何以 (hé yǐ) — (literary, formal) how; (literary, formal) why

Definition

A formal/literary 'how' or 'why', used in set rhetorical phrases like 何以…? (= how could…?, why…?). Not used in everyday speech.

adverb
(literary, formal) how(literary, formal) why

Examples

  • 何以？
    hé yǐ Rú cǐ?
    How could this be?
  • 何以？
    Rén hé yǐ zì lì?
    How can one be self-reliant?
  • 何以？
    Jūn hé yǐ zhī wú bú yuè?
    How do you know I am unhappy?

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 →

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

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.