岂有此理

qǐ yǒu cǐ lǐ

  • Meaning

    Literal

    What sort of reasoning is this?

    Usage

    Nonsense; outrageous; preposterous; ridiculous

  • Connotation

    Negative

  • Usage Examples

    真是岂有此理!他有什么权力来管我的家事 | Zhēnshi qǐyǒucǐlǐ! Tā yǒu shénme quánlì lái guǎn wǒ de jiāshì
    This is ridiculous! What right does he have to interfere with my family affairs?
    [Source]

    你身为国家干部,竟然不敢揭发小偷,真是岂有此理 | Nǐ shēn wèi guójiā gànbù, jìngrán bù gǎn jiēfā xiǎotōu, zhēnshi qǐyǒucǐlǐ
    You are a government cadre, and yet you don't even dare to expose thieves. Where's the logic in that?
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    None

    Chinese

    None

  • Entry Notes

    This is an HSK chengyu

  • Origin

    《南齐书》(Nán Qí Shū), a work by 萧子显 (Xiāo Zǐ Xiǎn) of the Liáng Dynasty (梁, 502 - 557) during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (南北朝 | Nán Běi Cháo | 420 - 589). The work is often known in English as the "Book of Qi" or the "Book of Southern Qí," and it unsurprisingly details the history of the dynasty

  • Story

    This chengyu comes from a line in the work listed in the "Origin" section above

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
    • 百度百科[x]