Tangut character 172DB

It means “to sink” in Tangut. In Li Fanwen’s Tangut–Chinese dictionary, the entry for 𗋛 is numbered 2997 and glossed “to sink.”

Tangut writing was created around 1036 under the first Western Xia emperor to write the Tangut language and support a Buddhist canon—a collected body of scriptures. It also marked a state identity distinct from the Song dynasty in China.

Why does 𗋛 look Chinese?

Tangut uses Chinese-inspired conventions but forms a separate script. Tangut characters use some visual and structural conventions of Chinese writing but form a separate script for the Tangut language. Tangut was also used to translate texts from Chinese and Tibetan. The Khitan states of northern China developed state scripts too, a parallel in political history.

A Tangut manuscript fragment associated with the historical site of Khara-khoto probably dates to the 12th or early 13th century, showing the script in book culture. Tangut remained in use after Western Xia fell and became obsolete by the end of the Ming dynasty, a later Chinese dynasty. As of 2026, dictionaries, input tools, and Tangut fonts support digital lookup, entry, and display.