This video traces the shifting pronunciation of 爾 over time in northern China
1. Old Chinese (1st c.) *neʔ
2. Early Middle Chinese (6th c.) *ɲiʔ
(borrowed as Japanese Go’on ni に)
3. Middle Chinese (8th c.) *ʒ̃í
(borrowed as Japanese Kan-on ji じ, Korean zi ᅀᅵ to i 이)
4. Late Middle Chinese (11th c.) *rí
5. Early Mandarin (14th c.) *ř
6. Modern Mandarin ěr
For full context, see [ Ссылка ]
![](https://s2.save4k.ru/pic/OOQFcr5FHww/mqdefault.jpg)