Definition
矣 (yǐ) is a Classical Chinese sentence-final particle that marks a change of state, completion, or a new situation. It functions like modern Mandarin 了 (le) but is used only in literary or classical contexts. You will encounter it in idioms, proverbs, and classical texts.
particle
(classical particle, sentence-final) indicates a change of statecompletionor new situation (equivalent to modern 了)
Easily confused
- 短duǎnlook-alikeshort, brief
- 一yīsound-alikeone; a (used before measure words)
- 以yǐsound-alike(preposition) by means of; using
- 已yǐsound-alikealready
- 移yísound-aliketo move, to shift
- 亿yìsound-alike100 million
- 依yīsound-alike(verb) to rely on, to depend on
- 亦yìsound-alikealso; as well
- 乙yǐsound-alikesecond of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干); second in order; B
- 姨yísound-alikematernal aunt (mother's sister)
Examples
- 矣。Wú wén zhī yǐ.I have heard of it.
- ，矣。Shì yǐ zhì cǐ, wú kě nài hé yǐ.Things have come to this; there's nothing to be done.
- ，矣。Shí bù wǒ dài, qù yǐ.Time waits for no one; I am leaving.
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