Definitions
where; how
Etymology
A bird 鳥 with a strange head
About
The character "焉" originated as a pictograph representing a bird, specifically a pheasant, which established its early use as a demonstrative pronoun denoting a place or object. Its structural composition, evolving from pictorial elements suggestive of a bird into a more abstract form, underpins the traditional character still in use today. Over time, its semantic function expanded beyond nominal references to adopt a range of grammatical roles in classical Chinese, operating as an interrogative adverb meaning "how" or "why", a relative pronoun equivalent to "here" or "there", and a sentence-final particle lending rhetorical weight. This transition from a concrete lexical item to a multifunctional grammatical marker illustrates how its inherent pictorial essence was adapted for abstract syntactic purposes, with modern employment primarily preserved in literary idioms and formal constructions.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
你焉能忘记承诺？
他焉知今日之事？
此事焉能急于求成？
他焉敢独自面对困难？
焉有不努力而成功之理？
你焉可忽视他人的感受？
焉得如此完美之解决方案？
焉能因小失大，不顾全局？