jušen gisun
Jurchen
Tungusic (Jurchen-Manchu) · historical / hidden variety
Jurchen was the Tungusic language of the Jurchen people, ancestors of the Manchus, who established the Jin dynasty (1115-1234) ruling north China and overthrew the Liao Khitan. Two Jurchen scripts were created — Large Script in 1119 by Wanyan Xiyin (combining Khitan-style elements with Chinese characters), Small Script in 1138 — both derived from Khitan and Chinese. After the fall of the Jin to the Mongols, the language survived among Northeast Asian Jurchen tribes and ultimately gave rise to Manchu (mnc) which Nurhaci's heirs used to conquer Ming China and found the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). Best known from the Jin Veritable Records and the trilingual Yongning Temple inscription of 1413.
Where it is spoken
20 core words in Jurchen
Water
muke
/muke/
Fire
tuwa
/tuwa/
Sun
šun
/ʃun/
Moon
biya
/bija/
Mother
eme
/eme/
Father
ama
/ama/
Eat
jefu
/dʒefu/
Drink
omi
/omi/
Love
gosi
/ɡosi/
Heart
niyaman
/nijaman/
Tree
mo
/mo/
House
boo
/boː/
Dog
indahǔn
/indahuːn/
Cat
kesike
/kesike/
Hand
gala
/ɡala/
Eye
yasa
/jasa/
Hello
—
/—/
Thank you
—
/—/
One
emu
/emu/
Good
sain
/sain/
Sources
- Kane (1989) The Sino-Jurchen Vocabulary of the Bureau of Interpreters
- Jin (1984) Nüzhen yu jiang yi
- Glottolog: jurc1239
Words compared
Compared with related Tungusic (Jurchen-Manchu) languages
| Meaning | Jurchen | Manchu | Sibe | Nanai | Khitan | Even (Lamut) | Udege |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | muke /muke/ | ᠮᡠᡴᡝ /mukə/ | ᠮᡠᡴᡝ /mukə/ | муэ /mue/ | muri /muri/ | му /mu/ | уй /uj/ |
| Fire | tuwa /tuwa/ | ᡨᡠᠸᠠ /tuwa/ | ᡨᡠᠸᠠ /tuwa/ | това /tova/ | niár /niar/ | тоог /toːɡ/ | тогбо /toɡbo/ |
| Sun | šun /ʃun/ | ᡧᡠᠨ /ʃun/ | ᠰᡠᠨ /sun/ | сиун /siun/ | 𘲺 /nair/ | нөлтэн /nølten/ | даигаси /daiɡasi/ |
| Moon | biya /bija/ | ᠪᡳᠶᠠ /bija/ | ᠪᡳᠶᠠ /bija/ | биа /bia/ | 𘭧 /sair/ | бяг /bjaɡ/ | биа /bia/ |
| Mother | eme /eme/ | ᡝᠨᡳᠶᡝ /ənijə/ | ᡝᠨᡞᠶᡝ /ənije/ | энин /enin/ | eme /eme/ | эньэн /eɲen/ | энэ /ene/ |
| Father | ama /ama/ | ᠠᠮᠠ /ama/ | ᠠᠮᠠ /ama/ | ама /ama/ | ai /ai/ | ама /ama/ | амэ /amə/ |
| Eat | jefu /dʒefu/ | ᠵᡝᠮᠪᡳ /dʒəmbi/ | ᠵᡝᠮᠪᡞ /d͡ʒəmbi/ | депу /depu/ | idi /idi/ | дьэб /dʒeb/ | джевэ /d͡ʒevə/ |
| Drink | omi /omi/ | ᠣᠮᡳᠪᡳ /omibi/ | ᠣᠮᡳᠪᡞ /omibi/ | омичи /omitʃi/ | umi /umi/ | ум /um/ | омимэ /omimə/ |
| Love | gosi /ɡosi/ | ᡥᠠᡳᡵᠠᠮᠪᡳ /xairambi/ | ᠴᡳᠯᡨᡠᠮᠪᡳ /t͡ʃiltumbi/ | эйини /ejini/ | nasun /nasun/ | аякан /ajakan/ | чисанай /t͡ʃisanaj/ |
| Heart | niyaman /nijaman/ | ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠮᠠᠨ /nijaman/ | ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠮᠠᠨ /nijaman/ | миаван /miavan/ | niyàmen /nijamen/ | мяван /mjavan/ | миаван /miavan/ |
| Tree | mo /mo/ | ᠮᠣᠣ /moː/ | ᠮᠣᠯᠣ /molo/ | мо /mo/ | mau /mau/ | мо /mo/ | мо /mo/ |
| House | boo /boː/ | ᠪᠣᠣ /boː/ | ᠪᠣᠣ /boː/ | дё /dʒo/ | boo /boː/ | дьу /dʒu/ | дзугди /d͡zuɡdi/ |
| Dog | indahǔn /indahuːn/ | ᡳᠨᡩᠠᡥᡡᠨ /indaxuːn/ | ᠨᡳᠨᠳᠠᡥᡡᠨ /nindaxun/ | инда /inda/ | 𘰕𘯛 /niaqan/ | нгин /ŋin/ | инай /inaj/ |
| Cat | kesike /kesike/ | ᡴᡝᠰᡳᡴᡝ /kəsikə/ | ᡴᡝᠰᡳᡴᡝ /kəsikə/ | коси /kosi/ | — /—/ | кошка /koʂka/ | кошк /koʃk/ |
| Hand | gala /ɡala/ | ᡤᠠᠯᠠ /ɡala/ | ᡤᠠᠯᠠ /ɡala/ | нгала /ŋala/ | ɣar /ɣar/ | нгал /ŋal/ | нала /nala/ |
| Eye | yasa /jasa/ | ᠶᠠᠰᠠ /jasa/ | ᠶᠠᠰᠠ /jasa/ | насал /nasal/ | nït /nit/ | яса /jasa/ | писа /pisa/ |
| Hello | — /—/ | ᠰᡳ ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /si sain/ | ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡝ ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /niŋɡe sain/ | банди-банди /bandi bandi/ | — /—/ | дорова /dorova/ | бандиба /bandiba/ |
| Thank you | — /—/ | ᠪᠠᠨᡳᡥᠠ /banixa/ | ᠪᠠᠨᡳᡥᠠ /banixa/ | банихан /banihan/ | — /—/ | пасиба /pasiba/ | нюхча /ɲuxt͡ʃa/ |
| One | emu /emu/ | ᠡᠮᡠ /əmu/ | ᡝᠮᡠ /əmu/ | эмун /emun/ | 𘬣 /omsu/ | омэн /omen/ | омо /omo/ |
| Good | sain /sain/ | ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /sain/ | ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /sain/ | ая /aja/ | sayïn /sajin/ | ай /aj/ | ая /aja/ |
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Han readings compared
Compared with related Tungusic > Southern Tungusic (ancestor of Manchu) languages
| Character | Jurchen | Manchu | Sibe | Proto-Tungusic | Proto-Mongolic | Khitan | Old Japanese on-yomi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 一 | emu /emu/ | emu /emu/ | emu /əmu/ | *əmun /*əmun/ | *nigen /*niɡen/ | om /əm/ | iti /iti/ |
| 二 | juwe /dʑuwe/ | juwe /d͡ʒuwə/ | juwe /d͡ʑuwə/ | *dʒuər /*d͡ʒuər/ | *qoyar /*qojar/ | jur /dʒur/ | ni /ɲi/ |
| 三 | ilan /ilan/ | ilan /ilan/ | ilan /ilan/ | *ilan /*ilan/ | *gurba(n) /*gurban/ | gur /ɡur/ | sam /sam/ |
| 四 | duin /duin/ | duin /duin/ | duin /duin/ | *dügin /*dyɡin/ | *dörbe(n) /*dœrben/ | dur /dur/ | si /ɕi/ |
| 五 | sunja /sundʑa/ | sunja /sund͡ʒa/ | sunja /sund͡ʑa/ | *tuɲga /*tuɲɡa/ | *tabu(n) /*tabun/ | tau /tau/ | go /ŋo/ |
| 六 | ninggun /niŋɡun/ | ninggun /niŋɡun/ | ninggun /niŋɢun/ | *ɲuŋun /*ɲuŋun/ | *jirguɣa(n) /*dʒirɣuɣan/ | nil /nil/ | roku /roku/ |
| 七 | nadan /nadan/ | nadan /nadan/ | nadan /nadan/ | *nadan /*nadan/ | *doluɣa(n) /*doluɣan/ | dalu /dalu/ | siti /ɕiti/ |
| 八 | jakūn /dʑakɯn/ | jakūn /d͡ʒakʰuːn/ | jakūn /d͡ʑaqun/ | *dʒapkun /*d͡ʒapkun/ | *nayima(n) /*najiman/ | naim /naim/ | pati /pati/ |
| 九 | uyun /ujun/ | uyun /ujun/ | uyun /ujun/ | *xəgün /*xəɡyn/ | *yersü(n) /*jersyn/ | isen /isen/ | kiu /kiu/ |
| 十 | juwan /dʑuwan/ | juwan /d͡ʒuwan/ | juwan /d͡ʑuwan/ | *dʒuwan /*d͡ʒuwan/ | *harba(n) /*harban/ | par /par/ | zipu /ʑipu/ |
| 日 | šun /ʃun/ | šun /ʃun/ | šun /ɕun/ | *siun /*siun/ | *naran /*naran/ | nair /nair/ | niti /ɲiti/ |
| 月 | biya /bija/ | biya /bija/ | biya /bija/ | *bēga /*beːɡa/ | *sara(n) /*saran/ | sair /sair/ | gwati /ŋwati/ |
| 山 | alin /alin/ | alin /alin/ | alin /alin/ | *xada /*xada/ | *agula /*aɣula/ | ula /ʊla/ | san /san/ |
| 水 | muke /muke/ | muke /mukə/ | muke /mutɕə/ | *mū /*muː/ | *usu(n) /*usun/ | us /ʊs/ | 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 /boixon/ | boihon /bojxon/ | boihon /bɔiʁɔn/ | *na /*na/ | *sirui /*siruj/ | — | do /do/ |
| 天 | abka /abka/ | abka /abka/ | abka /apqa/ | *abka /*abka/ | *teŋri /*teŋri/ | teŋri /tʰeŋri/ | ten /ten/ |
| 地 | na /na/ | na /na/ | na /na/ | *na /*na/ | *gajar /*ɡadʒar/ | — | di /di/ |
| 海 | mederi /mederi/ | mederi /medəri/ | 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 /indaxɯn/ | indahūn /indaxuːn/ | indahūn /indaʁun/ | *ŋinda /*ŋinda/ | *noxai /*noxaj/ | — | ken /ken/ |
| 馬 | morin /morin/ | morin /morin/ | morin /mɔrin/ | *murin /*murin/ | *mori(n) /*morin/ | morin /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/ |
| 人 | niyalma /nialma/ | niyalma /njalma/ | niyalma /ɲalma/ | *niama /*niama/ | *kümün /*kymyn/ | küü /kʰuː/ | nin /ɲin/ |
| 手 | gala /ɡala/ | gala /ɡala/ | gala /ɢala/ | *ŋāla /*ŋaːla/ | *gar /*ɡar/ | — | syu /ɕu/ |
| 足 | bethe /betxe/ | bethe /bətxə/ | 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 /udʑu/ | uju /ud͡ʒu/ | uju /ud͡ʑu/ | *dil /*dil/ | *terixün /*terixyn/ | — | tou /tou/ |
| 心 | niyaman /niaman/ | niyaman /njaman/ | 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 /fəjilə/ | fejile /fəd͡ʒilə/ | fejile /fəd͡ʑilə/ | *xərgi /*xərɡi/ | *doxora /*doxora/ | — | ge /ŋe/ |
| 中 | dulin /dulin/ | dulimba /dulimba/ | dulimba /dulimba/ | *dulin /*dulin/ | *dumda /*dumda/ | — | tyuu /tʲuu/ |
| 央 | dulimbai /dulimbai/ | dulimbai /dulimbai/ | dulimbai /dulimbai/ | *dulin /*dulin/ | — | — | au /au/ |
| 左 | hashū /haʃɯ/ | hashū /xaʃuː/ | hashū /χaɕu/ | *dʒəgün /*d͡ʒəɡyn/ | *jegün /*dʒeɡyn/ | — | sa /sa/ |
| 右 | ici /itɕi/ | ici /it͡ʃi/ | 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 /dʑulərɡi/ | julergi /d͡ʒulərɡi/ | julergi /d͡ʑulərɡi/ | — | *emüne /*emyne/ | — | nam /nam/ |
| 北 | amargi /amarɡi/ | amargi /amarɡi/ | amargi /amarɡi/ | — | *hoyitu /*hojitu/ | — | poku /poku/ |
| 行 | yabu- /jabu-/ | yabumbi /jabumbi/ | yabumbi /jawum/ | *jabu- /*jabu-/ | *yabu- /*jabu-/ | — | gyau /ŋʲau/ |
| 来 | ji- /dʑi-/ | jimbi /d͡ʒimbi/ | jimbi /d͡ʑim/ | *əmə- /*əmə-/ | *ire- /*ire-/ | — | rai /rai/ |
| 去 | gene- /ɡənə-/ | genembi /ɡənəmbi/ | genembi /ɡənəm/ | *ŋənə- /*ŋənə-/ | *od- /*od-/ | — | ko /ko/ |
| 見 | sabu- /sabu-/ | sabumbi /sabumbi/ | sabumbi /sabum/ | *ičə- /*it͡ʃə-/ | *üje- /*ydʒe-/ | — | ken /ken/ |
| 聞 | donji- /dondʑi-/ | donjimbi /dond͡ʒimbi/ | donjimbi /dɔnd͡ʑim/ | *dōldi- /*doːldi-/ | *sonos- /*sonos-/ | — | mon /mon/ |
| 食 | je- /dʑe-/ | jembi /d͡ʒəmbi/ | jembi /d͡ʑəm/ | *dʒəp- /*d͡ʒəp-/ | *ide- /*ide-/ | — | ziki /ʑiki/ |
| 飲 | omi- /omi-/ | omimbi /omimbi/ | omimbi /ɔmim/ | *umī- /*umiː-/ | *uxu- /*uxu-/ | — | on /on/ |
| 走 | suju- /sudʑu-/ | sujumbi /sud͡ʒumbi/ | sujumbi /sud͡ʑum/ | *tuksa- /*tuksa-/ | *güyü- /*ɡyjy-/ | — | sou /sou/ |
| 坐 | te- /te-/ | tembi /təmbi/ | tembi /təm/ | *təgə- /*təɡə-/ | *saxu- /*saxu-/ | — | za /za/ |
| 立 | ili- /ili-/ | ilimbi /ilimbi/ | ilimbi /ilim/ | *ili- /*ili-/ | *bos- /*bos-/ | — | ripu /ripu/ |
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