About
岂 is an adverb that forms rhetorical questions expressing doubt, disbelief, or impossibility. Its traditional form 豈 originated as a pictograph of a drum standing upright with a decoration at the top, similar to 壴, and referred to celebratory music played after victory in battle. The simplified form 岂 replaces this complex image with the components 山 (shān, "mountain") on top of 己 (jǐ, "self"), removing the visual link to the drum. Despite this change, the character consistently introduces rhetorical phrases roughly equivalent to "how could it be" or "wouldn't it".
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？
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