豈 (qǐ) - How can it be that... & how is it possible that...
豈 · qǐ
How can it be that.
.
.
;
how is it possible that.
.
.
;
used in rhetorical questions expressing surprise, doubt, or negation.
How can it be that...how is it possible that...used in rhetorical questions expressing surprise, doubt, or
Usage highlights
How could it beHow dareHow is it possibleHow can it be saidHow is this notHow could there be
Usage & contexts
Examples
- How could I possibly know that?(豈能知道?)
- How is this something to be happy about?(豈不是喜事?)
- How could he dare to do such a thing?(豈敢如此?)
- How can this be considered a small matter?(豈是小事?)
Collocations
- How could it be(豈能)
- How dare(豈敢)
- How is it possible(豈可)
- How can it be said(豈曰)
- How is this not(豈非)
- How could there be(豈有)
Idioms
- How could one be willing to fall behind others?(豈甘人後)
- How could this be something that happens by chance?(豈其然乎)
- How could there be such a principle?(豈有此理)
Cultural background
FAQ- Originally a pictograph of a drum, later borrowed as an interrogative particle in classical Chinese.
- Frequently used in classical texts and formal writing to express rhetorical questions or emphatic negation.
- Carries a formal, literary tone and is less common in modern colloquial speech.