如之何

如之何

1. (literary) how

   • 君子于役，如之何勿思？ [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Jūnzǐ yú yì, rúzhīhé wù sī?

     But my husband is away on service. How can I but keep thinking of him?

2. (literary) what to do

   • 哀公問於有若曰：「年饑，用不足，如之何？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     哀公问于有若曰：「年饥，用不足，如之何？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Āi Gōng wèn yú Yǒuruò yuē: “Niánjī, yòng bùzú, rúzhīhé?”

     The duke Ai inquired of You Ruo, saying, "The year is one of scarcity, and the returns for expenditure are not sufficient - what is to be done?"

   • 四境之內不治，則如之何？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     四境之内不治，则如之何？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Sìjìng zhī nèi bùzhì, zé rúzhīhé?

     If within the four borders of your kingdom there is not good government, what is to be done?