About
The character 岂, serving as the simplified form of 豈, is structurally composed of 山 above 己, whereas the traditional form consists of 山 over 豆. Etymologically, 岂 derived from 豈, which originally represented a type of ceremonial drum before being phonetically borrowed in classical Chinese to function as an interrogative particle meaning "how" or "why". This interrogative usage gradually overshadowed its musical origin, and the character shifted to primarily express rhetorical questions or convey surprise in literary and modern contexts, now operating as an adverb in set phrases such as 岂敢 or 岂不.
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？