Yi Syllable Vy

ꃼ means “buy” in Nuosu. Nuosu is a Yi language spoken in Liangshan; this sign belongs to its standardized writing system, based on older Northern Yi forms. Other Yi regions have distinct writing traditions, so this reading is specific to Nuosu.

Text symbol

What ꃼ means

ꃼ means “buy” in Nuosu.

Nuosu is a Yi language spoken in Liangshan, southwest China. Sentence context determines the best translation of its verb.

Older Yi scripts varied by region; bimo (Yi ritual specialists) used them for religious, healing, and genealogical texts. A tradition credits Aki with devising Yi writing during the Tang dynasty (618–907); the oldest surviving dated inscription is on a bronze bell from 1485. Devised in 1974 and officially promulgated in 1980, the Liangshan standard adapts older Northern Yi forms for Nuosu literacy. It serves Liangshan Nuosu; other Yi languages and script traditions differ.

Part of the collection

ꆈ

Yi Script & Syllables

Who writes ꃼ

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Questions people ask

Why does ꃼ show as a box on some devices?

Not every system ships a font for the Yi Syllables block. Where none is installed, the character shows as an empty box; adding a font such as Noto fixes it. The character itself is still correct and copies correctly.