Yi syllable qi

ꏾ represents a Yi syllable; its word-level reading depends on context.

In the standard Liangshan Yi romanization, ꏾ is written qi. With no tone-ending letter, it carries the midlevel tone (a steady pitch); a final t, x, or p marks another tone. This romanization is distinct from Mandarin pinyin. Traditional Yi writing used many local forms. Bimo (Yi ritual specialists) chiefly copied them into manuscripts for religious, magical, medical, genealogical, and related subjects. Such works survive on paper, cloth, bamboo, wood, bone, horn, and stone.

Several origin theories exist, and no single origin story is settled. The earliest securely dated example is a bronze-bell inscription from Guizhou dated 1485. The standardized Liangshan Yi syllabary grew from older local forms; it was devised in 1974 and officially promulgated in 1980 to improve literacy. It serves Liangshan Yi, not all Yi varieties, and is not structurally descended from Han characters.

How do I type ꏾ?

Use a Yi input method and select the qi candidate.

In the Windows Yi input method (IME), type the Latin-letter spelling qi, then choose ꏾ from the candidates. Enter or Space accepts the first suggestion.

Why does ꏾ look like a square?

Your font may lack the Yi glyph needed to display ꏾ.

Without Yi coverage, the active font may show a blank or square instead. The character is ordinary text, so its display depends on font support.