詎 (jù) - How could & how

詎Tone 4

jù ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

傑君

詎 · jù

How could;

how;

unexpectedly;

used in rhetorical questions expressing surprise or negation.

How couldhowunexpectedly

Usage highlights

How could one knowUnexpectedlyHow could it beWho would have thoughtHow could it be soNot necessarily

Synonyms

  • 豈— how; how could (similar rhetorical function)
  • 安— how; where (classical interrogative)
  • 何— what; how (general interrogative)

Antonyms

  • 確— certainly; definitely (opposite of uncertainty)
  • 必— necessarily; certainly (opposite of rhetorical doubt)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • How could I have known (詎知)?
  • Unexpectedly, he arrived (詎料).
  • How could it be otherwise (詎可)?
  • Who would have thought (詎料想)?

Collocations

  • How could one know(詎知)
  • Unexpectedly(詎料)
  • How could it be(詎可)
  • Who would have thought(詎料想)
  • How could it be so(詎如此)
  • Not necessarily(詎必)

Idioms

  • How could one have known beforehand(詎可預知)
  • Unexpected turn of events(詎料之變)
  • Who would have thought it would come to this(詎料至此)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Classical Chinese particle used in rhetorical questions, common in classical literature.
  • Appears frequently in classical poetry and philosophical texts to express surprise or negation.
  • Modern usage is largely restricted to formal or literary contexts.

FAQ