然諾
Chinese
[edit]so; thus; like this so; thus; like this; ‑ly; correct; right |
to promise; to yes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (然諾) | 然 | 諾 | |
| simp. (然诺) | 然 | 诺 | |
Etymology
[edit]Both characters were interjections used to express agreement to the other speaker in Old Chinese. For example:
- 季曰：「吾見鬼乎？」
- From: Han Feizi, circa 2nd century BCE
- Jì yuē: “Wú jiàn guǐ hū?”
Fùrén yuē: “Rán.”
“wèi zhī nàihé?”
Yuē: “Qǔ wǔ shēng zhī shǐ yù zhī.”
Jì yuē: “Nuò.”
Nǎi yù yǐ shǐ. [Pinyin] - “Have I seen a ghost?” “Certainly.” “What shall I do then?” “Get the dung of the five animals [namely: oxen, sheep, pigs, dogs, and fowls] and bathe in it.” “All right.” said Chi. So he bathed in the dung.
婦人曰：「然。」
「爲之奈何？」
曰：「取五牲之矢浴之。」
季曰：「諾。」
乃浴以矢。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
季曰：「吾见鬼乎？」
妇人曰：「然。」
「为之奈何？」
曰：「取五牲之矢浴之。」
季曰：「诺。」
乃浴以矢。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
Pronunciation
[edit]- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin:
- Zhuyin: ㄖㄢˊ ㄋㄨㄛˋ
- Tongyong Pinyin: ránnuò
- Wade–Giles: jan2-no4
- Yale: rán-nwò
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: rannuoh
- Palladius: жаньно (žanʹno)
- Sinological IPA (key): /ʐän³⁵ nu̯ɔ⁵¹/
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Middle Chinese: nyen nak
- Old Chinese
- (Baxter–Sagart): /*[n]a[n] nˤak/
- (Zhengzhang): /*njen naːɡ/
Verb
[edit]然諾
- (literary) to agree; to promise
- 縱令然諾暫相許，終是悠悠行路心。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
- From: c. 8th century, 張謂 (Zhāng Wèi),《題長安壁主人》 (An Inscription on the Host of Chang'an Wall)
- Zònglìng ránnuò zàn xiāngxǔ, zhōng shì yōuyōu xínglù xīn. [Pinyin]
- Though one has made temporary verbal promises,
His heart remains as cold as an alien stranger's.
纵令然诺暂相许，终是悠悠行路心。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]