Yi syllable Tuox

It represents one syllable in Liangshan Yi writing. The standard romanized label is “tuox”: final x marks a secondary-high tone (a pitch pattern), not an extra x sound. The corresponding midlevel-tone form is ꄧ; the tone difference makes it a distinct syllable.

A syllable sign does not provide a fixed English gloss by itself. Use the surrounding Yi text or a translation to know the intended word or message.

What is the history of the Yi script?

The standardized Yi syllabary grew from older Yi writing. Traditional Yi writing used signs for meanings or words and was inspired by Han Chinese characters, though its signs appear not to have been borrowed directly from them. Historical names for these traditions include Cuan and Wei. A widespread origin tradition credits Aki with devising about 1,840 signs during China's Tang dynasty (618–907 CE); this is a traditional story, not a confirmed biography.

The earliest surviving Yi inscription usually cited is on a bronze bell dated 1485; proposed earlier dates are debated. Local traditions varied in their signs and writing direction. Village priests passed down manuscripts for religious, magical, medical, and genealogical use rather than one everyday standard shared across communities.

A Liangshan Yi scheme using Latin letters was introduced in 1956. A standardized script form was devised in 1974 and officially promulgated in 1980; China adopted a national standard in 1991. The encoded form writes Liangshan Yi, not every Yi dialect.

Is ꄦ a Chinese character?

No; it is a Yi syllabic sign, not a Han character used to write Chinese. The standardized script here represents the Liangshan Yi variety.

A 2026 study of Liangshan students reports different language choices by setting: Yi was spoken with family and close peers, while Chinese was favored for public writing and social messages. Readers who know the script can read ꄦ as a syllable; others need the surrounding text or a translation.