焉知
yān
zhī

Definitions

  1. 1. (literary) how is one to know?

Components

  • 焉 yān – where
  • 知 zhī – to know

Related Words

  • 塞翁失马焉知非福 sài wēng shī mǎ yān zhī fēi fú – the old man lost his mare, but it all turned out for the best (idiom); fig. a blessing in disguise
  • 燕雀焉知鸿鹄之志 yàn què yān zhī hóng gǔ zhī zhì – lit. can the sparrow and swallow know the will of the great swan? (idiom); fig. how can we small fry predict the ambitions of the great?
  • 焉知非福 yān zhī fēi fú – A blessing in disguise