What is the Manchu language?
Q: What is the Manchu language?
A: The Manchu language is a Tungustic language and it was the native language of the Manchu people before and during the Qing dynasty.
Q: Who are the Manchus?
A: The Manchus are the ethnic minority in China that overthrew the Ming dynasty in 1644 and took over the country.
Q: What script does the Manchu language use?
A: Manchu uses a version of the Mongolian script that was changed to better suit the language.
Q: Was Manchu the official language during the Qing dynasty?
A: Yes, for the first 200 years, it was the official language in the courts, although commoners still spoke Chinese.
Q: Did the Manchu nobles speak Chinese?
A: Yes, during the mid-1800s, it became more common for the Manchu nobles to speak Chinese as their first language.
Q: Who was China's last emperor and what was his first language?
A: China's last emperor was Aisin Gioro Puyi and his first language was Chinese, although he knew very little Manchu.
Q: How many people speak Manchu today and what is its status?
A: Only 20 people speak Manchu today, making it a critically endangered language. Almost all Manchus today speak Mandarin Chinese as their first language.
