何乐而不为 (hé lè ér bù wéi) — why not? (said when something is clearly beneficial and there is no reason not to do it)

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'why not?' — used rhetorically to endorse an action that is clearly beneficial and has no downside. It is always affirmative in tone, not a genuine question.

idiom
why not? (said when something is clearly beneficial and there is no reason not to do it)

Examples

  • ，，何乐而不为？
    Jì néng xué xí xīn zhī shi, yòu néng jié jiāo péng you, hé lè ér bù wéi?
    You can both learn new knowledge and make friends—why not?
  • ，何乐而不为？
    Jiān chí duàn liàn duì shēn tǐ yǒu yì, hé lè ér bù wéi?
    Persistent exercise is good for your health—why not do it?
  • ，何乐而不为？
    Yòng diàn zǐ zhī fù ān quán yòu fāng biàn, hé lè ér bù wéi?
    Using e-payment is safe and convenient—why not?

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The old form of 何 drew a person carrying something on their shoulder. If the carried thing was a 戈, the 人 and 戈 parts together showed that picture.

Open 何 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樂; 乐 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 樂, 絲 (string) with 木 (wood) shows strings on a piece of wood, a musical instrument; the simplified 乐 is a later shorthand.

Open 乐 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

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