# Manchu phrasebook

Manchu (ᠮᠠᠨᠵᡠ ᡤᡳᠰᡠᠨ) is the indigenous language of Manchuria. Until 1911, it was an official language of China under the Manchu-ruled Qing Dynasty (ᡩᠠᡳ᠌ᠴᡳᠩ ᡤᡠᡵᡠᠨ). However, the language rapidly declined after the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, in which the dynasty was overthrown. The language was in decline even during the Qing era, as many Han Chinese migrated to Manchuria. This process was accelerated by persecution against Manchus by Chinese Revolutionaries, persecution by the Japanese during the Manchukuo Era, and by the Cultural Revolution.
Consequently, even though there are about 10 million Manchus today, only about a million can speak the language due to revival campaigns by activists and only a handful, mostly elderly in isolated villages, can speak it natively. Manchus live mainly in the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning, and parts of Inner Mongolia. The Xibe language spoken in Qapqal Xibe Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang is closely related to Manchu and is therefore mutually intelligible. Virtually every Manchu speaker is also able to speak Mandarin, so learning Manchu is generally not necessary to communicate, though as with almost any language, attempts by outsiders to speak it are always appreciated.
Although rarely used in day-to-day life, Manchu is often used in cultural settings, and some ethnic Manchu singers write pop music in Manchu as a homage to their cultural heritage. The Manchu language has also influenced the Beijing and Northeastern dialects of Mandarin, mostly in the form of loan words and slangs.

## Pronunciation guide

Manchu is written using the Manchu alphabet, a vertical script that was derived from the traditional Mongolian script.

### Vowels

| | Initial | Medial | Final |
| ᠠ | ᠠ‍ | ‍ᠠ‍ | ‍ᠠ ‍ᠠ᠋ | a=a |
| ᡝ | ᡝ‍ | ‍ᡝ‍ ‍ᡝ᠋‍ | ‍ᡝ ‍ᡝ᠋ ‍ᡝ᠌ | e=e (pronounced as "uh" or "er", a schwa; "eh" after y) |
| ᡳ | ᡳ‍ | ‍ᡳ‍ ‍ᡳ᠋‍ | ‍ᡳ ‍ᡳ᠋ ‍ᡳ᠌ ‍ᡳ᠍ | i=i |
| ᠣ | ᠣ‍ | ‍ᠣ‍ | ‍ᠣ ‍ᠣ᠋ | o=o |
| ᡠ | ᡠ‍ | ‍ᡠ‍ ‍ᡠ᠋‍ | ‍ᡠ ‍ᡠ᠋ ‍ᡠ᠌ ‍ᡠ᠍ | u=u |
| ᡡ | ᡡ‍ | ‍ᡡ‍ | ‍ᡡ | v or ū=uu (pronounced "oo" as in "foot") |
| ᡳᡠ᠋ᡳ | ᡳᡠ᠋ᡳ᠌‍ | ‍ᡳᡠ᠋ᡳ᠌‍ | ‍ᡳᡠ᠋ᡳ | ioi, pronounced as French u or German ü |

### Consonants

| Initial | Medial | Final |
| ᠨ‍ | ‍ᠨ‍ ‍ᠨ᠋‍ | ‍ᠨ ‍ᠨ᠋ | n=n |
| ᡴ‍ | ‍ᡴ‍ ‍ᡴ᠌‍ | ‍ᡴ | k=q |
| ᡤ‍ | ‍ᡤ‍ | | g=g, sometimes pronounced as Arabic ق or Hebrew ק |
| ᡥ‍ | ‍ᡥ‍ | | h=kh |
| ᠪ‍ | ‍ᠪ‍ | ‍ᠪ | b=b |
| ᡦ‍ | ‍ᡦ‍ | | p=p |
| ᠰ‍ | ‍ᠰ‍ | ‍ᠰ | s=s |
| ᡧ‍ | ‍ᡧ‍ | | x or š=sh |
| ᡨ‍ | ‍ᡨ‍ ‍ᡨ᠌‍ | ‍ᡨ | t=t |
| ᡩ‍ | ‍ᡩ‍ | | d=d |
| ᠯ‍ | ‍ᠯ‍ | ‍ᠯ | l=l |
| ᠮ‍ | ‍ᠮ‍ | ‍ᠮ | m=m |
| ᠴ‍ | ‍ᠴ‍ | | c=ch |
| ᠵ‍ | ‍ᠵ‍ | | j=j |
| ᠶ‍ | ‍ᠶ‍ | | y=y |
| ᡴ᠋‍ ᠺ‍ | ‍ᡴ᠋‍ ‍ᠺ‍ | ‍ᡴ᠋ | k'=k |
| ᡤ᠋‍ ᡬ‍ | ‍ᡤ᠋‍ ‍ᡬ‍ | | g'=g |
| ᡥ᠋‍ ᡭ‍ | ‍ᡥ᠋‍ ‍ᡭ‍ | | h'=h |
| ᡵ‍ | ‍ᡵ‍ | ‍ᡵ | r=r |
| ᡶ‍ ᡶ᠋‍ | ‍ᡶ‍ ‍ᡶ᠋‍ | | f=f |
| ᠸ‍ | ‍ᠸ‍ | | w=w |
| ᡮ‍ | ‍ᡮ‍ | | ts' |
| ᡯ‍ | ‍ᡯ‍ | | ts |
| ᡰ‍ | ‍ᡰ‍ | | r' |
| | ‍ᠩ‍ | ‍ᠩ | ng=ŋ |

### Common diphthongs

* ai
* au
* oo (pronounced as "oh" or "ow" as in "row")

## Phrase list
### Basics
#### Hello.

    (ᠰᠠᡳ᠌ᠶᡡᠨ᠉) (saiyvn?)

#### How are you?

    ᠰᡳ ᠰᠠᡳ᠌ᠶᡡᠨ᠉ (si saiyvn?)

#### Fine, thank you.

    ᠰᠠᡳ᠌ᠨ ᠪᠠᠨᡳᡥᠠ᠉ (sain, baniha.)

#### What is your name?

    ᠰᡳᠨᡳ ᡤᡝᠪᡠ ᠠᡳ ᠰᡝᠮᠪᡳ᠉ ? (sini gebu ai sembi?)

#### My name is ______ .

    ᠮᡳᠨᡳ ᡤᡝᠪᡠ ᠣᠴᡳ ______᠉ (mini gebu oci _____ .)

#### Nice to meet you.

    ᠰᠠᡳ᠌ᠨ ᡠᠴᠠᡵᠠᠮᠪᡳ ᠰᡠᠸᡝ (sain ucarambi suwe)

#### Please.

    ᠪᡠᠴᡳᠨᠠ᠉ (᠋bucina)

#### Thank you.

    ᠪᠠᠨᡳᡥᠠ᠉ (baniha.)

#### You're welcome.

    ᡠᠮᡝ ᠠᠨᡨᠠᡥᠠᡵᠠᡵᠠ᠉ . (ume antaharara.)ᡠᠮᡝ ᠠᠨᡨᠠᡥᠠᡧᠠᡵᠠ᠉ (ume antahaxara.)

#### Yes.

    ᠪᡳ᠉ (bi)

#### No.

    ᠠᡴᡡ᠉ (akv)

#### Yes, it is.

    ᡳᠨᡠ᠉ (inu)

#### No, it isn't.

    ᠸᠠᡴᠠ᠉ (waka)

#### I'm sorry.

    ᡤᡳᠯᠵᠠᡴᡳ᠉ (giljaki.)

#### Goodbye

    ᠵᠠᡳ ᠠᠴᠠᡴᡳ᠉ . (jai acaki)

#### I can't speak Manchu.

    ᠪᡳ ?????? ᠪᠠᡥᠠᠨᠠᡵᠠᡴᡡ᠉(bi ?????? bahanarakv.)

#### Do you speak English?

    ᠰᡳ ??????ᠪᠠᡥᠠᠨᠠᠮᠪᡳᡠ᠋᠉ (si ?????? bahanambiu?)

#### Good morning.

    ᡝᡵᡩᡝ ᠰᠠᡳ᠌ᠶᡡᠨ᠉ (erde saiyvn. )

#### Good evening.

    ᠶᠠᠮᠵᡳ ᠰᠠᡳ᠌ᠶᡡᠨ᠉ (yamji saiyvn. )

#### Good night.

    . ᡩᠣᠪᠣᡵᡳ ᡝᠯᡥᡝ ᠣᡴᡳᠨᡳ᠉ (dobori elhe okini. )

#### Good night (to sleep)

    ᠰᠠᡳ᠌ᠨ ᡨᡝᠶᡝᡴᡳ᠉ (sain teyeki.)

#### I don't understand.

    ᡠᠯᡥᡳᡵᠠᡴᡡ᠉ (ulhirakv.)

#### Where is the toilet?

    ᠪᡳ ᡨᡠᠯᡝ ᡤᡝᠨᡝᡴᡳ᠉ ? (bi tule geneki.)

### Problems
#### I'll call the police.

    ᠪᡳ ᠰᡝᠮᠪᡳ ᡦᠣᠴᠯᡠᡤᠠ. (bi sembi pocluga .)

#### Stop! Thief!

    (ᡧᡨᠣᡦ ᡨᡥᡳᡝᡶ)! ! ( ! !)

#### Can I use your phone?
### Numbers
#### 1

    ᡝᠮᡠ (emu)

#### 2

    ᠵᡠᠸᡝ (juwe)

#### 3

    ᡳᠯᠠᠨ (ilan)

#### 4

    ᡩᡠᡳ᠌ᠨ (duin)

#### 5

    ᠰᡠᠨᠵᠠ (sunja)

#### 6

    ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡠᠨ (ninggun)

#### 7

    ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠨ (nadan)

#### 8

    ᠵᠠᡴᡡᠨ (jakvn)

#### 9

    ᡠᠶᡠᠨ (uyun)

#### 10

    ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ (juwan)

#### 11

    ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᡝᠮᡠ (juwan emu)

#### 12

    ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᠵᡠᠸᡝ (juwan juwe)

#### 13

    ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᡳᠯᠠᠨ (juwan ilan)

#### 14

    ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᡩᡠᡳ᠌ᠨ(juwan duin)

#### 15

    ᡨᠣᡶᠣᡥᠣᠨ(tofohon)

#### 16

    ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡠᠨ(juwan ninggun)

#### 17

    ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠨ(juwan nandan)

#### 18

    ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᠵᠠᡴᡡᠨ(juwan jakvn)

#### 19

    ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᡠᠶᡠᠨ(juwan uyun)

#### 20

    ᠣᡵᡳᠨ( orin)

#### 21

    ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡝᠮᡠ( orin emu)

#### 22

    ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᠵᡠᠸᡝ( orin juwe)

#### 23

    ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡳᠯᠠᠨ( orin ilan)

#### 30

    ᡤᡡᠰᡳᠨ( gvsin)

#### 40

    ᡩᡝᡥᡳ( dehi)

#### 50

    ᠰᡠᠰᠠᡳ( susai)

#### 60

    ᠨᡳᠨᠵᡠ( ninju)

#### 70

    ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠨᠵᡠ( nadanju)

#### 80

    ᠵᠠᡴᡡᠨᠵᡠ( jakvnju)

#### 90

    ᡠᠶᡠᠨᠵᡠ( uyunju)

#### 100

    ᡨᠠᠩᡤᡡ (tanggv)

#### 200

    ᠵᡠᠸᡝ ᡨᠠᠩᡤᡡ(juwe tanggv )

#### 300

    ᡳᠯᠠᠨ ᡨᠠᠩᡤᡡ( ilan tanggv)

#### 1,000

    ᠮᡳᠩᡤᠠᠨ ( minggan)

#### 2,000

    ᠵᡠᠸᡝ ᠮᡳᠩᡤᠠᠨ ( juwe minggan)

#### 1,000,000

    ᡨᠠᠩᡤᡡ ᡨᡠᠮᡝᠨ ( tanggv tumen)

#### half

    ᡥᠣᠨᡨᠣᡥᠣ ( hontoho)

#### more

    ᡝᠯᡝᡳ ( elei)

### Time
#### now

    ᡨᡝ ( te)

#### night

    ᡩᠣᠪᠣᡵᡳ ( )

#### Days
##### today

    ᡝᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ (enenggi )

##### yesterday

    ᠰᡳᡴᠰᡝ (sikse )

##### the day before yesterday

    ᠴᠠᠨᠠᠩᡤᡳ (cananggi )

##### tomorrow

    ᠴᡳᠮᠠᡵᡳ (cimari )

##### the day after tomorrow

    ᠴᠣᠷᠣ (coro )

##### Sunday

    (Nadan Inenggi)

##### Monday

    (Emu Inenggi)

##### Tuesday

    (Juwe Inenggi)

##### Wednesday

    (Ilan Inenggi)

##### Thursday

    (Duin Inenggi)

##### Friday

    (Sunja Inenggi)

##### Saturday

    ( Ninggun Inenggi)

#### Writing time and date
### Colors
#### black

    ᠰᠠᡥᠠᠯᡳᠶᠠᠨ (sahaliyan)ᡴᠠᡵᠠ (kara)

#### white

    ᡧᠠᠩᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨ (xanggiyan)ᡧᠠᠨᠶᠠᠨ (xanyan)

#### gray

    ᡶᡠᠯᡝᠩᡤᡳ ᠪᠣᠴᠣ (fulenggi boco)

#### red

    ᡶᡠᠯᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨ (fulgiyan)

#### blue

    ᠯᠠᠮᡠᠨ (lamun)

#### yellow

    ᠰᡠᠸᠠᠶᠠᠨ (suwayan)

#### green

    ᠨᡳᡠ᠋ᠸᠠᠩᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨ (niowanggiyan)

#### orange

    ᡥᠠᡴᠰᠠᠨ (haksan )

#### purple

    ᡧᡠᡧᡠ ᠪᠣᠴᠣ (xuxu boco)

#### brown

    ᡝᡳᡥᡝᡵᡳ ( eiheri)

### Transportation
#### Directions
##### How do I get to _____ ?
##### left

    ᡥᠠᠰᡥᡡ ᡝᡵᡤᡳ ( hashv ergi)

##### north

    ᠠᠮᠠᡵᡤᡳ ( amargi)

##### south

    ( Julergi)

##### east

    ᡩᡝᡵᡤᡳ ( dergi)

##### west

    (Tuhergi )

##### downhill
#### Taxi
##### Taxi!

    (Turire sejen)

##### Take me there, please.
### Lodging
#### I want to check out.
### Money
#### Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
### Eating
#### The check, please.
### Bars
#### Cheers!

    (umicki)