About
The character 矣, structurally composed of the elements 厶 and 矢, originated as a grammatical particle in classical Chinese where it consistently functioned to indicate a state of completion or convey affirmation at the end of a sentence. Its construction does not derive from a literal pictorial representation but rather emerges from a historical process of phonetic adaptation and semantic abstraction, with the components contributing to its distinct identity. Over time, the usage of 矣 became largely confined to classical and literary contexts, as its core grammatical role of denoting perfected action or established fact was progressively assumed by the particle 了 in the evolving vernacular language, marking a significant shift in its practical application within the linguistic system.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
比赛结束矣。
他已成功矣。
此事已定矣。
我已明白矣。
会议已经开始矣。
我们终于完成工作矣。
既然你已道歉，我便原谅你矣。
历经磨难，此事终成矣。