Definitions
where; how
Etymology
A bird 鳥 with a strange head
About
The character "焉" is structured with the component "正" above the radical "灬", and it originated from an early pictographic concept that associated it with a bird, leading to its initial use as a demonstrative pronoun meaning "here" or "there". Over time, its application expanded within classical Chinese to encompass grammatical roles such as an interrogative particle, a sentence-final particle for emphasis, and a conjunctive adverb, while its form remained consistent. In later periods, its concrete spatial reference diminished, and it became primarily employed in literary contexts and fixed phrases, reflecting a shift from a lexical to a more functional linguistic element.
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？