Tangut character 𗕐

Dictionaries gloss 𗕐 as “to fear.”

Tangut is a logographic script: its written characters represent units of language rather than individual sounds. It uses no spaces, so surrounding text helps show how a character works in a passage; a lone 𗕐 does not by itself say “I’m afraid.”

The Tangut script was created by imperial order in 1036 to support the Western Xia state in northwestern China, with Buddhist scripture translation as a major purpose. Tangut texts also covered government, morals, military affairs, reference works, and literature.

Why does 𗕐 look like Chinese writing?

Tangut was a separate script influenced by Chinese writing.

Its designers drew on Chinese writing and worked in a region where Khitan peoples had already developed scripts of their own. That historical influence does not make Tangut characters Chinese or let readers treat the two scripts as interchangeable.

A manuscript found at Khara-Khoto, a site in northwestern China, is probably from the 12th or early 13th century and includes Tangut text translating Chinese material. Records place Tangut script use through 1502.