About
The character "岂" derives from its traditional form "豈", a structure that visually represents a drum with decorative elements, originally associated with musical performance and celebratory contexts. Through linguistic repurposing based on phonetic similarity, it gradually transitioned from denoting concrete musical concepts to functioning as an interrogative particle, commonly used to introduce rhetorical questions or convey sentiments of disbelief. This semantic shift from a noun to a grammatical marker reflects a broader tendency in the language where characters acquire abstract meanings over centuries. The simplified form "岂" maintains the essential identity of the older character through a reduced stroke count, continuing its role in modern usage without altering the fundamental meaning established through its historical development.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这岂不是很好？
你岂能不知道？
这样做岂不是浪费时间？
他岂会轻易答应这种条件？
你岂可听信一面之词？
此事的发展岂是我们能预料的？
他岂是那种背信弃义的小人？
面对如此诘问，他岂有不慌张之理？