(zhī) - classical possessive or linking particle in Mandarin
zhīTraditional: 之
Translation
classical possessive or linking particle
Word origin
之 (zhī) is a classical possessive and linking particle. Its early graph shows 止 (zhǐ, 'foot') above a baseline, depicting setting out for a place; it was then borrowed for its grammatical functions.
- Origin
- ideograph
- Root
- 之 (zhī), 止 (foot) over a baseline; grammatical use is a borrowing
Stroke order
之
Examples
优秀。
He is one of the best.
。
This is what I love.
。
He is one of my friends.
。
He is my friend.
。
One third of the students did not come.
之 (zhī) - classical possessive or linking particle.
Where this fits
Appears in 7 words
Multi-character compounds in the corpus that contain 之.
Used in
Grammar articles
(6)Mandarin Advanced Grammar (C1-C2 / HSK 6+): Chengyu, Classical Remnants, and Register
Mandarin 除了...以外: One Frame, Two Opposite Meanings
Mandarin Numbers, Time, Dates, and Currency: From 1 to 1,000,000, the 二/两 Split, and Time-Before-Verb
The Mandarin 所 (suǒ) Family: 所有, 所谓, 所 + Verb, and the 为...所 Passive
The Mandarin 以 (yǐ) Family: 以为, 以及, 以便, 以免, 以来 and 以...为...
Mandarin 之 (zhī): 之一, 之间, 之后, 之中, 总之 and the Written Ancestor of 的
Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueMandarin · Free printables
之: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "之" (classical possessive or linking particle): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 9.