zāi

哉

Character · Modal particle

modal particle for exclamation, question

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 10 examples
1.

modal particle

used for exclamatory tone

literary

Used exclusively in formal, literary or classical Chinese contexts, often paired with exclamatory phrases.

Wū呜
hū呼
āi哀
zāi哉
 ！

Alas! / Woe is me!

Kuài快
zāi哉
cǐ此
fēng风
 ！

How refreshing this breeze is!

Show 3 more examples
Zhuàng壮
zāi哉
zāi哉
Zhōng中
guó国
 ！

How magnificent China is!

Miào妙
zāi哉
cǐ此
shè设
jì计
 ！

How ingenious this design is!

Měi美
zāi哉
wú吾
xiāng乡
 ！

How beautiful my hometown is!

2.

modal particle

used for interrogative or rhetorical tone

literary

Used with interrogative pronouns to form rhetorical or direct questions, mostly seen in classical or formal written Chinese.

Qí其
gù故
hé何
zāi哉
 ？

What is the reason for this?

Rú如
cǐ此
ér而
yǐ已
 ，
qǐ岂
yǒu有
tā他
zāi哉
 ！

That is all; could there be anything else?

Show 3 more examples
Cǐ此
fēi非
jūn君
zǐ子
zhī之
dào道
zāi哉
 ？

Is this not the way of a noble person?

Shú孰
néng能
wú无
guò过
zāi哉
 ？

Who can make no mistakes?

Hé何
zú足
guà挂
chǐ齿
zāi哉
 ？

What is there to speak of?