New Members mauxdivers Posted April 8, 2017 at 11:38 AM New Members Report Share Posted April 8, 2017 at 11:38 AM Dear All, So I seem to have a problem with rhetorical questions in ancient Chinese. Now I am wondering about this passage from Zhuangzi 1:7: 彼且惡依待哉？ Is there anyone who can unpack it grammatically me for me? 彼 means 'that one', so in this context 'he'. I guess 且 means 'even' or perhaps 'still. Then follows 惡依待哉, which according to the commentary means 有什麼依待的. So I take it that 惡 must in this context be something like a question word. Am I right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Publius Posted April 9, 2017 at 08:56 AM Report Share Posted April 9, 2017 at 08:56 AM https://www.zybang.com/question/a1ba2caa2b1701ad0ad2faf47f8be913.html https://www.zybang.com/question/e6023878484b401eb76e036847cf8cc5.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members mauxdivers Posted April 10, 2017 at 01:03 AM Author New Members Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 at 01:03 AM Thank you so much! I take it I should use baidu more often... But how about 乎? It is not included in the link. Is like 惡 also just a 语气词, so that the sentence has two of those? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Publius Posted April 10, 2017 at 04:01 AM Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 at 04:01 AM 《漢語大辭典》： 惡 III wū 1.疑問代詞。相當於“何”、“安”、“怎麼”。 《左傳‧桓公十六年》：“棄父之命，惡用子矣？”杜預注：“惡，安也。” 《史記‧滑稽列傳》：“先生飲一斗而醉，惡能飲一石哉？” 唐張九齡《大唐金紫光祿大夫忠憲公裴公碑銘》：“物惡有滿而不溢、高而不危者哉？” 宋趙與時《賓退錄》卷二：“唐虞事業誰能繼，湯武功夫世莫傳，時既不同人又易，仲尼惡得不潸然！” 明方孝孺《鄭君妻洪氏墓銘》：“君泣曰：吾先妻洪媛之塚也，吾惡能無悲乎？” 田北湖《與某生論韓文書》：“譾陋如僕，惡足知文？” 乎 hū 7.緩和語氣或表示語氣的停頓。 《論語‧子路》：“子曰：‘苟正其身矣，於從政乎何有？不能正其身，如正人何？’” 漢東方朔《七諫‧哀命》：“從水蛟而為徒兮，與神龍乎休息。” 宋蘇軾《前赤壁賦》：“知不可乎驟得，託遺響於悲風。” This 乎 has no meaning. It's just there for a better rhythm. P.S. I don't know where the 依 in your text came from. All the versions I've seen read 彼且惡乎待哉. Perhaps the author of your textbook wanted to make it easier for learners (to forestall a question like yours, for example)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members mauxdivers Posted April 11, 2017 at 12:43 AM Author New Members Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 at 12:43 AM Thank you so much, this is so helpful. I will continue posting my Zhuangzi questions in this thread so as not to bombard this forum with new threads. Now I wonder about the grammar of this sentence: 其发若机栝,其司是非之谓也. I have a little problem with the grammar of the second clause here. 其发若机栝: No problem, I understand. 其司是非之谓也: This is how one calls their managing of right and wrong? So: They release [sc. words] like arrows, that is how now calls their managing of right and wrong? PS. I I erroneously added the yi myself, so the author of the textbook is not be blamed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Publius Posted April 11, 2017 at 08:06 AM Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 at 08:06 AM 其 I think means fear (小恐惴惴，大恐縵縵). [其司是非]之謂也 => 也就是說，是非皆由恐懼而生 => that is to say, fear is the origin of (dispute over) right or wrong. 司 = 主宰 or 司 = 伺 = 窺伺 Pre-Qin philosophy isn't my favorite subject. Different interpretations abound. Here are some reference links you may find useful: https://books.google.com/books?id=2GWfCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT318&lpg=PT318&dq=其司是非之谓也&source=bl&ots=PZAtel0GRd&sig=U8Qjgu5YvpkmVYK75xvqyKju30c&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiFl9WV6pvTAhUIeCYKHR5RAa0Q6AEILDAC#v=onepage&q=其司是非之谓也&f=false https://books.google.com/books?id=qb7rCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=其司是非之谓也&source=bl&ots=87Zd-S85v4&sig=gPHHflW9C1aHucUz2u0k5WfYE34&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiFl9WV6pvTAhUIeCYKHR5RAa0Q6AEIPjAF#v=onepage&q=其司是非之谓也&f=false http://www.my285.com/gdwx/bj/zz2/02.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.