哉 (zāi) - A classical Chinese particle used to express exclamation, & equivalent to modern exclamatory or interrogative particles.
哉 · zāi
A classical Chinese particle used to express exclamation, question, or emphasis;
equivalent to modern exclamatory or interrogative particles.
A classical Chinese particle used to express exclamation,equivalent to modern exclamatory or interrogative particles.
Usage highlights
How vast!How beautiful!How difficult!How virtuous!How joyful!How sorrowful!
Usage & contexts
Examples
- How beautiful!(美哉!)
- Is it not so?(岂不尔思？悠哉悠哉。)
- How vast is the world!(大哉世界!)
- How difficult is this task!(难哉此事!)
Collocations
- How vast!(大哉)
- How beautiful!(美哉)
- How difficult!(难哉)
- How virtuous!(善哉)
- How joyful!(乐哉)
- How sorrowful!(悲哉)
Idioms
- How admirable!(壮哉)
- How virtuous!(善哉)
- How strange!(怪哉)
- Leisurely and carefree(悠哉悠哉)
- How magnificent!(伟哉)
- How sorrowful!(哀哉)
Cultural background
FAQ- Originated in classical Chinese texts, particularly in the Book of Songs and Confucian classics.
- Used extensively in classical poetry and philosophical writings to express strong emotion or rhetorical questions.
- Represents a distinctive feature of classical Chinese grammar and literary style.
- Often appears in formal, literary contexts rather than everyday modern speech.