Table of Contents
- 1 What is the meaning of the statement May you live in interesting times?
- 2 Who wrote May we live in interesting times?
- 3 When to Use May I?
- 4 Can you say may you please?
- 5 What does Why may I ask mean?
- 6 What does it mean to live in Interesting Times?
- 7 Where does the expression ‘in Interesting Times’ come from?
- 8 Where did the phrase ‘We were living in an interesting age’ come from?
What is the meaning of the statement May you live in interesting times?
May you live in interesting times is an expression where the speaker ironically wishes an “interesting” time to whomever he is speaking. In reality, he or she wishes the person to live during times of uncertainty and disorder as opposed to peace and tranquility. 1 May You Live in Interesting Times Meaning.
Who wrote May we live in interesting times?
One of the earliest reliable citations seems to be a 1950 short story by the British science-fiction author Eric Frank Russell, writing under the pen name Duncan H. Munro, who quotes the imprecation and then adds: “It isn’t a curse any more.
What is the meaning of May you?
May you is usually used in the sense of may I, but may I is asking for permission. You don’t generally ask someone else permission for their own behavior. Instead, you ask whether they would be willing to perform the behavior which would take the form of would you… or could you….
When to Use May I?
If you use “May I…” then you are asking permission to use the book and bring it back at a later time. Therefore you would hopefully say that “May I…” is the correct choice here. Your ability is assumed, so you really just want to ask permission.
Can you say may you please?
In this case, may is wrong because she is not asking or giving permission: she is making a request. So: may and can are used interchangeably when asking or giving permission. would (or will) and can (or could) are used interchangeably when making a request.
How do you reply How may I help you?
It’s what is called a closed question, because the only possible answers are “yes” or “no” (with a “please” or “thank you” thrown in for politeness’ sake). True, but you can avoid a no by saying: I’m fine/all right, thanks.
What does Why may I ask mean?
You can say ‘may I ask’ as a formal way of asking a question, which shows you are annoyed or suspicious about something. [feelings]
What does it mean to live in Interesting Times?
The expression is always used ironically, with the clear implication that ‘uninteresting times’, of peace and tranquillity, are more life-enhancing than interesting ones. ‘May you live in interesting times’ is widely reported as being of ancient Chinese origin but is neither Chinese nor ancient, being recent and western.
Is the phrase ‘may you live in Interesting Times’ from China?
‘May you live in interesting times’ is widely reported as being of ancient Chinese origin but is neither Chinese nor ancient, being recent and western. It certainly seems to have been intended to sound oriental, in the faux-Chinese ‘Confucius he say’ style, but that’s as near to China as it actually gets.
Where does the expression ‘in Interesting Times’ come from?
The expression is always used ironically, with the clear implication that ‘uninteresting times’, of peace and tranquillity, are more life-enhancing than interesting ones. ‘May you live in interesting times’ is widely reported as being of ancient Chinese origin but is neither Chinese nor ancient, being recent and western.
Where did the phrase ‘We were living in an interesting age’ come from?
Frederic René Coudert Jr. also recounts having heard the phrase at the time: Some years ago, in 1936, I had to write to a very dear and honoured friend of mine, who has since died, Sir Austen Chamberlain, brother of the present Prime Minister, and I concluded my letter with a rather banal remark “that we were living in an interesting age”.