<p>Here’s a highly unsatisfying answer.</p>
<p>《汉语大辞典》has a definition of 索 that defines it as:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>索性；干脆。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And they give the example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>《警世通言·庄子休鼓盆成大道》<br />
早知死後無情義, 索把生前恩愛勾。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>《现代汉语大词典》also has an entry on 索 that defines it as:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>干脆。如：索性；索兴。</p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>Outlier</em> gives the following meaning tree which maps out the development of word meanings and it seems to show that this meaning was originally of a different tone:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>MEANINGS</strong><br />
Character meanings<br />
suǒ</p>
<p>1 (orig.) two hands holding a rope made of plant stalks and leaves<br />
2 → rope</p>
<p>3 ⇒ to search, follow a line</p>
<p>4  to ask, demand</p>
<p>suó</p>
<p>1 ⇒ strip, line</p>
<p>2  simply</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It would seem that suó was later merged into suǒ.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T21:53:52.077Z
Thanks! I suppose we can, in the right context, bend the meaning of 'simply' or 'just' to 'might just as well': 既然已经做了，～就把它做完。找了几个地方都没有找着，～不再找了。
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T08:43:42.603Z
2020-09-02T09:03:21.020Z
2020-09-02T09:03:21.020Z
Mou某
<p>I'm curious as to how 索性 came to be translated as &quot;you might as well (do it)&quot;</p>
<ol>
<li>索性: 直截了当,干脆</li>
<li>索性：任性</li>
</ol>
<p>索 apparently has English meanings of: large rope, cable; rules, laws; to demand, to exact; to search, inquire; isolated</p>
<p>:) You could translate 索性 as 'rope nature' :)</p>
<p>Which meaning of 索 is involved in 索性？</p>
<p>&quot;might as well&quot; is a subjunctive statement.</p>
<p>Is &quot;might as well&quot; an over-translation?<br />
Where does 索性 come from?<br />
Is 索性 actually a short version of something longer?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T00:31:53.977Z
索 could also mean 寂寞(loneliness) and 没有兴趣(no interest).  E. g. 索然无味.
dan
<etymology><phrase-meaning>
How did 索性 get translated as "you might as well (do it)"
# How did 索性 get translated as "you might as well (do it)"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-09-02)

I'm curious as to how 索性 came to be translated as "you might as well (do it)"

1. 索性: 直截了当,干脆
2. 索性：任性

索 apparently has English meanings of: large rope, cable; rules, laws; to demand, to exact; to search, inquire; isolated

:) You could translate 索性 as 'rope nature' :)

Which meaning of 索 is involved in 索性？

"might as well" is a subjunctive statement.

Is "might as well" an over-translation?  
Where does 索性 come from?  
Is 索性 actually a short version of something longer?

**Tags:** etymology, phrase-meaning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 索 could also mean 寂寞(loneliness) and 没有兴趣(no interest).  E. g. 索然无味.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-09-02. Score: 3

Here’s a highly unsatisfying answer.

《汉语大辞典》has a definition of 索 that defines it as:

> 索性；干脆。

And they give the example:

> 《警世通言·庄子休鼓盆成大道》  
> 早知死後無情義, 索把生前恩愛勾。

《现代汉语大词典》also has an entry on 索 that defines it as:

> 干脆。如：索性；索兴。

*Outlier* gives the following meaning tree which maps out the development of word meanings and it seems to show that this meaning was originally of a different tone:

> **MEANINGS**  
> Character meanings  
> suǒ
>
> 1 (orig.) two hands holding a rope made of plant stalks and leaves  
> 2 → rope
>
> 3 ⇒ to search, follow a line
>
> 4 to ask, demand
>
> suó
>
> 1 ⇒ strip, line
>
> 2 simply

It would seem that suó was later merged into suǒ.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks! I suppose we can, in the right context, bend the meaning of 'simply' or 'just' to 'might just as well': 既然已经做了，～就把它做完。找了几个地方都没有找着，～不再找了。  

---

