Yi Syllable Sap

It represents one spoken syllable, not a whole word. In the standardized Liangshan Yi syllabary—a writing system where each sign represents a syllable—ꌓ is written sap in the standard romanization. Its final p marks a low-falling tone, not a separate final consonant. The surrounding Yi word or sentence supplies the meaning.

This form belongs to the Liangshan Yi standard, also called Nuosu; it is not a universal spelling system for every Yi variety. Traditional Yi writing varied by region in its signs, syllable values, and direction.

Yi writing predates this modern standard

The oldest reliably dated surviving evidence of Yi writing appears in inscriptions on the Chenghua Bell, cast in Guizhou in the 15th century. Bimo, ritual specialists, transmitted older texts used for religious, magical, medical, and genealogical purposes. Yi literature also preserves legend, history, and astrology.

The modern standard was devised in 1974 and officially promulgated in 1980, drawing on older Northern Yi forms to support literacy. Classical Yi texts could use ideographic signs—signs for words or ideas—as well as regional forms. The standard appears in official documents, newspapers, and literature; published works also include bilingual ritual and epic texts. Traditional Yi ideographs are independent in form from Han ideographs.