Introduction to Literary Chinese - Lesson 23, Text 3
Adapted from the 1927 book by J. Brandt
Grammatical section
THE INTERROGATIVE PARTICLES
The Wen-li style particularly abounds with the interrogative particles.
These particles are:
何 與 (or 歟) 也與 諸 焉 盍 奚 孰 詎 安 耶 曷 胡 惡 惡乎
The exclamatory particles 哉 and 乎 and the final particle 已 are often used in combination with the interrogative particles to complete interrogative clauses.
乎 and 諸 are also used as the prepositional particles (see lesson XXIV gram. section, ex. 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57).
Examples of using the interrogative particles:
① 何由知吾可也。
From what do you know that I am competent?
② 王如善之。則何爲不行。
Since your Majesty deems them excellent, why do you not practise them?
③ 吾何以識其不才。而舍之。
How shall I know that they have no ability and so avoid employing them (lit. to set aside)?
④ 子曰。天生德於予。桓態其如予何。
The Master said, “Heaven produced the virtue that is in me. Huan-T'ui—what can he do to me?”
⑤ 夫何爲哉。
What does he do?
⑥ 天何言哉。
Does Heaven speak?
⑦ 牛羊何擇焉。
What was there to choose between an ox and a sheep?
⑧ 子曰。吾有知乎哉。
The Master said, “Am I possessed of knowledge?”
⑨ 吾誰欺。欺天乎。
Whom should I impose upon? Should I impose upon Heaven?
⑩ 子曰。二三子以我爲隱乎。
The Master said, “Do you think, my friends, that I have any secrets?”
⑪ 夫子至於是邦也。必聞其政。求之與。
When the Master comes to any country, he does not fail to learn about its government. Does he ask for his information or is it given to him?
⑫ 君子之爲道也。其志亦將以求食與。
When the superior man practices high principles, is it also his aim to seek for a living in the future thereby?
⑬ 王之所大欲。可得聞與。
May I hear from you what is it that your Majesty greatly desires?
⑭ 若是其甚與。
Is it as bad as that?
⑮ 季康子問仲由。可使從政也與。
Chi-K'ang-tzu asked about Chung-yu, whether he was fit to be employed as an officer of the government.
⑯ 子貢曰。有美玉於斯。韞匱而藏諸。求善貴而沽諸。
Tzu-kung said, “There is a beautiful gem here. Should I lay it up in a case and keep it or should I seek for a good price and sell it?”
⑰ 舉爾所知。爾所不知。人其舍諸。
Raise to office those whom you know. As to those whom you do not know, will others neglect them?
⑱ 一言而喪邦。有諸。
Is there a single sentence which can ruin a country?
⑲ 齊宣王問曰。人皆謂我毀明堂。毀諸已平。
The prince Hsüan of Ch'i said (to Mencius), “People all tell me to pull down the Brilliant Palace. Shall I pull it down, or stop (the movement for that object)?”
⑳ 未知生。焉知死。
When you do not know life, how can you know about death?
㉑ 子爲政。焉用殺。
Sir, in carrying on your government, why should you use killing at all?
㉒ 割鷄焉用牛刀。
Why use an ox-knife to kill a fowl?
㉓ 子曰。後生可畏。焉知來者之不如今也。
The Master said, “A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?”
㉔ 子曰。盍各言爾志。
The Master said (to his disciples), “Come, let each of you tell his wishes.”
㉕ 哀公問於有若曰。年饑用不足。如之何。有若對曰。盍徹乎。
The duke Ai inquired of Yu-jo, saying, “The year is one of scarcity, and (the income) is not sufficient for expenditure; what is to be done?” Yu-jo replied, “Why not tithe the people?”
㉖ 子盍爲我言之。
Will you not tell him (this) for me?
㉗ 寇至。蓋去諸。
The bandits are coming; why not leave?
㉘ 子奚不爲政。
Sir, why are you not engaged in the government?
㉙ 子路曰。衛君待子而爲政。子將奚先。
Tzu-lu said, “The ruler of Wei has been waiting for you, in order to administer the government with you. What will you consider the first thing to be done?”
㉚ 子以爲奚。
What do you think (of it), sir?
㉛ 奚可以與我友。
How can (he) become my friend?
㉜ 是可忍也。孰不可忍也。
If he can bear (to do) this, what may he not bear to do?
㉝ 百姓足。君孰與不足。百姓不足。君孰與足。
If the people have plenty, their prince will not be left to want alone (lit. with whom will he be in want?). If the people are in want, their prince cannot enjoy plenty alone (lit. with whom will he have plenty?).
㉞ 舜有天下。孰與之。
Shun had the empire. Who gave it to him?
㉟ 功名與身命孰重。
Rank or life, which is more important?
㊱ 詎知其事竟成。
Contrary to all expectations, the matter has been finished.
㊲ 詎意其謀竟善。
Unexpectedly, the plan proved a great success.
㊳ 無大才。詎能成大事。
How could a man without great talent accomplish a great deed?
㊴ 安能如此。
How can it be thus?
㊵ 主人安在乎。
Where is the master?
㊶ 泰山其頹。則吾將安仰。
If Mount T'ai fall down, to what will I have to look up?
㊷ 是耶。非耶。
Is it so or not?
㊸ 其信然耶。
Is it true?
㊹ 曷勝欣躍。
I am extremely delighted.
㊺ 曷勝詫異。
I am extremely astonished.
㊻ 曷至哉。
Where is he now?
㊼ 胡爲如此。
How is this so?
㊽ 胡爲者。
What does this mean?
㊾ 伊胡爲者。
Who is he?
㊿ 弗爲胡成。
If you do not work, how can (it) be accomplished?
51 弗慮胡獲。
Without thinking how can you get anything?
52 彼惡知之。
How should they know it?
53 彼惡敢當我哉。
How dare he withstand me?
54 惡在其爲民父母也。
Where is that paternal relation to the people?
55 居惡在仁是也。
Benevolence is the dwelling-place (of the heart), and righteousness the path (of life) (lit. the dwelling--what is it?, the path--what is it?).
56 天下惡平定。
How can the empire be settled?
57 君子去仁。惡乎成名。
If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfil (the requirements) of that name?