哉 (zāi) — (literary particle, sentence-final) expresses exclamation or rhetorical interrogation
Definition
A classical, sentence-final particle (no modern use) used in exclamations ('How ...!') and rhetorical questions ('Is it not ...?'). Seen mostly in fixed phrases like 不亦...哉 and 岂非...哉 from classical Chinese.
bound form
(literary particle, sentence-final) expresses exclamation or rhetorical interrogation
Examples
- 哉！Bú yì kuài zāi!Isn't it delightful!
- 哉，！Měi zāi, qīng shān lǜ shuǐ!How beautiful the green mountains and clear waters are!
- 哉？Qǐ fēi tiān zāi?Is it not fate?
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