岂 (豈) qǐ
adverb
how can it be that?
Domain: Classical Chinese 古文
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
Texts that the word is most frequently mentioned in
| Collection | Document Title | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Old Book of Tang 《舊唐書》 | 卷一百〇一 列傳第五十一: 李乂 薛登 韋湊 韓思復 張廷珪 王求禮 辛替否 Volume 101 Biographies 51: Li Yi, Xue Deng, Wei Cou, Han Sifu, Zhang Tinggui, Wang Qiuli, Xin Tifou | 20 |
| The Commentary of Zuo on the Spring and Autumn Annals 《春秋左氏傳》 | 昭公 Lord Zhao | 20 |
| Records of the Three Kingdoms 《三國志》 | 卷二 魏書二 文帝紀 Volume 2: Book of Wei 2 - Annals of Emperor Wen | 20 |
| Book of Wei 《魏書》 | 卷43 嚴棱 毛修之 唐和 劉休賓 房法夀 Volume 43: Yan Leng, Mao Xiuzhi, Tang He, Liu Xiubin, Fang Fashou | 19 |
| Book of Song 《宋書》 | 卷十三 志第三 歷下 Volume 13 Treatises 3: Calendar 2 | 19 |
| Old Book of Tang 《舊唐書》 | 卷八十八 列傳第三十八: 韋思謙 陸元方 蘇瑰 Volume 88 Biographies 38: Wei Siqian, Lu Yuanfang, Su Gui | 19 |
| Book of Song 《宋書》 | 卷七十三 列傳第三十三 顏延之 Volume 73 Biographies 33: Yan Yanzhi | 19 |
| Wenxuan 《文選》 | 卷二十 Scroll 20 | 18 |
| Book of Jin 《晉書》 | 卷五十五 列傳第二十五 夏侯湛 潘岳 張載 Volume 55 Biographies 25: Xiahou Zhan; Pan Yue; Zhang Zai | 18 |
| Book of Song 《宋書》 | 卷七十九 列傳第三十九 文五王 Volume 79 Biographies 39: Wen Wuwang | 18 |