讵 (jù) - An interrogative particle in classical Chinese meaning 'how',
讵 · jù
An interrogative particle in classical Chinese meaning 'how', 'could it be that', 'if', or 'unexpectedly'.
An interrogative particle in classical Chinese meaning 'how',
Usage highlights
How could one knowCould it be thatIf notHow couldUnexpectedlyCould it be said
Usage & contexts
Examples
- How could I know?(讵知)
- Could it be that he has already left?(讵已去乎)
- If not for your help, I would have failed(讵非君助，吾败矣)
- Unexpectedly, it turned out this way(讵料如此)
Collocations
- How could one know(讵知)
- Could it be that(讵料)
- If not(讵非)
- How could(讵可)
- Unexpectedly(讵意)
- Could it be said(讵曰)
Idioms
- How could one have known beforehand(讵能先知)
- Could it be that this is not fate(讵非天命)
- If not for this, how would things be(讵不如此，何以)
Cultural background
FAQ- Primarily used in classical Chinese and literary contexts as an interrogative particle.
- Common in classical texts, poetry, and formal writing to express rhetorical questions or surprise.
- Rare in modern spoken Chinese but preserved in literary and formal registers.