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What is the meaning of ぞや at the end of

> 日本語は何ぞや?
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2022-11-06T19:40:17.853
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2022-11-06T23:20:47.557
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translation
Meaning of ぞや at the end of 「 日本語は何ぞや」？
It is [a combined
particle](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E3%81%9E%E3%82%84/) ぞ(emphasis) +
や(question).

In terms of modern usage, Xとは何{なん}ぞや is a way to emphasize a question,
probably more often used in writing than in speech. It is usually used in
contexts like "let's redefine/ask ourselves _what is X_ " or "wait, but _what
exactly is X in the first place_ ".

Another (still current) usage of ぞや is to add indefiniteness
([ぞ](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E3%81%9E/#jn-127855) [副助]#1).

  * そこはいつぞやいったことがある I've been there sometime-I-don't-remember.
  * どこぞやで食べた気がする I've tasted it somewhere-I-don't-know.

いつか/どこか can replace いつぞや/どこぞや above.
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