WHY  為甚麼奚

BECAUSE of WHAT? [GRAMMAR]
Hypernym
  • BECAUSESENTENCE-CONNECTIVE to the effect that S1 is the CAUSE:reason for S2 being TRUE. [GRAMMAR]
    • CAUSESITUATION OR THING which CAUSES something TO HAPPEN OR to be TRUE.
      • SITUATIONRELATION in which MANY HUMANS, FEATURES OR THINGS EXIST TOGETHER OR INTERACT.
        • RELATIONFEATURE of TWO OR MORE THINGS TOGETHER....
See also
  • HOWUSING WHAT METHOD?
    Old Chinese Criteria
    1. The most current general word for "why" is probably xī 奚.

    2. Hé yǐ 何以 typically asks for a reason in the form of a purpose, but the word can also ask for a good intellectual reason, as in hé yǐ zhī zhī 何以知之 "how do you know".

    3. Hú 胡 is a dialect word which often asks generally for reasons and is hard to distinguish semantically from xī 奚.

    4. Hé 盍 "why not" is a contracted form of hé bù 何不.

    Modern Chinese Criteria
    為什麼

    為甚麼

    幹什麼

    幹嗎

    為何

    為啥

    何故

    何以

    怎麼

    怎

    咋

    曷

    胡

    rough draft to BEGIN TO identify synonym group members for analysis, based on CL etc. 18.11.2003. CH ／ LU JIANMING

    • Lateinische Synonyme und Etymologien ( DOEDERLEIN 1840) p.

      WHY

      cur introduces both genuine and rhetorical questions.

      quare introduces rhetorical questions.

    • 古汉语时间范畴词典 ( WANG HAIFEN 2001) p. 191

      Wang Haifen lists and analyses over 120 related words!

    • The Encyclopedia of Philosophy ( BORCHERT 2005) p.

      WHY

    Attributions by syntactic funtion

    • padV : 88
    • VPadV : 77
    • PP{PRED}.postS{SUBJECT} : 22
    • PPadV : 22
    • NPadV : 22
    • padS : 18
    • VPi : 17
    • npro.postS : 15
    • NPadv : 12
    • NPpro{PRED} : 11
    • PP : 9
    • PPpostS : 8
    • PPadS : 7
    • VPadS : 7
    • NPpro.adV : 4
    • npro.postNPab{S} : 2
    • VPi(0) : 2
    • VPt+V[0] : 2
    • npro : 2
    • VPpostS1.adS2 : 2
    • npro.adV : 1
    • DELETE : 1
    • VPipostN{SUBJ} : 1
    • PP+S : 1
    • VPpostadV : 1
    • NPadS : 1
    • VPadV{PRED}.postN{SUBJ}:postS : 1
    • NP+V : 1

    Attributions by text

    • 祖堂集 : 42
    • 說苑 : 30
    • 韓非子 : 30
    • 春秋左傳 : 30
    • 論語 : 21
    • 楚辭 : 19
    • 百喻經 : 18
    • 孟子 : 17
    • 臨濟錄 : 17
    • 史記 : 16
    • 荀子 : 16
    • 賢愚經 : 14
    • 管子 : 7
    • 文選 : 6
    • 春秋穀梁傳 : 6
    • 墨子 : 6
    • 莊子 : 6
    • 春秋公羊傳 : 5
    • 搜神記 : 5
    • 劉義慶世說新語 : 5
    • 淮南子 : 5
    • 列子 : 4
    • 呂氏春秋 : 4
    • 毛詩 : 4
    • 法言 : 4
    • 晏子春秋 : 3
    • 阮籍集四卷 : 3
    • 鹽鐵論 : 3
    • 戰國策 : 3
    • 論衡 : 2
    • 公孫龍子 : 1
    • 戰國縱橫家書釋文 : 1
    • 孝經 : 1
    • 法句經 : 1
    • 妙法蓮華經 : 1
    • 九章算術注 : 1

    Words

    何  hé OC: ɡlaal MC: ɦɑ 86 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • DELETErhetoricalwhy on earth? (one surely does not know why!)CH
    • npro.postNPab{S}why is it so?
    • npro.postSquestionWhy is that? why is it the case that S?; why is it so?, what is the reason of it?......,何也?
    • npro{PRED}.postNab{S}{SUBJECT}Why is it that SCH
    • padSquestionwhy?
    • padVquestionwhy? (unknown answer invited)
    • padVrhetoricalwhy on earth?
    • ppostNwhat is the reason for N?CH
    何故  hé gù OC: ɡlaal kaas MC: ɦɑ kuo̝ 23 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • NP+Vobjectivewhy? (i.e. for no good objective reason)
    • NP+Vreasonwhy? (i.e. surely for no good subjective reason)
    • NPadSwhy?
    • NPadVobjectivefor what objective reason?
    • NPadVpredicatewhy was (this)?
    • NPadVquestionfor what reason?
    • NPadvrhetoricalfor what reason? (surely one does not know!)CH
    • NPadVsubjectiveWhy?
    何也  hé yě OC: ɡlaal lalʔ MC: ɦɑ jɣɛ 22 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • PP{PRED}.postNab{S}{SUBJECT}CH
    • PP{PRED}.postS{SUBJECT}questionWhy is that? Why was that?
    何以  hé yǐ OC: ɡlaal k-lɯʔ MC: ɦɑ jɨ 18 AttributionsWD

    Hé yǐ 何以 typically asks for a reason in the form of a purpose, but the word can also ask for a good intellectual reason, as in hé yǐ zhī zhī 何以知之 "how do you know".

      Syntactic words
    • VPadVjustificationto what purpose? why?
    • VPadVreasonfor what reason?; why?DS
    • VPadVrhetorical questionwhy on earth? surely for no good reason!
    何為  hé wèi OC: ɡlaal ɢʷals MC: ɦɑ ɦiɛ 17 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • DELETErhetorical questionwhy?, for what reason?, what's the point?
    • VPadVwhy?
    • VPadVrhetorical questionWhat for?! For what reason?! On what grounds?!
    奚  xī OC: ɡee MC: ɦei 16 AttributionsWD

    The most current general word for "why" is probably xī 奚.

      Syntactic words
    • padVquestionwhy?
    • padVrhetorical questionwhy?
    云何  yún hé OC: ɢun ɡlaal MC: ɦi̯un ɦɑ 15 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • PPadSquestionwhy is it that...; in what respect is it that
    • PPadVwhy?
    • PPadVrhetorical questionWhy on earth? (i.e. for no good reason, for no reason whatsoever)
    為什摩  wèi shí mó OC: ɢʷals ɡjub maal MC: ɦiɛ dʑip mʷɑ 15 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVwhy, for what reason
    盍  hé OC: ɡaab MC: ɦɑp 11 AttributionsWD

    Hé 盍 "why not" is a contracted form of hé bù 何不.

      Syntactic words
    • padSquestionwhy not?
    胡  hú OC: ɡaa MC: ɦuo̝ 11 AttributionsWD

    Hú 胡 is a dialect word which often asks generally for reasons and is hard to distinguish semantically from xī 奚.

      Syntactic words
    • padVquestionwhy?
    • padVrhetorical questionwhy on earth?CH
    何者  hé zhě OC: ɡlaal kljaʔ MC: ɦɑ tɕɣɛ 11 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • NPpro{PRED}why? why so?
    又何  yòu hé OC: ɢʷɯs ɡlaal MC: ɦɨu ɦɑ 9 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • PPexpected answer: no!why go on to?　(expected answer: there is no reason to go on to...)
    作什摩  zuò shí mó OC: tsaaɡ ɡjub maal MC: tsɑk dʑip mʷɑ 9 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPicolloquialwhy is it so> what is the point, how about this; what is the purpose (often following topicalized VP or S)
    何則  hé zé OC: ɡlaal skɯɯɡ MC: ɦɑ tsək 8 AttributionsWD

    Why should this not V?

      Syntactic words
    • PPpostSWhy is this? Why so?
    奚為  xī wèi OC: ɡee ɢʷals MC: ɦei ɦiɛ 5 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVquestionwhy?
    作什麼  zuò shí mǒ OC: tsaaɡ ɡjub maalʔ MC: tsɑk dʑip mʷɑ 5 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPicolloquialwhy is it so> what is the point, how about this; what is the purpose (often following a topicalized VP or S)
    焉用  yān yòng OC: qran k-loŋs MC: ʔiɛn ji̯oŋ 4 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVexpected answer: no!what for?
    緣何  yuán hé OC: k-lon ɡlaal MC: jiɛn ɦɑ 4 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • NPpro.adVwhy, for what reason
    因什摩  yīn shí mó OC: qin ɡjub maal MC: ʔin dʑip mʷɑ 4 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVquestionbecause of what > why?
    胡為  hú wèi MC: hu hjweH OC: ɡaa ɢʷalsLZ 4 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVrhetorical question(read hu2wei4) why, howLZ
    曷為  hé wèi MC: hat hjweH OC: ɡaad ɢʷals 4 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadSwhy was it that S? sometimes emphatically doubtful: how (on earth) was it that S?CH
    焉  yān OC: qran MC: ʔiɛn 3 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • padVrhetorical questionwhy
    何其  hé qí OC: ɡlaal ɡɯ MC: ɦɑ gɨ 3 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • PPadVrhetorical questionHow? (answer NO there is no explanation, one should not, they should not...!!!)
    何曾  hé céng OC: ɡlaal dzɯɯŋ MC: ɦɑ dzəŋ 3 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • PPadVrhetorical questionwhy? how come that V?
    因何  yīn hé OC: qin ɡlaal MC: ʔin ɦɑ 3 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVbecause of what > why; for what reason
    夫何  fú hé OC: ba ɡlaal MC: bi̯o ɦɑ 3 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • PPadSwhy on earthCH
    • PPadSquestionWhy?
    如何  rú hé OC: nja ɡlaal MC: ȵi̯ɤ ɦɑ 3 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadSrhetorical questionwhy (presupposed answer: for no good reason)
    何以故  hé yǐ gù OC: ɡlaal k-lɯʔ kaas MC: ɦɑ jɨ kuo̝ 3 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadV{PRED}.postN{SUBJ}:postSwhy?
    • VPpostS1.adS2predicateAnd why is that so? (placed between S1 and S2, and S2 is explanatory of S1)
    為什麼  wèi shí mǒ OC: ɢʷals ɡjub maalʔ MC: ɦiɛ dʑip mʷɑ 3 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVcolloquialwhy, for what reason?
    孰  shú OC: djɯwɡ MC: dʑuk 2 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • nprorhetorical questionwhy should one, why should he?
    寧  nìng MC: nengH OC: neeŋs 2 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • padVread nìng: why? (i.e.: for no good reason)
    何由  hé yóu OC: ɡlaal liw MC: ɦɑ jɨu 2 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVwhy?
    • VPipostN{SUBJ}why is that
    何緣  hé yuán OC: ɡlaal k-lon MC: ɦɑ jiɛn 2 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVusing what as grounds> why?
    奚其  xī qí OC: ɡee ɡɯ MC: ɦei gɨ 2 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • PPadSWhy; why on earth?
    如之何  rú zhī hé OC: nja kljɯ ɡlaal MC: ȵi̯ɤ tɕɨ ɦɑ 2 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPi(0)why?
    • VPi(0)rhetorical questionwhy on earth?
    安  ān MC: 'an OC: qaanCH 2 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • padVrhetoricalwhy on earth? (surely one does not know why!)CH
    侯  hóu MC: huw OC: ɡooCH 2 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • padSwhyCH
    蓋  hé OC: ɡaab MC: ɦɑp 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • padSrhetorical questionwhy not?
    何意  hé yì OC: ɡlaal qɯɡs MC: ɦɑ ʔɨ 1 AttributionWD
    • Studies in the Language of Zǔtáng jí 祖堂集 ( ANDERL 2004B) p. 204-205

      This compound is also used in BIANWEN. In ZTJ there is only one example for the meaning 'why'. In the other occurrences he2yi4 is used in its literary meaning 'have what meaning'.

      It is possibly a graphic variant of 何以.

    • 近代漢語研究概況 Jìndài hànyǔ yánjiū gàikuàng A Survey Study on Early Mandarin ( JIANG SHAOYU 1994) p. 131

      Glossed as 豈料，何故

      possibly a garphic variant of 何以

      Syntactic words
    • NPadVquestionwhat meaning > why; how come?
    何暇  hé xiá OC: ɡlaal ɡraas MC: ɦɑ ɦɣɛ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPt+V[0]Why should one get to V? [One will have to look for more examples]
    何處  hé chù OC: ɡlaal qhljas MC: ɦɑ tɕhi̯ɤ 1 AttributionWD
    • 唐五代語言詞典 Táng Wǔdài yǔyán cídiǎn A Dictionary of the Language of the Tang and Five Dynasties Periods ( JIANG/CAO 1997) p. 157,#3

      何以；為什麼

      《博異志》

      Syntactic words
    • NPadVpronominalwhy, for what reason, for what perpose
    何遽  hé jù OC: ɡlaal ɡlas MC: ɦɑ gi̯ɤ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • PP+Sexpected answer: no!Why? i.e. surely there is no reason! Mo: 吾言何遽不善？
    何須  hé xū OC: ɡlaal so MC: ɦɑ si̯o 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPt+V[0]why should one V, what need is there to V > one should not V
    作摩  zuò mó OC: tsaaɡ maal MC: tsɑk mʷɑ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPipredicateTang: what is the reason for this? why is that so? what's the point of? (the usage as predicate is rare and usually 作摩 is suffixed with 生) (precursor of Modern Mandarin 怎麼)
    作麼  zuò mǒ OC: tsaaɡ maalʔ MC: tsɑk mʷɑ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPicolloquialwhy is it? what is the point of? what is the purpose of?
    奚而  xī ér OC: ɡee njɯ MC: ɦei ȵɨ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • PPadVrhetorical questionwhy?
    奚遽  xī jù OC: ɡee ɡlas MC: ɦei gi̯ɤ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • PPadSrhetorical questionwhy? (often in rhetorical questions)
    將何  jiāng hé OC: skaŋ ɡlaal MC: tsi̯ɐŋ ɦɑ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPirhetorical questionwhy?
    用為  yòng wéi OC: k-loŋs ɢʷal MC: ji̯oŋ ɦiɛ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPpostadVwhy?
    遐  xiá MC: hae OC: ɡraaLZ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • padVarchaic interrogative pronoun/adverb in SHI, obviously a loan characterLZ
    庸何  yōng hé MC: yowng ha OC: k-loŋ ɡlaalCH 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • PPadVwhyCH
    安事  ān zì MC: 'an tsriH OC: qaan tsrɯsCH 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVrhetoricalto what purpose?, with what concrete aim?CH
    曷  hé MC: hat OC: ɡaadDS 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • npro.adVwhy?DS
    奈何  nài hé OC: naads ɡlaal MC: nɑi ɦɑ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVexpected answer: no!Why? how come? (i.e. for no good reason!)
    以何因緣  yǐ hé yīn yuán OC: k-lɯʔ ɡlaal qin k-lon MC: jɨ ɦɑ ʔin jiɛn 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadSFor what reason?; why?
    所以者何  suǒ yǐ zhě hé OC: sqraʔ k-lɯʔ kljaʔ ɡlaal MC: ʂi̯ɤ jɨ tɕɣɛ ɦɑ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • V{S}what is the reason? Why?
      Click here to add pinyin MC:  OC: CH 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • padVrhetoricalwhy on earth? (surely one does not know why!)CH

    Existing SW for

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