How to Write the Numbers One to Ten in Manchu
How to Write the Numbers One to Ten in Manchu Manchu Script, Romanization, and English Meanings
MING YE
10/2/20261 min read
How to Write the Numbers One to Ten in Manchu
Manchu Script, Romanization, and English Meanings
By MING YE
The Manchu language has its own traditional number words, written vertically in the Manchu script. Learning the numbers from one to ten is also a useful way for beginners to become familiar with some of the most common letter combinations and spelling patterns in Manchu.
Below are the Manchu numbers from one to ten, with their original Manchu-script forms and Latin romanization.
1 — ᡝᠮᡠ — emu — One
The Manchu word for “one” is emu.
2 — ᠵᡠᠸᡝ — juwe — Two
The Manchu word for “two” is juwe.
3 — ᡳᠯᠠᠨ — ilan — Three
The Manchu word for “three” is ilan.
4 — ᡩᡠᡳᠨ — duin — Four
The Manchu word for “four” is duin.
5 — ᠰᡠᠨᠵᠠ — sunja — Five
The Manchu word for “five” is sunja.
6 — ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡠᠨ — ninggun — Six
The Manchu word for “six” is ninggun.
7 — ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠨ — nadan — Seven
The Manchu word for “seven” is nadan.
8 — ᠵᠠᡴᡡᠨ — jakūn — Eight
The Manchu word for “eight” is jakūn.
9 — ᡠᠶᡠᠨ — uyun — Nine
The Manchu word for “nine” is uyun.
10 — ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ — juwan — Ten
The Manchu word for “ten” is juwan.
For beginners, these ten words provide a simple introduction to the relationship between the original Manchu script and modern Latin romanization:
ᡝᠮᡠ — emu
ᠵᡠᠸᡝ — juwe
ᡳᠯᠠᠨ — ilan
ᡩᡠᡳᠨ — duin
ᠰᡠᠨᠵᠠ — sunja
ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡠᠨ — ninggun
ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠨ — nadan
ᠵᠠᡴᡡᠨ — jakūn
ᡠᠶᡠᠨ — uyun
ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ — juwan
Because Manchu is traditionally written vertically from top to bottom, the horizontal forms displayed on modern websites are primarily a consequence of digital text layout. The letters themselves remain Manchu script.
For anyone beginning to learn Manchu, memorizing emu, juwe, ilan, duin, sunja, ninggun, nadan, jakūn, uyun, juwan is one of the simplest ways to take the first step into the language.
— MING YE