岂 (豈) qǐ

qǐ adverb how can it be that?
Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
Notes: 豈 (simplified 岂) is used in rhetorical questions that require a negative answer. If expressed, the subject is normally placed in front of 豈 (Pulleyblank 1995, p. 142). For example, 雖有臺池鳥獸，豈能獨樂哉？'Although he had towers, ponds, birds, and animals, how could he have pleasure alone?' (Mengzi: 1.2/1/17, translation by Legge)

Contained in

岂有此理 、 岂不 、 岂可 、 岂能 、 岂不惜哉

Word is mentioned most frequently in

Truncated for common words