Today's lesson is about the fifth vowel, "u". For those who want to go back to the other lessons on the vowels, please click here.
以下是滿語母音"u"和它在不同位置時的寫法。
Below is vowel "u" and how it looks like in different positions within a word.
有沒有發現母音"u"的寫法跟母音"o"差不多？不記得怎麼寫？看看下圖。
Have you found out that vowel "u" and vowel "o" are very similar? Not sure? Check below.
母音"u"只比母音"o"多了一點，而且在語中形和語末形中母音"u"還有其中一種寫法和母音"o"一模一樣呢！
Vowel "u" has only one extra dot. Moreover, for word-middle and word-end, vowel "u" has one writing variant exactly the same as those of vowel "o".
這個情況和母音"a"跟母音"e"的語中形一樣，我們需要另外解釋分辨方法，但我們先不說，到語中形和語末形時再慢慢解釋。
This situation is the same with the word-middle of vowel "a" and vowel "e". Therefore, we need to learn how to distinguish them. However, let's talk about this when we reach the part of word-middle and word-end.
語頭形（左是楷書體、右是羅馬字）：
Word-initial (Left being the regular script, right the Romanized form):
語中形：
Word-middle:
從上圖看到，除了上述五個子音要注意外，其他子音都是寫有點的。
From the above, we see that besides the five consonants that require our extra attention, the word-middle form of vowel "u" is always with a dot.
先來一個有點的例子︰
Let me give you an example with a with-dot middle form of vowel "u":
有點的肯定就是母音"u"不是母音"o"，但沒有點的我們該如何分辨？
For those that are with a dot, we know immediately that it is vowel "u". For those that are without a dot, how do we know is it vowel "u" or vowel "o".
這個情況和母音"a" 和"e"的語中形相似，母音"u"連接上述五個子音"t","d","k","g"和"h"時會改變子音的樣子，所以我們可以靠觀察五個子音的變化知道這個是母音"u"還是母音"o"，請參考下圖。
This is a similar situation with vowel "a" and vowel "e". Vowel "u" changes the form of consonants "t", "d", "k", "g" and "h", we can thus find out whether it is vowel "u" or vowel "o" by observing these changes. Please see the following image for reference.
從上圖可以看到五個子音的變化，子音"t"遇上母音"u"會「穿頭」，子音"k","g"和"h"則改變寫法。
From the above image, one can observe the changes in the consonants. Consonant "t" has one extra horizontal stroke with vowel "u" while consonant "k", "g" and "h" change its form completely.
語末形︰
Word-end
如上圖所示，語末形和語中形一樣，可以從五個子音上的寫法上分辨母音"o"和母音"u"，有點的一定是母音"u"，而無點的則需觀察五個子音的寫法。
As shown by the above image, word-end is similar to word-middle, you can distinguish vowel "o" and "u" looking at the changes in the five specific consonants. Those with a dot is certainly vowel "u". For those that is without a dot, you have to observe the form of the five consonants.
為確保大家都明白，請參考下圖。
To ensure a perfect understanding, please refer to the below image.
讀音方面，母音「u」像日文的う，又像普通話韻母的「u」（烏）。
Vowel "u" sounds like "u" in "wu".
再重申一次，有不明白的地方歡迎留言提出。
Once again, please leave your comments below if you have any questions for me.
