About
The character 欤 (traditional form 歟) is a phono-semantic compound. The radical 欠 on the right signifies vocal actions like opening the mouth or exhaling, while the component 与 (or 與 in its traditional form) provides the phonetic element. In classical Chinese, 欤 serves exclusively as a sentence-final particle, modulating tone to convey rhetorical questions, mild surprise, doubt, or emotional exclamation, much like modern particles but with a distinctly literary quality.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这是你的书欤？
你愿意帮忙欤？
他今天来学校欤？
我们可以回家欤？
此事确实重要欤？
你为何选择离开欤？
天气如此恶劣，你还要外出欤？
面对重重困难，我们不应放弃希望欤？