Yi Syllable Bit

No: “bit” is the Yi Pinyin spelling for this syllable. Yi Pinyin uses Latin letters to write Yi syllables; its final t marks a high, level tone, not a final consonant. ꀖ gives a syllable rather than a complete English translation, so its meaning comes from the Yi word or sentence around it.

Why was the Yi script standardized?

It was standardized for writing Liangshan Yi. A surviving bronze-bell inscription from 1485 and other dated inscriptions from 1533 and 1546 show that Yi writing predates the modern standard; manuscripts also survive. Traditional Yi writing was used especially by priest specialists for religious, magical, and medical texts.

To support literacy, a standard was devised in 1974 and officially promulgated in 1980. It adapted selected traditional forms for the Liangshan Yi variety; other Yi languages do not all use this standard. ꀖ belongs to this writing tradition, but its standardized reading should not be assumed for every older or regional text.

How do I type ꀖ?

Use the Windows Yi IME with Latin-key input. Windows’ Yi input-method guidance, updated in 2024, describes entering phoneme spellings with Latin keys and choosing from Yi-character candidates. Type bit and select ꀖ; Enter or Space accepts the first suggestion, while the cursor keys move through candidates. You can keep your usual Windows display language.