焉
Usages
2 distinct jobs 焉 does in the Analects, each with examples from the text.
1Locative (there, in it)
A contraction of 於之 meaning "in it," "there," "from it." Refers back to a place or situation already mentioned.
顏淵問仁。子曰：「克己復禮為仁。一日克己復禮，天下歸仁焉。為仁由己，而由人乎哉？」顏淵曰：「請問其目。」子曰：「非禮勿視，非禮勿聽，非禮勿言，非禮勿動。」顏淵曰：「回雖不敏，請事斯語矣。」
Yan Yuan asked about perfect virtue. The Master said: "To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?" Yan Yuan said: "I beg to ask the steps of that process." The Master replied: "Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety." Yan Yuan then said: "Though I am deficient in intelligence and vigor, I will make it my business to practice this lesson."
Legge 1861
天下歸仁焉
焉 folds in the place without naming it.
子曰：「三人行，必有我師焉。擇其善者而從之，其不善者而改之。」
The Master said: "When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them."
Legge 1861
三人行，必有我師焉
焉 = 於是, "in that".
子曰：「君子食無求飽，居無求安，敏於事而慎於言，就有道而正焉，可謂好學也已。」
The Master said: "He who aims to be a man of complete virtue in his food does not seek to gratify his appetite, nor in his dwelling place does he seek the appliances of ease; he is earnest in what he is doing, and careful in his speech; he frequents the company of men of principle that he may be rectified: — such a person may be said indeed to love to learn."
Legge 1861
就有道而正焉
焉 = 於之 (by means of it, thereby)
2Interrogative (how, where)
Used to mean "how" or "where," often in rhetorical questions suggesting "surely not."
子張問曰：「令尹子文三仕為令尹，無喜色；三已之，無慍色。舊令尹之政，必以告新令尹。何如？」子曰：「忠矣。」曰：「仁矣乎？」曰：「未知，焉得仁？」「崔子弒齊君，陳文子有馬十乘，棄而違之。至於他邦，則曰：『猶吾大夫崔子也。』違之。之一邦，則又曰：『猶吾大夫崔子也。』違之。何如？」子曰：「清矣。」曰：「仁矣乎？」曰：「未知。焉得仁？」
Zizhang asked, saying: "The minister Ziwen thrice took office, and manifested no joy in his countenance. Thrice he retired from office, and manifested no displeasure. He made it a point to inform the new minister of the way in which he had conducted the government; — what do you say of him?" The Master replied: "He was loyal." "Was he perfectly virtuous?" "I do not know. How can he be pronounced perfectly virtuous?" Zizhang proceeded: "When the officer Cui killed the prince of Qi, Chen Wen, though he was the owner of forty horses, abandoned them and left the country. Coming to another State, he said, 'They are here like our great officer, Cui,' and left it. He came to a second State, and with the same observation left it also; — what do you say of him?" The Master replied: "He was pure." "Was he perfectly virtuous?" "I do not know. How can he be pronounced perfectly virtuous?"
Legge 1861
未知，焉得仁
焉 = how, not "therein" — a rhetorical question.
子曰：「里仁為美。擇不處仁，焉得知？」
The Master said: "It is virtuous manners which constitute the excellence of a neighborhood. If a man in selecting a residence, do not fix on one where such prevail, how can he be wise?"
Legge 1861
擇不處仁，焉得知
焉 = how (rhetorical question)
季路問事鬼神。子曰：「未能事人，焉能事鬼？」敢問死。曰：「未知生，焉知死？」
Jilu asked about serving the spirits of the dead. The Master said: "While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve their spirits?" Jilu added: "I venture to ask about death." He was answered: "While you do not know life, how can you know about death?"
Legge 1861
未能事人，焉能事鬼
焉 opens the rhetorical half.
子曰：「視其所以，觀其所由，察其所安。人焉廋哉？人焉廋哉？」
The Master said: "See what a man does. Mark his motives. Examine in what things he rests. How can a man conceal his character? How can a man conceal his character?"
Legge 1861
人焉廋哉
焉 = where (rhetorical)
Combos
4 fixed patterns built on 焉, with the role each plays and where to read them.
"Why use...?" / "What is the use of...?"
5.5 或曰：「雍也，仁而不佞。」子曰：「焉用佞？禦人以口給，屢憎於人。不知其仁，焉用佞？」
Rhetorical question suggesting something is unnecessary.
"How can one obtain...?" / "How could...?"
4.1 子曰：「里仁為美。擇不處仁，焉得知？」
Rhetorical question implying something is unobtainable or impossible.
"How can one be able to...?"
19.2 子張曰：「執德不弘，信道不篤，焉能為有？焉能為亡？」
Rhetorical question about ability, often implying inability.
"How can one know...?"
9.23 子曰：「後生可畏，焉知來者之不如今也？四十、五十而無聞焉，斯亦不足畏也已。」
Rhetorical question about knowledge or foresight.