何故

hégù

adverb #17,464

Meanings

1 what for?
2 what's the reason?
3 why?

Characters

what; which (literary)

Literally 'what reason' — a classical way to ask 'why'

Examples

他何故如此生气？

Tā hégù rúcǐ shēngqì?

Why is he so angry?

不知何故，她没有来。

Bùzhī hégù, tā méiyǒu lái.

For some unknown reason, she didn't come.

Tips

register

何故 is literary/formal Chinese. In everyday speech, use 为什么 (wèishénme). 不知何故 (for some reason) is a common set phrase even in modern writing.

Stroke Order

何 hé

故 gù