兮 (xī) — (classical Chinese modal particle) used for exclamation or rhythmic effect, similar to 'oh' or 'ah'
Definition
Classical Chinese particle used at the end of a phrase for exclamation or rhythm, loosely like 'ah' or 'oh'. It appears only in literary or archaic writing, never in modern speech.
particle
(classical Chinese modal particle) used for exclamation or rhythmic effectsimilar to 'oh' or 'ah'
Examples
- 兮，。Lù màn màn qí xiū yuǎn xī, wú jiāng shàng xià ér qiú suǒ.The road is long and far — I will search up and down.
- 兮，兮。Dà fēng qǐ xī yún fēi yáng, wēi jiā hǎi nèi xī guī gù xiāng.A great wind rises, clouds fly and scatter; my might spreads across the land, I return to my homeland.
- 兮，兮骓。Lì bá shān xī qì gài shì, shí bú lì xī zhuī bú shì.My strength pulled up mountains, my spirit overshadowed the world; but times were against me, and my steed would not go forward.
Appears in
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