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
31 core words in Jurchen
Water
muke
/muke/
Fire
tuwa
/tuwa/
Sun
šun
/ʃun/
Moon
biya
/bija/
Star
usiha
/usixa/
Mother
eme
/eme/
Father
ama
/ama/
I
bi
/bi/
You
si
/ʃi/
Name
gebu
/gəbu/
Eye
yasa
/jasa/
Hand
gala
/ɡala/
Heart
niyaman
/nijaman/
Love
gosi
/ɡosi/
Tree
mo
/mo/
House
boo
/boː/
Dog
indahǔn
/indahuːn/
Cat
kesike
/kesike/
Eat
jefu
/dʒefu/
Drink
omi
/omi/
One
emu
/emu/
Two
juwe
/dʑuwə/
Hello
—
/—/
Thank you
—
/—/
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 | Udege | Even (Lamut) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | muke /muke/ | ᠮᡠᡴᡝ /mukə/ | ᠮᡠᡴᡝ /mukə/ | муэ /mue/ | muri /muri/ | уй /uj/ | мӯ /muː/ |
| Fire | tuwa /tuwa/ | ᡨᡠᠸᠠ /tuwa/ | ᡨᡠᠸᠠ /tuwa/ | това /tova/ | niár /niar/ | тогбо /toɡbo/ | тоог /toːɡ/ |
| Sun | šun /ʃun/ | ᡧᡠᠨ /ʃun/ | ᠰᡠᠨ /sun/ | сиун /siun/ | 𘲺 /nair/ | даигаси /daiɡasi/ | нөлтэн /nølten/ |
| Moon | biya /bija/ | ᠪᡳᠶᠠ /bija/ | ᠪᡳᠶᠠ /bija/ | биа /bia/ | 𘭧 /sair/ | биа /bia/ | бяг /bjaɡ/ |
| Star | usiha /usixa/ | ᡠᠰᡳᡥᠠ /usiˈχa/ | ᡠᠰᡳᡥᠠ /usˈχa/ | хосякта /xoˈsʲakta/ | od /od/ | ваикта /ˈwaikta/ | осикат /oˈsikat/ |
| Mother | eme /eme/ | ᡝᠨᡳᠶᡝ /ənijə/ | ᡝᠨᡞᠶᡝ /ənije/ | энин /enin/ | eme /eme/ | энэ /ene/ | эньэн /eɲen/ |
| Father | ama /ama/ | ᠠᠮᠠ /ama/ | ᠠᠮᠠ /ama/ | ама /ama/ | ai /ai/ | амэ /amə/ | аман /aman/ |
| I | bi /bi/ | ᠪᡳ /bi/ | ᠪᡳ /bi/ | ми /mi/ | bi /bi/ | би /bi/ | би /bi/ |
| You | si /ʃi/ | ᠰᡳ /si/ | ᠰᡳ /ɕi/ | си /si/ | ši /ʃi/ | си /si/ | хи /hiː/ |
| Name | gebu /gəbu/ | ᡤᡝᠪᡠ /ɡəbu/ | ᡤᡝᠪᡠ /ɡəˈvu/ | гэрбу /gərˈbu/ | niru /niru/ | гэгбэ /gəgˈbə/ | гэрбэ /gərˈbə/ |
| Eye | yasa /jasa/ | ᠶᠠᠰᠠ /jasa/ | ᠶᠠᠰᠠ /jasa/ | насал /nasal/ | nït /nit/ | яа /jaː/ | яса /jasa/ |
| Hand | gala /ɡala/ | ᡤᠠᠯᠠ /ɡala/ | ᡤᠠᠯᠠ /ɡala/ | нгала /ŋala/ | ɣar /ɣar/ | нала /nala/ | нгал /ŋal/ |
| Heart | niyaman /nijaman/ | ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠮᠠᠨ /nijaman/ | ᠨᡳᠶᠠᠮᠠᠨ /nijaman/ | миаван /miavan/ | niyàmen /nijamen/ | миаван /miavan/ | мяван /mjavan/ |
| Love | gosi /ɡosi/ | ᡥᠠᡳᡵᠠᠮᠪᡳ /xairambi/ | ᠴᡳᠯᡨᡠᠮᠪᡳ /tʃiltumbi/ | эйини /ejini/ | nasun /nasun/ | чисанай /tʃisanaj/ | аякан /ajakan/ |
| 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/ | дзугди /dzuɡdi/ | дьу /dʒu/ |
| Dog | indahǔn /indahuːn/ | ᡳᠨᡩᠠᡥᡡᠨ /indaxuːn/ | ᡳᠨᡩᠠᡥᡡᠨ /indaxun/ | инда /inda/ | 𘰕𘯛 /niaqan/ | инай /inaj/ | нгин /ŋin/ |
| Cat | kesike /kesike/ | ᡴᡝᠰᡳᡴᡝ /kəsikə/ | ᡴᡝᠰᡳᡴᡝ /kəsikə/ | коси /kosi/ | — /—/ | кошк /koʃk/ | кошка /koʂka/ |
| Eat | jefu /dʒefu/ | ᠵᡝᠮᠪᡳ /dʒəmbi/ | ᠵᡝᠮᠪᡞ /dʒəmbi/ | депу /depu/ | idi /idi/ | джевэ /dʒevə/ | дьэб /dʒeb/ |
| Drink | omi /omi/ | ᠣᠮᡳᠪᡳ /omibi/ | ᠣᠮᡳᠪᡞ /omibi/ | омичи /omitʃi/ | umi /umi/ | омимэ /omimə/ | ум /um/ |
| One | emu /emu/ | ᠡᠮᡠ /əmu/ | ᡝᠮᡠ /əmu/ | эмун /emun/ | 𘬣 /omsu/ | омо /omo/ | омэн /omen/ |
| Two | juwe /dʑuwə/ | ᠵᡠᠸᡝ /dʒuwə/ | ᠵᡠᠸᡝ /dʒuə/ | дюэр /dʒuˈər/ | jur /dʒuːr/ | дюэ /dʒuˈə/ | дёр /dʲoːr/ |
| Hello | — /—/ | ᠰᡳ ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /si sain/ | ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡝ ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /niŋɡe sain/ | банди-банди /bandi bandi/ | — /—/ | бандиба /bandiba/ | дорова /dorova/ |
| Thank you | — /—/ | ᠪᠠᠨᡳᡥᠠ /banixa/ | ᠪᠠᠨᡳᡥᠠ /banixa/ | банихан /banihan/ | — /—/ | нюхча /ɲuxtʃa/ | пасиба /pasiba/ |
| Good | sain /sain/ | ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /sain/ | ᠰᠠᡳᠨ /sain/ | ая /aja/ | sayïn /sajin/ | ая /aja/ | ай /aj/ |
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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 /dʒuwə/ | juwe /dʑuwə/ | *dʒuər /*dʒuər/ | *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 /sundʒa/ | sunja /sundʑa/ | *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 /dʒakʰuːn/ | jakūn /dʑakɯn/ | *dʒapkun /*dʒapkun/ | *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 /dʒuwan/ | juwan /dʑuwan/ | *dʒuwan /*dʒuwan/ | *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 /apka/ | *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/ | — | gu /ŋu/ |
| 羊 | honin /xonin/ | honin /xonin/ | honin /χɔnin/ | — | *honi(n) /*honin/ | — | yau /jau/ |
| 人 | niyalma /njalma/ | 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 /udʒu/ | uju /udʑu/ | *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 /*uldʒə/ | *mika(n) /*mikan/ | — | niku /ɲiku/ |
| 上 | dele /dələ/ | dele /dələ/ | dele /dələ/ | *ugi /*uɡi/ | *degere /*deɡere/ | — | zyau /ʑau/ |
| 下 | fejile /fəjilə/ | fejile /fədʒilə/ | fejile /fədʑilə/ | *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 /*dʒəɡyn/ | *jegün /*dʒeɡyn/ | — | sa /sa/ |
| 右 | ici /itɕi/ | ici /itʃi/ | ici /itɕi/ | *aŋān /*aŋaːn/ | *baragun /*baraɣun/ | — | u /u/ |
| 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 /dʒulərɡi/ | julergi /dʑulərɡi/ | — | *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 /dʒimbi/ | jimbi /dʑim/ | *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- /*itʃə-/ | *üje- /*ydʒe-/ | — | ken /ken/ |
| 聞 | donji- /dondʑi-/ | donjimbi /dondʒimbi/ | donjimbi /dɔndʑim/ | *dōldi- /*doːldi-/ | *sonos- /*sonos-/ | — | mon /mon/ |
| 食 | je- /dʑe-/ | jembi /dʒəmbi/ | jembi /dʑəm/ | *dʒəp- /*dʒəp-/ | *ide- /*ide-/ | — | ziki /ʑiki/ |
| 飲 | omi- /omi-/ | omimbi /omimbi/ | omimbi /ɔmim/ | *umī- /*umiː-/ | *uxu- /*uxu-/ | — | on /on/ |
| 走 | suju- /sudʑu-/ | sujumbi /sudʒumbi/ | sujumbi /sudʑum/ | *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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