岂有此理
HSK 6- Questions
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Expresses extreme indignation at an unreasonable or unacceptable situation.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
This is a chengyu (成语) used to express extreme anger or astonishment at something utterly absurd. It takes the form of a rhetorical question but functions as a strong exclamation, equivalent to "How outrageous!", "How can such a thing even exist!" Commonly used in situations that provoke indignation.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 一碗面要一百块？岂有此理！繁: 一碗麵要一百塊？豈有此理！Yì wǎn miàn yào yìbǎi kuài? Qǐ yǒu cǐ lǐ!
A bowl of noodles costs a hundred yuan? That's absurd!
- 他明明错了，还怪我，岂有此理！繁: 他明明錯了，還怪我，豈有此理！Tā míngmíng cuò le, hái guài wǒ, qǐ yǒu cǐ lǐ!
It's clear that he was wrong, yet he blames me—this is absolutely unreasonable!
- 你让我替你考试？岂有此理！繁: 你讓我替你考試？豈有此理！Nǐ ràng wǒ tì nǐ kǎoshì? Qǐ yǒu cǐ lǐ!
You're asking me to take the exam for you? That's absolutely absurd!
- 他偷了我的钱包还说是我丢的，岂有此理！繁: 他偷了我的錢包還說是我丟的，豈有此理！Tā tōu le wǒ de qiánbāo hái shuō shì wǒ diū de, qǐ yǒu cǐ lǐ!
He stole my wallet and claimed I lost it—that's absolutely outrageous!
- 迟到一分钟就扣半天工资，岂有此理？繁: 遲到一分鐘就扣半天工資，豈有此理？Chídào yì fēnzhōng jiù kòu bàntiān gōngzī, qǐ yǒu cǐ lǐ?
Being late by one minute results in deducting half a day's wages—how is this even reasonable?
Common mistakes
- Wrong:这个菜有点咸。岂有此理！Correct:他偷了我的钱，岂有此理！
岂有此理 expresses strong indignation and is not used for trivial matters or ordinary disagreements.