ᠮ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠨ᠊ᠵ᠊ᡠ

ᠪᡳ᠊ᠠᠣ᠊ᡥᡝ
1
 solo initial medial final
ᠠ  ᠠ᠊ ᠇ ᠊ᠠ
a

ᡝ ᡝ᠊ ᠊ᡝ᠊ ᠊ᡝ
e

ᡳ ᡳ᠊ ᠊ᡳ᠊ ᠊ᡳ
i

ᠣ ᠣ᠊ ᠊ᠣ᠊ ᠊ᠣ
o

ᡠ ᡠ᠊ ᠊ᡠ᠊ ᠊ᡠ
u
ū
ᡡ ᡡ᠊ ᠊ᡡ᠊ ᠊ᡡ
2
 then writing them on
your own on the next
Now practice writing

by tracing them and

forms of each letter
the four different

page.

ᠠ  ᠠ  ᠠ  ᠠ᠊ ᠠ᠊ ᠠ᠊ ᠠ᠊ ᠊᠊᠇᠊ ᠊᠊᠇᠊ ᠊᠊᠇᠊ ᠊᠊ᠠ ᠊᠊ᠠ ᠊᠊ᠠ

ᠠ  ᠠ  ᠠ  ᠠ᠊ ᠠ᠊ ᠠ᠊ ᠠ᠊ ᠊᠊᠇᠊ ᠊᠊᠇᠊ ᠊᠊᠇᠊ ᠊᠊ᠠ ᠊᠊ᠠ ᠊᠊ᠠ
ᡝᡝ
ᡝᠠ ᡝ ᠠ  ᡝ᠊ ᡝ᠊ ᡝ᠊ ᡝ᠊ ᠊᠊᠇᠊ ᠊᠊ᡝ᠊
᠊᠊ᡝ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡝ᠊
᠊᠊ᡝ᠊ ᠊᠊᠇᠊ ᠊᠊ᡝ᠊᠊ᠠ᠊᠊ᡝ᠊᠊ᠠ᠊᠊ᡝ
ᡝᡝᡝᡝ ᡝ᠊ ᡝ᠊ ᡝ᠊ ᡝ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡝ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡝ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡝ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡝ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡝ ᠊᠊ᡝ ᠊᠊ᡝ
ᡳᡳᡳᡳ ᡳ᠊ ᡳ᠊ ᡳ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡳ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡳ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡳ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡳ ᠊᠊ᡳ᠊᠊ᡝ ᠊᠊ᡳ
᠊᠊ᡳ ᠊᠊ᡝ
ᡳᡳᡳᡳ ᡳ᠊ ᡳ᠊ ᡳ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡳ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡳ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡳ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡳ ᠊᠊ᡳ ᠊᠊ᡳ ᠊᠊ᡳ
ᠣᠣᠣᠣ ᠣ᠊ᡳ᠊ᠣ᠊ᡳ᠊ᠣ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠣ᠊᠊᠊ᡳ᠊᠊᠊ᠣ᠊᠊᠊ᡳ᠊᠊᠊ᠣ᠊ ᠊ᠣ ᠊ᠣ ᠊ᠣ ᠊ᠣ
ᠣᠣᠣᠣ ᠣ᠊ ᠣ᠊ ᠣ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠣ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠣ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠣ᠊ ᠊ᠣ ᠊ᠣ ᠊ᠣ ᠊ᠣ
ᡠᡠᡠᡠ ᡠ᠊ᠣ᠊ᡠ᠊ᠣ᠊ᡠ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡠ᠊᠊᠊ᠣ᠊᠊᠊ᡠ᠊᠊᠊ᠣ᠊᠊᠊ᡠ᠊ ᠊ᡠ ᠊ᡠ ᠊ᡠ ᠊ᡠ
ᡠᡠᡠᡠ ᡠ᠊ ᡠ᠊ ᡠ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡠ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡠ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡠ᠊ ᠊ᡠ ᠊ᡠ ᠊ᡠ ᠊ᡠ
ᡡᡡᡡ ᡠ᠊ ᡡ᠊
ᡡ᠊ ᡠ᠊ ᠊ᡡ᠊᠊᠊ᡠ᠊᠊ᡡ᠊᠊᠊ᡠ᠊᠊ᡡ᠊ ᠊ᡡ ᠊ᡡ ᠊ᡡ ᠊ᡡ
ᡡᡡᡡ ᡡ᠊ ᡡ᠊ ᠊ᡡ᠊ ᠊ᡡ᠊ ᠊ᡡ᠊ ᠊ᡡ ᠊ᡡ ᠊ᡡ ᠊ᡡ
3
ᡡᡡ ᡡ᠊ ᡡ᠊ ᠊ᡡ᠊ ᠊ᡡ᠊
 ᠠ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠠ᠈ ᡝ᠊ᡝ᠊ᡝ᠈ ᡳ᠊ᡳ᠊ᡳ᠈
connecting the
initial, medial,

letter like this:

forms of each

etc. as in the
a-a-a, e-e-e,

examples
and final

below:
Try

ᠣ᠊ᠣ᠊ᠣ᠈ ᡠ᠊ᡠ᠊ᡠ᠈ ᡡ᠊ᡡ᠊ᡡ

ᠠ ————————————
ᡝ ————————————
ᡳ ————————————
ᠣ ————————————
ᡠ ————————————
ᡡ ————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
4
5

——————————————————
——————————————————
——————————————————
——————————————————
——————————————————
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Now practice using two
Now try writing these w new letters: y and w. If
combinations:
there is another vowel

ᠸ ᠊᠊ᠸ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠸ
ae, ai, ao, au after i, you have to put a
(remember to double the i after y between them: i+a→
a vowel) iya. If there is another
vowel after u, you have
aea, aei, aeo, aeu to put a w between
aia, aio them: u+a→ uwa.
y
(remember to put a y after the One other thing: if i

ᠶ ᠶ᠊᠊
vowel i) comes after another
vowel, like in ai, ei, ui,
aua, aui, auo, auu then you have to double
(remember to put a w after the the i as in the examples
vowel u) below:

aya, awa, eya, ewa

᠊᠊ᠠᡳᡳ᠊᠈ ᠊ᡝᡳᡳ᠊ ᠈ ᠊ᡠᡳᡳ᠊

᠊ᡠ᠊ + ᠊ᠠ᠊ = ᠊ᡠᠸᠠ᠊
᠊ᡳ᠊ + ᠊ᠠ᠊ = ᠊ᡳᠶᠠ᠊
iya, iwa, oya, owa
uya, uwa, ūya, ūwa

yaya, weya, wowe

wuwa, yuya
Remember to use the initial,
medial, and final forms!
 solo initial medial final
ᠨ ᠨ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᠨ᠊᠊ ᠊ᠠ
n

᠊᠊ᠨ᠋᠊᠊
ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᡴ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡴ
(back)
q

᠊᠊ᠨ᠋ᠨ᠋᠊
(back)

ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᡤ᠊
ġ

 ᡥ᠊ ᡥ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᡥ᠊᠊

(back)
x

ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᠪ

b
ᡦ ᡦ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᡦ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᡦ
p
6
 on the next
writing the

each letter
by tracing
them and

your own
different
forms of

them on
practice

writing

page.
Now

then
four

ᠨᠨᠨᠨ ᠨ᠊ ᠨ᠊ ᠨ᠊ ᠨ᠊ ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ ᠊ᠨ ᠊ᠨ ᠊ᠨ ᠊ᠨ

ᠨᠨᠨᠨ ᠨ᠊ ᠨ᠊ ᠨ᠊ ᠨ᠊ ᠊ᠠ᠊ ᠊ᠠ᠊ ᠊ᠠ᠊ ᠊ᠠ᠊ ᠊ᠨ ᠊ᠨ ᠊ᠨ ᠊ᠨ
ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᠊ᡴ᠊ ᠊ᡴ᠊ ᠊ᡴ᠊ ᠊ᡴ ᠊ᡴ ᠊ᡴ
ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᡴ᠊ ᠊ᠨ᠋ᠨ᠋᠊ ᠊ᠨ᠋ᠨ᠋᠊ ᠊ᠨ᠋ᠨ᠋᠊ ᠊ᡴ
ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡤ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡤ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡤ᠊ ᠊ᡴ ᠊ᡴ ᠊ᡴ
ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᡤ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡤ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡤ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡤ᠊ ᠊ᡴ
ᡥ᠊ ᡥ᠊ ᡥ᠊ ᡥ᠊ ᡥ᠊ ᡥ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡥ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡥ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡥ᠊
ᡥ᠊ ᡥ᠊ ᡥ᠊ ᡥ᠊ ᡥ᠊ ᡥ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡥ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡥ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡥ᠊
ᠪᠪᠪᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠪ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠪ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ
ᠪᠪᠪᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠪ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠪ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ ᠊᠊ᠪ
ᡦᡦᡦᡦ ᡦ᠊᠊ ᡦ᠊᠊ ᡦ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᡦ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡦ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡦ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡦ ᠊᠊ᡦ ᠊᠊ᡦ
ᡦᡦᡦᡦ ᡦ᠊᠊ ᡦ᠊᠊ ᡦ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᡦ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡦ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡦ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡦ ᠊᠊ᡦ ᠊᠊ᡦ
7
 like this: n-
connecting

n-n, q-q-q,
each letter
the initial,

and final
forms of
medial,

etc.
Try

ᠨ ————————————
ᡴ᠊ ————————————
ᡤ᠊ ————————————
ᡥ᠊ ————————————
ᠪ ————————————
ᡦ ————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
8
9

Since the letters b and p (and Manchu has a feature called “harmony” which means that the
others you will learn soon) have sounds in a word should match each other in two main groups:
circular shapes, the circular front and back sounds. The back vowels are a, o, and ū, while e
letters o and u merge with them is a front vowel. The vowels u and i can be either.
in the combinations bu, bo, pu,
In addition, there are also two groups of consonants where
and po.
harmony is important: the t/d vs. ṭ/ḍ group and the k/g/h vs.
q/ġ/x group. The letters q, ġ, and x we just learned are “back
ᡦᠣ᠊᠊᠊
ᡦᡠ᠊᠊᠊
ᠪᠣ᠊᠊᠊
ᠪᡠ᠊᠊᠊
consonants” and match with “back vowels.”
This will take some time to get used to. For now, remember that
Like the letters k, g, and h which you q, ġ, and x are back sounds and have to go with the vowels a, o,
will learn soon, the letters b and p do and ū. That means you will see the combinations qa qo qū, ġa
not have a “tooth” when connected to a ġo ġū, and xa xo xū, but NOT *qe *qi *qu, *ġe *ġi ġu or
following letter. That’s why vowels that *xe, *xi, *xu. For the front consonants k, g, and h you will see
come after these letters (like we saw in in ke ki ku, ge gi gu, and he hi hu.
ba and pa) are incorporated into them.
Dots: n has a dot

ᠠ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ᠠ ana ᠠ᠊ᠨ᠊ᡤᠠ anġa

ᠠ᠊ᡴ᠊ᠠ aqa ᠠ᠊ᠨ᠋ᠨ᠋᠊ᠨ᠋ᠠ aqna
Write the following words in the Latin The letter a has a
different shape when before a vowel, but
alphabet.
it comes after the no dot before a
letters b and p (and consonant.
ᠨ᠊ᡳ᠊᠊ᡴ᠊᠊᠊ᠠ᠊᠊᠊ᠨ
ᠪ᠊ᡝ᠊ᠨ᠋ᡳ᠊ᡥ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ᠠ
ᡴ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ᠠ᠊ᡤ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠸᠠ
ᠨ᠊ᠣ᠊ᠪᡠ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ᠠ᠊ᡤᠠ

others you will learn But q is the reverse,

soon), as in the having no dots
example below. before a vowel and
dots before a
ᠠ᠊ᠪᠠ aba
ᠠ᠊ᡤᠠ aġa
ᠠ᠊ᠨ᠋ᠠ ana consonant. Have a
look at the examples
to the left.
10

ᠶ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ᠠ᠊ᠶ᠊᠊ᠠ
ᠨ᠊ᡳ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ᡠ᠊ᠨᡤ᠊ᠠ
ᡤᠠ᠊᠊ᡴ᠊ᠣ᠊᠊ᠨ᠋ᠣᡳ
ᡥᡡ᠊᠊ᠨ᠋ᡝ᠊᠊ᡤᠠ
ᠨᠣ᠊ᠨ᠊ᡤ᠊ᠠ᠊ᡴᠣ
ᠪᠠ᠊ᡥ᠊ᠣ᠊ᠨ᠋ᠠ
ᡤᡡ᠊ᠨ᠋ᠠ᠊ᡴᠠ
ᠨᠣ᠊ᠪᡠ᠊ᠸ᠊ᠠ
ᡤᠠ᠊ᡴᠠ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊᠊ᡠ
Now practice some more
with these nonsense
words. Transliterate
them into Latin script
and practice writing
them yourself a few
times. There is an
answer key at the end.
 ———————————————
Practice writing the following nonsense words in

———————————————
nana, qana, ġana, xana, bana, pana
ninbi, nunġa, nonqa, nūnba, nanqū

———————————————
———————————————
una, uqa, uġa, uxa, uba, upa
ana, aqa, aġa, axa, aba, apa

ina, iqa, iġa, ixa, iba, ipa

———————————————
binu, bunu, bona, noba

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Manchu:

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11
 solo initial medial final
ᡵ ᡵ᠊ ᠊ᡵ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡵ
r

ᡴ ᡴ ᠊ᡴ᠌᠊ ᠊᠊ᡴ᠋
(front)
k

ᡤ ᡤ ᡤ
(front)
g
(front)

 ᡥ ᡥ ᡥ
h

ᠮ ᠮ᠊᠊ ᠊ᠮ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠮ

m
ᠯ ᠯ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ
l
12
 different
forms of

letter by

them on

the next
practice

the four

own on
writing

writing
tracing

page.
them
Now

your
then
each

and

ᡵ ᡵ ᡵ ᡵ ᡵ᠊ ᡵ᠊ ᡵ᠊ ᡵ᠊ ᠊ᡵ᠊ ᠊ᡵ᠊ ᠊ᡵ᠊ ᠊ᡵ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡵ ᠊᠊ᡵ ᠊᠊ᡵ

ᡵ ᡵ ᡵ ᡵ ᡵ᠊ ᡵ᠊ ᡵ᠊ ᡵ᠊ ᠊ᡵ᠊ ᠊ᡵ᠊ ᠊ᡵ᠊ ᠊ᡵ᠊ ᠊᠊ᡵ ᠊᠊ᡵ ᠊᠊ᡵ
ᡴᡴᡴᡴ ᡴᡴᡴᡴ ᠊ᡴ᠌᠊ ᠊ᡴ᠌᠊ ᠊ᡴ᠌᠊ ᠊ᡴ᠌᠊ ᠊᠊ᡴ᠋ ᠊᠊ᡴ᠋ ᠊᠊ᡴ᠋
ᡴᡴᡴᡴ ᡴᡴᡴᡴ ᠊ᡴ᠌᠊ ᠊ᡴ᠌᠊ ᠊ᡴ᠌᠊ ᠊ᡴ᠌᠊ ᠊᠊ᡴ᠋ ᠊᠊ᡴ᠋ ᠊᠊ᡴ᠋
ᡤᡤᡤᡤ ᡤᡤᡤᡤ ᡤᡤᡤᡤ
ᡤᡤᡤᡤ ᡤᡤᡤᡤ ᡤᡤᡤᡤ
ᡥᡥᡥᡥ ᡥᡥᡥᡥ ᡥᡥᡥᡥ
ᡥᡥᡥᡥ ᡥᡥᡥᡥ ᡥᡥᡥᡥ
ᠮᠮᠮᠮ ᠮ᠊᠊ ᠮ᠊᠊ ᠮ᠊᠊ ᠮ᠊᠊ ᠊ᠮ᠊ ᠊ᠮ᠊ ᠊ᠮ᠊ ᠊ᠮ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠮ ᠊᠊ᠮ ᠊᠊ᠮ
ᠮᠮᠮᠮ ᠮ᠊᠊ ᠮ᠊᠊ ᠮ᠊᠊ ᠮ᠊᠊ ᠊ᠮ᠊ ᠊ᠮ᠊ ᠊ᠮ᠊ ᠊ᠮ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠮ ᠊᠊ᠮ ᠊᠊ᠮ
ᠯᠯᠯᠯ ᠯ᠊᠊ ᠯ᠊᠊ ᠯ᠊᠊ ᠯ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ ᠊᠊ᠯ ᠊᠊ᠯ
ᠯᠯᠯᠯ ᠯ᠊᠊ ᠯ᠊᠊ ᠯ᠊᠊ ᠯ᠊᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠯ ᠊᠊ᠯ ᠊᠊ᠯ
13
 like this: r-
connecting

each letter
the initial,

r-r, k-k-k,
and final
forms of
medial,

etc.
Try

ᡵ ————————————
ᡴ ————————————
ᡤ ————————————
ᡥ ————————————
ᠮ ————————————
ᠯ ————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
14
15

ᡴᡡ
ᡴᠣ
ᡴᠠ
ᡴᡳ
ᡴᡠ᠊
ᡴᡝ
Because of vowel harmony, the spellings *qe,
*ġe, and *xe will not occur in Manchu, but
you will see ke, ge, and he. When the letter e

ku
ki

ke
qo

qa
follows these letters, it has no dot. The reason
qū

is that the letter a, which looks identical to

the dotless letter e, won’t follow k, g, and h
anyway.
ᡤᡡ
ᡤᠣ
ᡤᠠ
ᡤᡳ
ᡤᡠ᠊
ᡤᡝ
This same situation is true for the letters t
and d, which you have not yet learned. Like
the front consonant group k g h and its
ġo

ġa counterpart back consonant group q ġ x, the

ġū

gu

ge
gi
front consonant group t d has a back
consonant counterpart, ṭ and ḍ. Like ke, ge,
and he, you will see te and de in Manchu, but
not *ṭe or *ḍe. Therefore, the letter e can be
ᡥᡡ
ᡥᠣ
ᡥᠠ
ᡥᡳ
ᡥᡠ᠊
ᡥᡝ
written with no dot after t and d because it
can’t be confused with a in that position.

hu

he
hi

Yes: ke ge he te de
xo

xa
xū

No: *qe *ġe *xe *ṭe *ḍe

Yes: qa ġa xa ṭa ḍa
No: *ka *ga *ha *ta *da
Note: u and e usually have a dot, but when
Note that k, g, and h, like b and p, have round
they come after the front consonants k, g, h,
shapes. That means they will incorporate
t, or d, the vowels u and e have no dot. See following letters into their loop. The same
ke ge he – ku gu hu above. shape variation for a you saw in ba applies
here too because of the round shape.

See the examples to the left.

 ᡴᠠ᠊ᡴᠣ᠊᠊ᡴᡡ ᡴᡝ᠊ᡴᡳ᠊ᡴᡠ
Copy the nonsense words and transliterate

ᡤᠠ᠊᠊ᡤᠣ᠊᠊ᡤᡡ ᡤᡝ᠊ᡤᡳ᠊ᡤᡠ
them into Latin characters.

ᡥᠠ᠊᠊ᡥᠣ᠊᠊ᡥᡡ ᡥᡝ᠊ᡥᡳ᠊ᡥᡠ
ᠯᠠ᠊᠊ᠯᡝ᠊᠊ᠯᡠ ᠮᡠ᠊ᠮᡳ᠊ᠮᠣ
ᡵᠣ᠊ᡤᠣ᠊ᠯᡠ ᡥᡡ᠊ᡥᠠ᠊ᡥᠣ
ᠠᡵ᠊ᡤᠠ᠊ᠯᠣ ᡝ᠊ᡵ᠊ᡤᡝ᠊ᠯ᠊ᡠ
ᡠ᠊ᡵ᠊ᡴᡝ᠊ᠮ᠊ᡳ ᠣᡵᡤᠠ᠊ᠯᡝ
ᡳ᠊ᡵᡝ᠊ᡤᡠ᠊ᠮᡳ ᡝᡵᠠᡤᠣᠮᠠ
ᠯᡝ᠊ᡵᡳ᠊ᠪᡠ᠊ᠮ᠊ᡠ ᠮᠠ᠊ᡵᠣ᠊ᠪᡡ᠊ᠮ᠊ᠣ
ᡤᠠ᠊᠊ᠯᠣ᠊᠊ᠮᡡ ᡴᡝ᠊ᠯ᠊ᡠ᠊ᠮ᠊ᡠ
ᡥᠣ᠊ᡴ᠋ᡡ᠊ᠮᠠ ᡥᡠ᠊ᡴᡠ᠊᠊ᡥᡝ
ᡤᡡ᠊ᡴᠠ᠊ᡥᠣ ᡤᡠ᠊ᡴᡝ᠊ᡥᡳ
16
17

ᡴᠣᡵᠠᠨ ᡳ ᡴᡝᡵᡳᠮ
ᠣ᠊ᡵᡝ᠊ᡤ᠊ᠠ᠊᠊ᠨ᠋ᠣ
ᠣ᠊ᠨ᠋ᠨ᠋᠊ᡵ᠊ᠣ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ᠠ᠊ᡥᠠ
ᡴ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠯ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠪᠣ᠊ᡴ᠊ᠠ
Now practice writing these nonsense words in Practice writing and
Manchu script: transcribing the
following nonsense
qabulixa, kelgan, xamġaru, babunaru,
words.
waqao, yekei, manġoqaru, alma ata,
bipuruma, boġūqaqū, keluheli

ᡤ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠯ᠊ᡠ᠊ᠯ᠊ᠣ᠊ᡵ᠊ᡳ
ᠮ᠊᠊ᠠ᠊ᡵ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠮ᠊᠊ᡝ
ᠯ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠮ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ᠣ᠊ᠯ᠊ᠣ
 solo initial medial final
ᡨ ᡨ᠊ ᠊ᡨ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠣᠠ
(front)
t

᠊ᠣᠠ᠊
 ᡩ ᡩ᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠊
(front)
d

 
ᠲ ᠲ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠲ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠣᠠ
(back)

᠊ᠣᠠ᠊ 
ṭ
(back)
ḍ
ᡩ ᡩ᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠋᠊
18
 then writing them on
your own on the next
Now practice writing

by tracing them and

forms of each letter
the four different

page.

ᡨ ᡨ ᡨ ᡨ ᡨ᠊ ᡨ᠊ ᡨ᠊ ᠊ᡨ᠊ ᠊ᡨ᠊ ᠊ᡨ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠣᠠ ᠊᠊ᠣᠠ

ᡨ ᡨ ᡨ ᡨ ᡨ᠊ ᡨ᠊ ᡨ᠊ ᠊ᠣᠠ᠊ ᠊ᠣᠠ᠊ ᠊ᠣᠠ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠣᠠ ᠊᠊ᠣᠠ
ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠊
ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠊
ᠲᠲᠲᠲ ᠲ᠊ ᠲ᠊ ᠲ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠲ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠲ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠲ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠣᠠ ᠊᠊ᠣᠠ
ᠲᠲᠲᠲ ᠲ᠊ ᠲ᠊ ᠲ᠊ ᠊ᠣᠠ᠊ ᠊ᠣᠠ᠊ ᠊ᠣᠠ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠣᠠ ᠊᠊ᠣᠠ
ᡩᡩᡩᡩ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠋᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠋᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠋᠊
ᡩᡩᡩᡩ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᡩ᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠋᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠋᠊ ᠊ᡩ᠋᠊
19
 connecting

like this: t-
each letter
the initial,

t-t, d-d-d,
and final
forms of
medial,

etc.
Try

ᡨ ————————————
 ᡩ ————————————
ᠲ ————————————
ᡩ ————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
20
21

ᠲᡡ᠊
ᠲᠠ᠊
ᡨᠣ    ᡩᠣ
ᡨᠠ᠊    ᡩᠠ
In the t d / ṭ ḍ group, there are a few variables to keep in
mind:

ṭa

te
tu
- in the initial forms, the front consonants t and d
ṭū have a vertical stroke.
- the unvoiced consonants t and ṭ have no dot, while
the voiced consonants d and ḍ have a dot.
- in medial forms, front t and d have an extra hook
ᡩᡡ᠊
ḍaᡩᠠ᠊ -
while back ṭ and ḍ have no extra hook.
the final forms of t and ṭ are the same.
- there are no final forms for d and ḍ.

du

de
ḍū

- before another consonant, t and ṭ have a different

form (shown to the left in the above chart).
ᠲᠣ᠊
ᠲᡳ᠊

- like the q ġ x / k g h groups, the t d / ṭ ḍ groups go

Reminder: when with different vowels (see examples). The front
the front vowels u sounds t and d go with the vowels e and u; the back
ṭo

and e, which
ṭi

sounds ṭ and ḍ go with the vowels a, o, ū, and i.

usually have a
- as with q ġ / k g, which can have dots, the letters e
dot, come after
and a look the same after the t d / ṭ ḍ group due to
the front sounds
the front/back sound difference.
k, g, h, t, or d,
ᡩᡳ᠊
ᡩᠣ᠊

- the same is true for the vowels u and o, which are

they are written
distinguished by a dot. The u vowel has no dot after
with no dot.
t and d because, as a front vowel appearing
ḍi

ḍo

together with front consonant, you know it has to

be u and not o (which looks the same as u other
than the dot).
- these complicated rules will take time to master!
Be patient and diligent.
 different shapes of t,
d, ṭ, and ḍ and how
Copy the following
nonsense words to

they interact with

understand the
make sure you

vowels.

ᡨᠠᡨᠠ tete 
 ᡩᠠᡩᠠ dede
ᡨᠣᡨᠣ tutu 
 ᡩᠣᡩᠣ dudu
ᡨᠠᡩᠠ tede 
 ᡩᠠᡨᠠ dete
ᡨᠣᡩᠣ tudu 
 ᡩᠣᡨᠣ dutu
ᡨᠣᡩᠠ tude 
ᡨᠠᡩᠣ  ᡩᠣᡨᠠ
tedu dute
 ᡩᠠᡨᠣ detu
ᠲᠠᠲᠠ tata
ᡩᠠᡩᠠ dada
ᠲᠣᠲᠣ toto
ᡩᠣᡩᠣ dodo
ᠲᠠᡩᠠ tada
ᡩᠠᠲᠠ data
ᠲᠣᡩᠣ todo
ᡩᠣᠲᠣ doto
ᠲᠣᡩᠠ toda
ᠲᠠᡩᠣ tado
ᡩᠣᡨᠠ dota
ᡩᠠᠲᠣ dato
22
 the final vowel

change before
to get a better
added before
with k, g, h,
Do the same
thing again

way t and ṭ

consonant.
feel for the
q, ġ, or x

another

ᡨᠠ᠊ᠣᠠᡴᡝ tetke 
ᡩᠠᡩᡤᡝ dedge
ᡨᠣ᠊ᠣᠠ᠊ᡴᡠ tutku
 ᡩᠣᡩᡤᡠ dudgu
ᡨᠠᡩᡤᡝ tedge
 ᡩᠠᠣᠠ᠊ᡴᡝ detke
ᡨᠣᡩᡤᡠ tudgu
ᡩᠣᠣᠠ᠊ᡴᡠ dutku
ᡨᠣᡩᡥᡝ tudhe 
ᡨᠠᡩᡥᡠ tedhu
 ᡩᠣᠣᠠ᠊ᡥᡝ duthe
 ᡩᠠᠣᠠᡥᡠ dethu
ᠲᠠᠣᠠ᠊ᡴᠠ ṭaṭqa
ᡩᠠᡩ᠋ᡤᠠ ḍaḍġa
ᠲᠣᠣᠠ᠊ᡴᠣ ṭoṭqo
ᡩᠣᡩ᠋ᡤᠣ ḍoḍġo
ᠲᠠᡩ᠋ᡤᠠ ṭaḍġa
ᡩᠠᠣᠠ᠊ᡴᠠ ḍaṭqa
ᠲᠣᡩ᠋ᡤᠣ ṭoḍġo
ᡩᠣᠣᠠ᠊ᡴᠣ ḍoṭqo
ᠲᠣᡩ᠋ᡥᠠ ṭoḍxa
ᠲᠠᡩ᠋ᡥᠣ ṭaḍxo
ᡩᠣᠣᠠᡥᠠ ḍoṭxa
ᡩᠠᠣᠠᡥᠣ ḍaṭxo
23
 solo initial medial final
ᠵ ᠵ᠊᠊ ᠊ᠵ᠊
j

 ᠴ ᠴ᠊᠊ ᠊ᠴ᠊
c

ᠰ ᠰ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠰ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠰ
s

ᡧ ᡧ᠊᠊ ᠊ᡧ᠊
š

ᡶ ᡶ᠊᠊ ᠊ᡶ᠊
f
24
 on the next
writing the

each letter
by tracing
them and

your own
different
forms of

them on
practice

writing

page.
Now

then
four

ᠵᠵᠵᠵ ᠵ᠊᠊ ᠵ᠊᠊ ᠵ᠊᠊ ᠊ᠵ᠊ ᠊ᠵ᠊ ᠊ᠵ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠠ ᠊᠊ᠠ ᠊᠊ᠠ
ᠵᠵᠵᠵ ᠵ᠊᠊ ᠵ᠊᠊ ᠵ᠊᠊ ᠊ᠵ᠊ ᠊ᠵ᠊ ᠊ᠵ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠠ ᠊᠊ᠠ ᠊᠊ᠠ
ᠴᠴᠴᠴ ᠴ᠊᠊ ᠴ᠊᠊ ᠴ᠊᠊ ᠊ᠴ᠊ ᠊ᠴ᠊ ᠊ᠴ᠊
ᠴᠴᠴᠴ ᠴ᠊᠊ ᠴ᠊᠊ ᠴ᠊᠊ ᠊ᠴ᠊ ᠊ᠴ᠊ ᠊ᠴ᠊
ᠰ ᠰ ᠰ ᠰ ᠰ᠊ ᠰ᠊ ᠰ᠊ ᠰ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠰ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠰ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠰ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠰ ᠊᠊ᠰ ᠊᠊ᠰ
ᠰ ᠰ ᠰ ᠰ ᠰ᠊ ᠰ᠊ ᠰ᠊ ᠰ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠰ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠰ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠰ᠊ ᠊᠊ᠰ ᠊᠊ᠰ ᠊᠊ᠰ
ᡧᡧᡧᡧ ᡧ᠊᠊ ᡧ᠊᠊ ᡧ᠊᠊ ᠊ᡧ᠊ ᠊ᡧ᠊ ᠊ᡧ᠊
ᡧᡧᡧᡧ ᡧ᠊᠊ ᡧ᠊᠊ ᡧ᠊᠊ ᠊ᡧ᠊ ᠊ᡧ᠊ ᠊ᡧ᠊
ᡶ ᡶ ᡶ ᡶ ᡶ᠊᠊ ᡶ᠊᠊ ᡶ᠊᠊ ᠊ᡶ᠊ ᠊ᡶ᠊ ᠊ᡶ᠊
ᡶ ᡶ ᡶ ᡶ ᡶ᠊᠊ ᡶ᠊᠊ ᡶ᠊᠊ ᠊ᡶ᠊ ᠊ᡶ᠊ ᠊ᡶ᠊
25
 connecting

like this: j-
each letter
the initial,

and final

j-j, c-c-c,
forms of
medial,

etc.
Try

ᠵ ————————————
ᠴ ————————————
ᠰ ————————————
ᡧ ————————————
ᡶ ————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
—————————————
26
27

ᡧᡳᡶᠠ
ᠵᡠᠰᠠ
ᠰᠠᡧᠠ
ᠵᡳᠵᠠ
ᠴᠠᠴᡠ
Copy and transliterate The letter w, which you already
the following learned, does not appear before
nonsense words. the vowels o, u, i or ū. You are
now very familiar with the

ᡶᠠᠸᡳ
ᡶᠠᠸᠣ
ᡶᠠᡶᠠ
tendency in Manchu for different
sounds to look the same in
different contexts. Here is one
more for your arsenal: the letter f
has the shape in the above chart
when it comes before the vowels e
and a, but it looks just like a w
before o, u, i and ū. You will see
fa and fe with the form in the
chart, but when you see fo, fu, fi,
and fū, the letter f will look just
ᠰᡠᠸᠣ
ᡧᡝᠰᠣ
ᠰᡠᡧᡳ
ᠵᡠᠵᡝ
ᠴᡳᠴᠣ like a w.

ᡶᠠᠸᡡ
ᡶᠠᠸᡠ
ᡶᠠᡶᡝ
Good news! You have now learned
all the Manchu letters and how
they interact with each other. You
are now prepared to try reading
some real Manchu and learning
the language so you can become
the next great Manjurist.

More good news: there are no

other special rules about this
group of letters.
28

Now practice writing these words in the

Manchu script:
amba, age, si, aibi, ci, jihe, bi, coohiyan,
wang ging, te, absi, genembi, gemun
hecen, atanggi, juraka, ere, biya, ice, de,
hontohon, hamika, ainu, teni, ubada,
isinjiha; emu, gucu, tutambi, jimbi, ofi;
elheseme, yabure, jakade, tuttu, goihada

One last thing: the combination ng looks

like the example on the right below.
When it comes at the end of a word, it will
look like the example on the left.

᠊ᠠ᠊ᡴ᠋
᠊ᠠᡴᡝ᠊
 ᠠ᠊ᠮ᠊ᠪᠠ ᠠ᠊ᡤᡝ ᠰᡳ ᠠᡳᡳᠪᡳᠴᡳ ᠵᡳᡥᡝ
transliterate the following
Now read, copy, and

ᠪᡳ ᠴᠣᠣᡥᡳᠶᠠᠨ ᠸᠠ᠊ᠠ᠊ᡴ᠋ ᡤᡳ᠊ᠠ᠊ᡴ᠋ ᠴᡳ ᠵᡳᡥᡝ

lines:

ᡨ᠊ᠠ ᠠ᠊ᠪ᠊ᠰ᠊ᡳ ᡤᡝ᠊ᠨ᠊ᡝ᠊ᠮ᠊ᠪᡳ

ᠪᡳ ᡤᡝ᠊ᠮ᠊ᡠ᠊ᠨ ᡥᡝ᠊ᠴ᠊ᡠ᠊ᠨ  ᡳ ᠪᠠ᠊ᡵ᠊ᡠ ᡤᡝ᠊ᠨ᠋ᡝ᠊ᠮ᠊ᠪᡳ
ᠰᡳ ᠠᡨᠠ᠊ᠠᡴᡝ᠊ᡤᡳ ᠸᠠ᠊ᠠ᠊ᡴ᠋ ᡤᡳ᠊ᠠ᠊ᡴ᠋ ᠴᡳ ᠵ᠊ᡠ᠊ᡵᠠ᠊ᡴᠠ
ᠪᡳ ᡝᡵᡝ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ ᡳᠴᡝ ᡨᡝ ᠵ᠊ᡠ᠊ᡵᠠ᠊ᡴᠠ
29
 ᠰᡳ ᡝᡵᡝ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ ᡳᠴᡝ ᡨᡝ ᠵᡠᡵᠠᡶᡳ
ᡨᠠ ᡥᠣᠨᠲᠣᡥᠣᠨ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ ᡥᠠᠮᡳᡴᠠ ᠪᡳᠮᡝ ᠠᡳᡳᠨ᠋ᡠ ᡨᠠᠨ᠋ᡳ ᡠᠪᠠᡩᠠ
ᡳᠰᡳᠨᠵᡳᡥᠠ
ᡝᠮᡠ ᡤᡠᠴᡠ ᡨᠣᠲᠠᡶᡳ ᠵᡳᠮᡝ ᠣᠸᡳ
ᠪᡳ ᡝᠯᡥᡝᠰᡝᠮᡝ ᠠᠯᡳᠶᠠᡴᡳᠶᠠᠮᡝ ᠶᠠᠪᡠᡵᡝ ᠵᠠ᠊ᡴ᠊ᠠᡩᠠ ᡨᠣ᠊ᠣᠠ᠊ᠲᠣ ᠵᡳᠮᡝ
ᡤᠣᡳᡳᠲᠠᡥᠠ
ᡨᠠᡵᡝ ᡤᡠᠴᡠ ᡨᠠ ᠠᠮᠴᠠᠮᡝ ᡳᠰᡳᠨᠵᡳᠮᠪᡳᠣ ᠠ᠊ᡴ᠊ᡡ᠊ᠨ
30
 ᡝᡵᡝ ᡠ᠊ᠣᠠ᠊ᡥ᠊ᠠ᠊ᡳ ᡨᠠᡵᡝ ᡤᡠᠴᡠ ᡳᠨ᠋ᡠ
ᠰ᠊ᡳ᠊ᡴ᠊ᠰᡝ ᡨᠠᠨ᠋ᡳ ᠵᡳᡥᡝ
ᠰᡳ ᠪᠣᠲᠣᠴᡳ ᡝᡵᡝ ᠪᡳᠶᠠᡳ ᠮ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ᠠ᠊ᠰ᠊ᡥ᠊ᡡ᠊ᠨ ᡤᡝᠮᡠᠨ ᡥᡝᠴᡝᠨ ᡨᡝ
ᡳ᠊ᠰ᠊ᡳ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ᠠ᠊ᠮ᠊ᠪᡳ᠊ᠣ ᡳ᠊ᠰ᠊ᡳ᠊ᠨ᠋᠊ᠠ᠊ᡵ᠊ᠠ᠊ᡴ᠊ᡡᠨ
ᠪᡳ ᠠ᠊ᠲ᠊ᠠ᠊ᡵ᠊ᠠ᠊ᠮ᠊ᡝ ᠪᠠ᠊ᡥᠠ᠊ᠸᡳ ᠰᠠ᠊ᠮ᠊ᠪᡳ
ᠠ᠊ᠪ᠊ᡴ᠊ᠠ ᡤᠣ᠊ᠰᡳ᠊ᠸᡳ ᠪᡝᠶᡝ ᡝᠯᡥᡝ ᠣᠴᡳ ᡳᠰᡳᠨ᠋ᠠᠮᠪᡳ ᡨᡝᡵᡝ
31
 Key to exercises
ᠠᡝ ᠠᡳᡳ ᠠᠣ ᠠᡠ ᠈ ᠠᡝᠠ ᠠᡝᡳ ᠠᡝᠣ ᠠᡝᡠ ᠠᡳᠶᠠ ᠠᡳᡳᠶᠣ ᠈ ᠠᡠᠸᠠ ᠠᡠᠸᡳ ᠠᡠᠸᠣ ᠠᡠᠸᡠ
p. 5

᠈ ᠠᠶᠠ ᠠᠸᠠ ᡝᠶᠠ ᡝᠸᠠ ᡳᠶᠠ ᡳᠸᠠ ᠣᠶᠠ ᠣᠸᠠ ᡠᠶᠠ ᡠᠸᠠ ᡡᠶᠠ ᡠᠸᠠ ᠈ ᠶᠠᠶᠠ
ᠸᡝᠶᠠ ᠸᠣᠸᡝ ᠸᡠᠸᠠ ᠶᡠᠶᠠ
nobunaġa, qanaġawa, benixana, nikan
p. 9

ġaqanu, nobuwa, ġūnaqa, bahona, nonġaqo, xūneġa, ġaqonoi,

p. 10

ninunġa, yanawa
ᠠᠨ᠋ᠠ ᠠᡴᠠ ᠠᡤᠠ ᠠᡥᠠ ᠠᠪᠠ ᠠᡦᠠ ᠈ ᡠᠨ᠋ᠠ ᡠᡴᠠ ᡠᡤᠠ ᡠᡥᠠ ᡠᠪᠠ ᡠᡦᠠ ᠈ ᡳᠨ᠋ᠠ
p. 11

ᡳᡴᠠ ᡳᡤᠠ ᡳᡥᠠ ᡳᠪᠠ ᡳᡦᠠ ᠈ ᠨᠠᠨ᠋ᠠ ᡴᠠᠨ᠋ᠠ ᡤᠠᠨ᠋ᠠ ᡥᠠᠨ᠋ᠠ ᠪᠠᠨ᠋ᠠ ᡦᠠᠨ᠋ᠠ ᠈ ᠨᡳᠨᠪᡳ ᠨᡠᠨᡤᠠ
ᠨᠣᠨᡴᠠ ᠨᡡᠨᠪᠠ ᠨᠠᠨᡴᡡ ᠈ ᠪᡳᠨ᠋ᡠ ᠪᡠᠨ᠋ᡠ ᠪᠣᠨ᠋ᠠ ᠨᠣᠪᠠ
qaqoqū, kekiku, ġaġoġū, gegigu, xaxoxū, hehihu, lalelu,
p. 16

mumimo, roġolu, xūxaxo, arġalo, ergelu, urkemi, orġale,

iregumi, eraġoma, leribumu, marobūmo, ġalomū, kelumu,
xoqūma, hukuhe, ġūqaxo, gukehi
lamanolo, marame, ġalulori, qalaboqa, oqronaxa, oreġano,
p. 17

qoran i kerim
fafa, fafe, fafo, fafu, fafi, fafū, cacu, cico, jija, juje, saša, suši,
p. 27

jusa, šeso, šifa, sufo

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 ᠠ᠊ᠮ᠊ᠪᠠ ᠠ᠊ᡤᡝ ᠰᡳ ᠠᡳᡳᠪᡳᠴᡳ ᠵᡳᡥᡝ ᠈ ᠪᡳ ᠴᠣᠣᡥᡳᠶᠠᠨ ᠸᠠ᠊ᠠ᠊ᡴ᠋
p. 28

ᡤᡳ᠊ᠠ᠊ᡴ᠋ ᠈ ᡨ᠊ᠠ ᠠ᠊ᠪ᠊ᠰ᠊ᡳ ᡤᡝ᠊ᠨ᠊ᡝ᠊ᠮ᠊ᠪᡳ ᠈ ᡤᡝ᠊ᠮ᠊ᡠ᠊ᠨ ᡥᡝ᠊ᠴ᠊ᡠ᠊ᠨ

 ᠪᠠ᠊ᡵ᠊ᡠ ᠈ ᠠᡨᠠ᠊ᠠᡴᡝ᠊ᡤᡳ ᠵ᠊ᡠ᠊ᡵᠠ᠊ᡴᠠ ᡝᡵᡝ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ ᡳᠴᡝ ᡨᡝ ᠈
ᡥᠣᠨᠲᠣᡥᠣᠨ ᡥᠠᠮᡳᡴᠠ ᠠᡳᡳᠨ᠋ᡠ ᡨᠠᠨ᠋ᡳ ᡠᠪᠠᡩᠠ ᡳᠰᡳᠨᠵᡳᡥᠠ ᠈ ᡝᠮᡠ
ᡤᡠᠴᡠ ᡨᠣᠲᠠᠮ᠊ᠪᡳ ᠵᡳᠮᠪᡳ ᠣᡶᡳ ᠈ ᡝᠯᡥᡝᠰᡝᠮᡝ ᠶᠠᠪᡠᡵᡝ ᠵᠠ᠊ᡴ᠊ᠠᡩᠠ
ᡨᠣ᠊ᠣᠠ᠊ᠲᠣ ᡤᠣᡳᡳᠲᠠᡥᠠ
33