Classical Chinese (文言) in modern writing

Why read 文言?

文言 (wényán), Classical Chinese, was the written language for two thousand years, until the early twentieth century. Modern Chinese is full of its fossils: set phrases, quotations and notice words such as 勿 (don't). Educated writers quote it, and school children memorise it.

The core particles: 之乎者也

The four together, 之乎者也, is also a mocking label for pedantic, bookish writing.

Other common classical words

Lines from the Analects (《论语》)

Everyone learns these sayings of Confucius (孔子) at school, and they turn up in speeches and essays.

• 学而时习之，不亦说乎？To learn and to practise it in due time: is that not a pleasure?
• 有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？When friends come from afar: is that not a joy?
• 温故而知新，可以为师矣。Reviewing the old and learning the new, one can be a teacher.
• 学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆。Learning without thinking leaves you lost; thinking without learning leaves you in danger.
• 三人行，必有我师焉。When three walk together, there is surely a teacher for me among them.
• 己所不欲，勿施于人。Do not do to others what you would not want done to you.

In 不亦说乎, 说 is read yuè and means 悦 (pleased): a classical loan use.

Classical in today's Chinese

• 请勿吸烟。Please do not smoke.
• 他最近忙得不亦乐乎。He's been rushed off his feet lately.

In modern speech, 忙得不亦乐乎 means "extremely busy", with a wink at the Analects. It doesn't mean he enjoys it.

See also Written register: 之, 其, 此, 乃, 亦, 均, 于, 以 for 之, 其, 于 and 以 in modern prose, and Reading classical poetry: line length, 平仄, rhyme and reading aloud for classical verse.

Common mistakes

• Reading 不亦说乎 as shuō: here 说 is yuè (= 悦).
• 请物吸烟 → 请勿吸烟. 勿 (don't) and 物 (thing) sound alike.
• Sprinkling particles into modern speech, as in 我饿了也。: 也 as a sentence ending is classical only. Do it only as a joke.
• Taking 不亦乐乎 as a negative ("not happy"): 不亦…乎 is a rhetorical "isn't it…?", so it means "what a joy".