矣 (yǐ) — (classical particle, sentence-final) indicates a change of state, completion, or new situation (equivalent to modern 了)
Definition
Classical sentence-final particle signaling a change or completed state — the literary ancestor of modern 了. Found in Classical Chinese prose and set phrases like 死而后已; not used in modern speech.
particle
(classical particle, sentence-final) indicates a change of statecompletionor new situation (equivalent to modern 了)
Easily confused
- 唉àilook-alike(interjection) expresses sigh, regret, disappointment, or resignation
- 以yǐsound-alike(preposition) by means of; using
- 挨áilook-aliketo suffer, to endure (e.g., a beating, scolding, hardship)
- 已yǐsound-alikealready (formal, written)
- 乙yǐsound-alikesecond of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干); second in order; B
- 倚yǐsound-aliketo lean on (physically)
Examples
- 矣。Wú wén zhī yǐ.I have heard of it.
- ，矣。Shì yǐ zhì cǐ, wú kě nài hé yǐ.Things have come to this; there's nothing to be done.
- ，矣。Shí bù wǒ dài, qù yǐ.Time waits for no one; I am leaving.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
The shape combines 以, which gives its sound, with 矢, an arrow, which gives its meaning.
Appears in
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