諸
Usages
2 distinct jobs 諸 does in the Analects, each with examples from the text.
1Contraction of 之於 (it to)
When between a verb and object, 諸 contracts 之於, meaning "it to" or "this to."
陽貨欲見孔子，孔子不見，歸孔子豚。孔子時其亡也，而往拜之，遇諸塗。謂孔子曰：「來！予與爾言。」曰：「懷其寶而迷其邦，可謂仁乎？」曰：「不可。」「好從事而亟失時，可謂知乎？」曰：「不可。」「日月逝矣，歲不我與。」孔子曰：「諾。吾將仕矣。」
Yang Huo wished to see Confucius, but Confucius would not go to see him. On this, he sent a present of a pig to Confucius, who, having chosen a time when Huo was not at home, went to pay his respects for the gift. He met him, however, on the way. Huo said to Confucius: "Come, let me speak with you." He then asked: "Can he be called benevolent who keeps his jewel in his bosom, and leaves his country to confusion?" Confucius replied: "No." "Can he be called wise, who is anxious to be engaged in public employment, and yet is constantly losing the opportunity of being so?" Confucius again said: "No." "The days and months are passing away; the years do not wait for us." Confucius said: "Right; I will go into office."
Legge 1861
遇諸塗
之 + 於 again, contracted.
哀公問曰：「何為則民服？」孔子對曰：「舉直錯諸枉，則民服；舉枉錯諸直，則民不服。」
The Duke Ai asked, saying: "What should be done in order to secure the submission of the people?" Confucius replied: "Advance the upright and set aside the crooked, then the people will submit. Advance the crooked and set aside the upright, then the people will not submit."
Legge 1861
舉直錯諸枉
諸 = 之於 in one syllable.
子曰：「君子求諸己，小人求諸人。」
The Master said: "What the superior man seeks, is in himself. What the mean man seeks, is in others."
Legge 1861
君子求諸己
諸 carries both object and location.
子貢曰：「貧而無諂，富而無驕，何如？」子曰：「可也。未若貧而樂，富而好禮者也。」子貢曰：「《詩》云：『如切如磋，如琢如磨。』其斯之謂與？」子曰：「賜也，始可與言詩已矣！告諸往而知來者。」
Zigong said: "What do you pronounce concerning the poor man who yet does not flatter, and the rich man who is not proud?" The Master replied: "They will do; but they are not equal to him, who, though poor, is yet cheerful, and to him, who, though rich, loves the rules of propriety." Zigong replied: "It is said in the Book of Poetry, 'As you cut and then file, as you carve and then polish.' — The meaning is the same, I apprehend, as that which you have just expressed." The Master said: "With one like Ci, I can begin to talk about the odes. I told him one point, and he knew its proper sequence."
Legge 1861
告諸往而知來者
告諸 = 告之於 (tell it to)
2Question particle (之乎)
At sentence end, 諸 contracts 之乎, forming a question like modern 嗎.
子疾病，子路請禱。子曰：「有諸？」子路對曰：「有之。誄曰：『禱爾于上下神祇。』」子曰：「丘之禱久矣。」
The Master being very ill, Zilu asked leave to pray for him. He said: "May such a thing be done?" Zilu replied: "It may. In the Eulogies it is said, 'Prayer has been made for thee to the spirits of the upper and lower worlds.'" The Master said: "My praying has been for a long time."
Legge 1861
有諸
有諸 = 有之乎 (is there this?)
子貢曰：「有美玉於斯，韞匵而藏諸？求善賈而沽諸？」子曰：「沽之哉！沽之哉！我待賈者也。」
Zigong said, "Here's a beautiful piece of jade, what do you do with it? Lock it up and hide it, or try to sell it at a good price?"<br><br>The Master responded, "Oh, I'd sell it! I'd sell it for sure! I'm just waiting for the right buyer."
Editor's translation
Read the commentary
韞匵而藏諸
諸 = 之乎 (question marker)
子貢曰：「有美玉於斯，韞匵而藏諸？求善賈而沽諸？」子曰：「沽之哉！沽之哉！我待賈者也。」
Zigong said, "Here's a beautiful piece of jade, what do you do with it? Lock it up and hide it, or try to sell it at a good price?"<br><br>The Master responded, "Oh, I'd sell it! I'd sell it for sure! I'm just waiting for the right buyer."
Editor's translation
Read the commentary
求善賈而沽諸
The same question-marking 諸.