Yi Syllable Hmuox

It represents one Nuosu Yi syllable, not an English translation.

Yi Pinyin is a system for writing Yi syllable readings with Latin letters; it spells this one hmuox. The final x marks the secondary-high tone, whose pitch rises, rather than an extra consonant.

A Yi pronunciation guide gives it as [m̥ɔ³⁴]: roughly an unvoiced m-like start followed by an open o, with pitch rising.

Where did the Yi script come from?

It developed through regional traditions and later gained a Liangshan standard.

The script's early origins remain debated. The oldest securely dated surviving Yi-script example usually cited is an inscription on a bronze bell from 1485.

Traditional Yi writing, before modern standardization, served chiefly religious, magical, medical, and genealogical texts, often transmitted by bimo, Yi ritual specialists. A standardized Liangshan form was devised in 1974 and officially promulgated in 1980. It then supported official documents, newspapers, literature, and adapted ritual texts. Other Yi regions retain distinct writing traditions.

How do I type ꂜ?

Use Yi Pinyin in a Yi input method.

Yi Pinyin also serves teaching and indexing: enter the Latin-letter syllable reading, then select the matching Yi character. As of 2024-06-20, Microsoft's Windows Yi IME documentation describes this candidate-selection workflow.

As of 2026-09-12, Noto Sans Yi and Nuosu SIL include Yi syllables. If your active font or text-rendering software lacks Yi support, the character may appear as a square.