岂
how? (rhetorical)
At a glance · 岂
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
岂字小篆从壴微省声（繁體豈），为形声字；本义为返师奏乐，后作疑问副词『难道』。甲骨文未见。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
岂本义为凯乐，后作副词『岂（难道）』。
Structure
形声字，下部『壴』为意符表鼓乐，上部表声。
At a glance
Pinyinqǐ
Radical山
Strokes6
UnicodeU+5C82
Character type形声
Theme虚词
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
how? (rhetorical)
Qi is a phonetic-semantic character used as a rhetorical adverb meaning how or can it be.
Français
comment? (rhétorique)
Qi est un caractère phonético-sémantique utilisé comme adverbe rhétorique signifiant comment ou peut-il.
Español
¿cómo? (retórico)
Qi es un carácter fonosemántico usado como adverbio retórico que significa cómo o acaso.
العربية
ألا؟ (بلاغي)
تشي حرف صوتي دلالي يُستخدم أداة بلاغية تعني ألا وهل.
Русский
разве? (риторич.)
Ци — фоносемантический знак, используемый как риторическая частица «разве».
Common words
- 岂敢qǐ gǎndare
- 岂能qǐ nénghow can