莫須有

Chinese

none, nothing
isn't, doesn't
(introducing rhetorical questions) 		to need
to be needed
necessary 		to have
to exist
trad. (莫須有) 莫 須 有
simp. (莫须有) 莫 须 有

Etymology

From the statement by Qin Hui about the charges against Yue Fei trumped up by him:

獄之將上也，韓世忠不平，詣檜詰其實，檜曰：「飛子雲與張憲書雖不明，其事體莫須有。」世忠曰：「『莫須有』三字，何以服天下？」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
狱之将上也，韩世忠不平，诣桧诘其实，桧曰：「飞子云与张宪书虽不明，其事体莫须有。」世忠曰：「『莫须有』三字，何以服天下？」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
From: 1345 CE, Toqto'a (lead editor), History of Song
Yù zhī jiāng shàng yě, Hán Shìzhōng bùpíng, yì Huì jié qí shí, Huì yuē: “Fēi zǐ Yún yǔ Zhāng Xiàn shū suī bùmíng, qí shìtǐ mòxūyǒu.” Shìzhōng yuē: “‘mòxūyǒu’ sān zì, héyǐ fú tiānxià?” [Pinyin]
Before the case was being reported to the Central Government, Han Shizhong felt resentful (of Yue Fei's charges), and met Qin Hui to query about the truth. Qin Hui replied, "Although we don't know what was written on the letter to Zhang Xian by Yue Fei's son, Yue Yun, that thing is not needed." Shizhong then replied, "How can you convince the world with the words 'not needed'?"

Pronunciation

Adjective

莫須有

  1. unwarranted; groundless; fabricated; trumped-up
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