᠡᠮᡠ /əmu/ | ᡝᠮᡠ /əmu/ | emu /emu/ | эмун /emun/ | омэн /omen/ | умун /umun/ | омо /omo/ |
| Good | ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /sain/ | ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /sain/ | sain /sain/ | ая /aja/ | ай /aj/ | ая /aja/ | ая /aja/ |
Word order compared
Compare with major world languages
Han readings compared
Compared with related Tungusic > Southern languages
| Character | Manchu | Jurchen | Sibe | Proto-Tungusic | Khitan | Proto-Mongolic | Old Japanese on-yomi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 一 | emu /emu/ | emu /emu/ | emu /əmu/ | *əmun /*əmun/ | om /əm/ | *nigen /*niɡen/ | iti /iti/ |
| 二 | juwe /d͡ʒuwə/ | juwe /dʑuwe/ | juwe /d͡ʑuwə/ | *dʒuər /*d͡ʒuər/ | jur /dʒur/ | *qoyar /*qojar/ | ni /ɲi/ |
| 三 | ilan /ilan/ | ilan /ilan/ | ilan /ilan/ | *ilan /*ilan/ | gur /ɡur/ | *gurba(n) /*gurban/ | sam /sam/ |
| 四 | duin /duin/ | duin /duin/ | duin /duin/ | *dügin /*dyɡin/ | dur /dur/ | *dörbe(n) /*dœrben/ | si /ɕi/ |
| 五 | sunja /sund͡ʒa/ | sunja /sundʑa/ | sunja /sund͡ʑa/ | *tuɲga /*tuɲɡa/ | tau /tau/ | *tabu(n) /*tabun/ | go /ŋo/ |
| 六 | ninggun /niŋɡun/ | ninggun /niŋɡun/ | ninggun /niŋɢun/ | *ɲuŋun /*ɲuŋun/ | nil /nil/ | *jirguɣa(n) /*dʒirɣuɣan/ | roku /roku/ |
| 七 | nadan /nadan/ | nadan /nadan/ | nadan /nadan/ | *nadan /*nadan/ | dalu /dalu/ | *doluɣa(n) /*doluɣan/ | siti /ɕiti/ |
| 八 | jakūn /d͡ʒakʰuːn/ | jakūn /dʑakɯn/ | jakūn /d͡ʑaqun/ | *dʒapkun /*d͡ʒapkun/ | naim /naim/ | *nayima(n) /*najiman/ | pati /pati/ |
| 九 | uyun /ujun/ | uyun /ujun/ | uyun /ujun/ | *xəgün /*xəɡyn/ | isen /isen/ | *yersü(n) /*jersyn/ | kiu /kiu/ |
| 十 | juwan /d͡ʒuwan/ | juwan /dʑuwan/ | juwan /d͡ʑuwan/ | *dʒuwan /*d͡ʒuwan/ | par /par/ | *harba(n) /*harban/ | zipu /ʑipu/ |
| 日 | šun /ʃun/ | šun /ʃun/ | šun /ɕun/ | *siun /*siun/ | nair /nair/ | *naran /*naran/ | niti /ɲiti/ |
| 月 | biya /bija/ | biya /bija/ | biya /bija/ | *bēga /*beːɡa/ | sair /sair/ | *sara(n) /*saran/ | gwati /ŋwati/ |
| 山 | alin /alin/ | alin /alin/ | alin /alin/ | *xada /*xada/ | ula /ʊla/ | *agula /*aɣula/ | san /san/ |
| 水 | muke /mukə/ | muke /muke/ | muke /mutɕə/ | *mū /*muː/ | us /ʊs/ | *usu(n) /*usun/ | swi /swi/ |
| 火 | tuwa /tuwa/ | tuwa /tuwa/ | tuwa /tuwa/ | *tōga /*toːɡa/ | gal /ɡal/ | *gal /*ɡal/ | kwa /kwa/ |
| 木 | moo /moː/ | moo /moː/ | moo /mɔː/ | *mō /*moː/ | — | *modu(n) /*modun/ | moku /moku/ |
| 土 | boihon /bojxon/ | boihon /boixon/ | boihon /bɔiʁɔn/ | *na /*na/ | — | *sirui /*siruj/ | do /do/ |
| 天 | abka /abka/ | abka /abka/ | abka /apqa/ | *abka /*abka/ | teŋri /tʰeŋri/ | *teŋri /*teŋri/ | ten /ten/ |
| 地 | na /na/ | na /na/ | na /na/ | *na /*na/ | — | *gajar /*ɡadʒar/ | di /di/ |
| 海 | mederi /medəri/ | mederi /mederi/ | mederi /mədəri/ | *lāmu /*laːmu/ | — | *dalai /*dalaj/ | kai /kai/ |
| 龍 | muduri /muduri/ | muduri /muduri/ | muduri /muduri/ | — | — | — | riu /riu/ |
| 虎 | tasha /taʃa/ | tasha /taʃa/ | tasha /taɕa/ | — | — | — | ko /ko/ |
| 犬 | indahūn /indaxuːn/ | indahūn /indaxɯn/ | indahūn /indaʁun/ | *ŋinda /*ŋinda/ | — | *noxai /*noxaj/ | ken /ken/ |
| 馬 | morin /morin/ | morin /morin/ | morin /mɔrin/ | *murin /*murin/ | morin /morin/ | *mori(n) /*morin/ | me /me/ |
| 鳥 | gasha /ɡaʃa/ | gasha /ɡaʃa/ | gasha /ɢaɕa/ | *gasa /*ɡasa/ | — | *sibawun /*sibaʊn/ | teu /teu/ |
| 魚 | nimaha /nimaxa/ | nimaha /nimaxa/ | nimaha /nimaʁa/ | *nimaka /*nimaka/ | — | *jigasu(n) /*dʒiɣasun/ | go /ŋo/ |
| 牛 | ihan /ixan/ | ihan /ixan/ | ihan /iʁan/ | *xuker /*xuker/ | — | *hüker /*hyker/ | giu /ŋiu/ |
| 羊 | honin /xonin/ | honin /xonin/ | honin /χɔnin/ | — | — | *honi(n) /*honin/ | yau /jau/ |
| 貓 | kesike /kəsikə/ | — | kesike /kəsitɕə/ | — | — | — | — |
| 人 | niyalma /njalma/ | niyalma /nialma/ | niyalma /ɲalma/ | *niama /*niama/ | küü /kʰuː/ | *kümün /*kymyn/ | nin /ɲin/ |
| 手 | gala /ɡala/ | gala /ɡala/ | gala /ɢala/ | *ŋāla /*ŋaːla/ | — | *gar /*ɡar/ | syu /ɕu/ |
| 足 | bethe /bətxə/ | bethe /betxe/ | bethe /bətxə/ | *bəgdi /*bəɡdi/ | — | *köl /*kœl/ | soku /soku/ |
| 目 | yasa /jasa/ | yasa /jasa/ | yasa /jaza/ | *jāsa /*jaːsa/ | — | *nidün /*nidyn/ | moku /moku/ |
| 耳 | šan /ʃan/ | šan /ʃan/ | šan /ɕan/ | *sēn /*seːn/ | — | *cikin /*tʃikin/ | ni /ɲi/ |
| 口 | angga /aŋɡa/ | angga /aŋɡa/ | angga /aŋɢa/ | *amŋa /*amŋa/ | — | *aman /*aman/ | kou /kou/ |
| 頭 | uju /ud͡ʒu/ | uju /udʑu/ | uju /ud͡ʑu/ | *dil /*dil/ | — | *terixün /*terixyn/ | tou /tou/ |
| 心 | niyaman /njaman/ | niyaman /niaman/ | niyaman /ɲaman/ | *mēwan /*meːwan/ | — | *jirüken /*dʒiryken/ | sim /ɕim/ |
| 血 | senggi /səŋɡi/ | senggi /səŋɡi/ | senggi /səŋɣi/ | *sēksə /*seːksə/ | — | *cisu(n) /*tʃisun/ | keti /keti/ |
| 肉 | yali /jali/ | yali /jali/ | yali /jali/ | *uldʒə /*uld͡ʒə/ | — | *mika(n) /*mikan/ | niku /ɲiku/ |
| 上 | dele /dələ/ | dele /dələ/ | dele /dələ/ | *ugi /*uɡi/ | — | *degere /*deɡere/ | zyau /ʑau/ |
| 下 | fejile /fəd͡ʒilə/ | fejile /fəjilə/ | fejile /fəd͡ʑilə/ | *xərgi /*xərɡi/ | — | *doxora /*doxora/ | ge /ŋe/ |
| 中 | dulimba /dulimba/ | dulin /dulin/ | dulimba /dulimba/ | *dulin /*dulin/ | — | *dumda /*dumda/ | tyuu /tʲuu/ |
| 中 | goibumbi /ɡoibumbi/ | — | goibumbi /ɢɔibum/ | *dulin /*dulin/ | — | *dumda /*dumda/ | tyuu /tʲuu/ |
| 央 | dulimbai /dulimbai/ | dulimbai /dulimbai/ | dulimbai /dulimbai/ | *dulin /*dulin/ | — | — | au /au/ |
| 左 | hashū /xaʃuː/ | hashū /haʃɯ/ | hashū /χaɕu/ | *dʒəgün /*d͡ʒəɡyn/ | — | *jegün /*dʒeɡyn/ | sa /sa/ |
| 右 | ici /it͡ʃi/ | ici /itɕi/ | ici /it͡ɕi/ | *aŋān /*aŋaːn/ | — | *baragun /*baraɣun/ | iu /iu/ |
| 東 | dergi /dərɡi/ | dergi /dərɡi/ | dergi /dərɡi/ | — | — | *jegün /*dʒeɡyn/ | tou /tou/ |
| 西 | wargi /warɡi/ | wargi /warɡi/ | wargi /warɡi/ | — | — | *baragun /*baraɣun/ | sai /sai/ |
| 南 | julergi /d͡ʒulərɡi/ | julergi /dʑulərɡi/ | julergi /d͡ʑulərɡi/ | — | — | *emüne /*emyne/ | nam /nam/ |
| 北 | amargi /amarɡi/ | amargi /amarɡi/ | amargi /amarɡi/ | — | — | *hoyitu /*hojitu/ | poku /poku/ |
| 行 | yabumbi /jabumbi/ | yabu- /jabu-/ | yabumbi /jawum/ | *jabu- /*jabu-/ | — | *yabu- /*jabu-/ | gyau /ŋʲau/ |
| 行 | faidan /faidan/ | — | faidan /faidan/ | *ŋənə- /*ŋənə-/ | — | *yabu- /*jabu-/ | kau /kau/ |
| 来 | jimbi /d͡ʒimbi/ | ji- /dʑi-/ | jimbi /d͡ʑim/ | *əmə- /*əmə-/ | — | *ire- /*ire-/ | rai /rai/ |
| 去 | genembi /ɡənəmbi/ | gene- /ɡənə-/ | genembi /ɡənəm/ | *ŋənə- /*ŋənə-/ | — | *od- /*od-/ | ko /ko/ |
| 見 | sabumbi /sabumbi/ | sabu- /sabu-/ | sabumbi /sabum/ | *ičə- /*it͡ʃə-/ | — | *üje- /*ydʒe-/ | ken /ken/ |
| 聞 | donjimbi /dond͡ʒimbi/ | donji- /dondʑi-/ | donjimbi /dɔnd͡ʑim/ | *dōldi- /*doːldi-/ | — | *sonos- /*sonos-/ | mon /mon/ |
| 食 | jembi /d͡ʒəmbi/ | je- /dʑe-/ | jembi /d͡ʑəm/ | *dʒəp- /*d͡ʒəp-/ | — | *ide- /*ide-/ | ziki /ʑiki/ |
| 飲 | omimbi /omimbi/ | omi- /omi-/ | omimbi /ɔmim/ | *umī- /*umiː-/ | — | *uxu- /*uxu-/ | on /on/ |
| 走 | sujumbi /sud͡ʒumbi/ | suju- /sudʑu-/ | sujumbi /sud͡ʑum/ | *tuksa- /*tuksa-/ | — | *güyü- /*ɡyjy-/ | sou /sou/ |
| 坐 | tembi /təmbi/ | te- /te-/ | tembi /təm/ | *təgə- /*təɡə-/ | — | *saxu- /*saxu-/ | za /za/ |
| 立 | ilimbi /ilimbi/ | ili- /ili-/ | ilimbi /ilim/ | *ili- /*ili-/ | — | *bos- /*bos-/ | ripu /ripu/ |
Part of LangMap — a linguistic visualization project. This is a static, crawlable summary; the interactive maps offer pronunciation audio, filters, and a globe view.