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Word

之 (zhī) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 4

之 (zhī) is a Chinese word: it; him/her. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 之

代 dài pronoun

it; him/her

持之以恒

chí zhī yǐ héng

persevere; persist with it consistently

助 zhù particle

of; (classical possessive/attributive particle)

学习之道在于坚持。

xué xí zhī dào zài yú jiān chí

The way of learning lies in persistence.

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Word breakdown

之 zhī — it; him/her

Words with this character (25)
  • 1 之中 zhī zhōng — among, within HSK 4
    • 之 classical possessive/attributive particle
    • 中 middle, among, within
    Example

    在众多选择之中，这是最好的。

    zài zhòng duō xuǎn zé zhī zhōng zhè shì zuì hǎo de

    Among many choices, this is the best.

  • 2 之前 zhī qián — before HSK 4
    • 之 connecting particle linking time reference to 'before'
    • 前 before, prior, anteriority in time
    Example

    三年之前我不会说中文。

    sān nián zhī qián wǒ bù huì shuō zhōng wén

    Three years ago, I couldn't speak Chinese.

  • 3 之后 zhī hòu — after HSK 4
    • 之 classical linking particle connecting to the temporal concept
    • 后 after, later (provides the temporal meaning)
    Example

    毕业之后他去了北京工作。

    bì yè zhī hòu tā qù le běi jīng gōng zuò

    After graduation, he went to Beijing to work.

  • 4 之间 zhī jiān — between HSK 4
    • 之 classical particle connecting preceding element with '间'
    • 间 space, gap, interval between things
    Example

    我们之间没有秘密。

    wǒ men zhī jiān méi yǒu mì mì

    There are no secrets between us.

  • 5 总之 zǒng zhī — in short HSK 5
    • 总 overall, general (indicating summation)
    • 之 classical particle (grammatical complement)
    Example

    总之，我们要努力学习。

    zǒng zhī wǒ men yào nǔ lì xué xí

    In short, we need to study hard.

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  • 6 之所以 zhī suǒ yǐ — the reason why HSK 6
    • 之 grammatical particle linking the reason
    • 所 that which, indicating the object or thing
    • 以 by means of, because of (causal meaning)
    Example

    我之所以学中文，是因为我喜欢中国文化。

    wǒ zhī suǒ yǐ xué zhōng wén shì yīn wèi wǒ xǐ huān zhōng guó wén huà

    The reason why I study Chinese is because I like Chinese culture.

  • 7 一技之长 yī jì zhī cháng — a special skill; a particular forte HSK 7
    • 一 one; a specific
    • 技 skill; craft
    • 之 possessive particle (of)
    • 长 strong point; forte
    Example

    他虽然学历不高，但有一技之长，生活得很好。

    tā suī rán xué lì bù gāo dàn yǒu yī jì zhī cháng shēng huó de hěn hǎo

    Although he doesn't have high education, he has a special skill and lives well.

  • 8 不了了之 bù liǎo liǎo zhī — to leave something unresolved HSK 7
    • 不 not; negates the action of concluding
    • 了 to finish, to settle; indicates completion
    • 了 to finish; reinforces the sense of completion
    • 之 it, this (classical particle); refers to the matter
    Example

    这件事不能不了了之，我们必须找到解决办法。

    zhè jiàn shì bù néng bù liǎo liǎo zhī wǒ men bì xū zhǎo dào jiě jué bàn fǎ

    This matter cannot be left unresolved; we must find a solution.

  • 9 不正之风 bù zhèng zhī fēng — unhealthy trends HSK 7
    • 不 not, negation marker
    • 正 proper, correct, righteous
    • 之 of (classical possessive marker)
    • 风 wind, trend, custom, atmosphere
    Example

    我们必须坚决抵制社会上的不正之风。

    wǒ men bì xū jiān jué dǐ zhì shè huì shàng de bù zhèng zhī fēng

    We must firmly resist unhealthy trends in society.

  • 10 之际 zhī jì — at the time of HSK 7
    • 之 structural particle linking the preceding element
    • 际 time, occasion, juncture
    Example

    新年之际，祝你万事如意。

    xīn nián zhī jì zhù nǐ wàn shì rú yì

    On the occasion of the New Year, I wish you all the best.

  • 11 井底之蛙 jǐng dǐ zhī wā — A frog at the bottom of a well (metaphor for someone with a narrow perspective) HSK 7
    • 井 well (a confined, narrow space symbolizing limitation)
    • 底 bottom (emphasizes the lowest position, furthest from the wider world)
    • 之 of/at (classical possessive/locative particle connecting the location to the subject)
    • 蛙 frog (the subject with limited perspective due to confined environment)
    Example

    不要做井底之蛙，要开阔眼界。

    bú yào zuò jǐng dǐ zhī wā yào kāi kuò yǎn jiè

    Don't be a frog at the bottom of a well, broaden your horizons.

  • 12 加之 jiā zhī — moreover HSK 7
    • 加 add, contributes the sense of addition
    • 之 classical particle, adds formality and connects clauses
    Example

    天气很冷，加之下雨，我们决定不出去了。

    tiān qì hěn lěng jiā zhī xià yǔ wǒ men jué dìng bù chū qù le

    The weather is very cold, and moreover it's raining, so we decided not to go out.

  • 13 反之 fǎn zhī — conversely HSK 7
    • 反 opposite, reverse
    • 之 classical particle referring to the previous situation
    Example

    他喜欢夏天，反之，我更喜欢冬天。

    tā xǐ huan xià tiān fǎn zhī wǒ gèng xǐ huan dōng tiān

    He likes summer; conversely, I prefer winter.

  • 14 取而代之 qǔ ér dài zhī — replace, take its place HSK 7
    • 取 to take, to seize
    • 而 and then, and (connects sequential actions)
    • 代 to replace, to substitute
    • 之 it, that (classical pronoun for what is replaced)
    Example

    手工劳动逐渐被机器取而代之。

    shǒu gōng láo dòng zhú jiàn bèi jī qì qǔ ér dài zhī

    Manual labor is gradually being replaced by machines.

  • 15 可乘之机 kě chéng zhī jī — opportunity to exploit HSK 7
    • 可 can, possible (indicates exploitability)
    • 乘 to take advantage of, to exploit
    • 之 grammatical particle (possessive/attributive marker)
    • 机 opportunity, chance
    Example

    公司管理松懈，给了竞争对手可乘之机。

    gōng sī guǎn lǐ sōng xiè gěi le jìng zhēng duì shǒu kě chéng zhī jī

    The company's lax management gave competitors an opportunity to exploit.

  • 16 后顾之忧 hòu gù zhī yōu — worries about the future; future troubles HSK 7
    • 后 rear; behind; what's left behind
    • 顾 look back at; be concerned about
    • 之 possessive particle (classical)
    • 忧 worry; anxiety; concern
    Example

    有了稳定的工作,他就没有后顾之忧了。

    yǒu le wěn dìng de gōng zuò tā jiù méi yǒu hòu gù zhī yōu le

    With a stable job, he no longer has worries about the future.

  • 17 天伦之乐 tiān lún zhī lè — family happiness HSK 7
    • 天 heaven/natural; indicates natural or heavenly bonds
    • 伦 relationships/ethics; refers to family relationships
    • 之 possessive particle; means 'of'
    • 乐 joy/happiness; the pleasure derived from something
    Example

    周末全家人聚在一起，享受天伦之乐。

    zhōu mò quán jiā rén jù zài yì qǐ xiǎng shòu tiān lún zhī lè

    On the weekend, the whole family gathers together and enjoys family happiness.

  • 18 当之无愧 dāng zhī wú kuì — fully deserve; well-deserved HSK 7
    • 当 to bear, to face (something deserved)
    • 之 it (referring to the honor or recognition)
    • 无 without, not have
    • 愧 shame, guilt, ashamed
    Example

    她获得这个奖项当之无愧。

    tā huò dé zhè ge jiǎng xiàng dāng zhī wú kuì

    She fully deserves this award.

  • 19 当务之急 dāng wù zhī jí — top priority HSK 7
    • 当 current, present
    • 务 affair, task, matter
    • 之 possessive particle (classical)
    • 急 urgent, pressing
    Example

    提高教育质量是国家的当务之急。

    tí gāo jiào yù zhì liàng shì guó jiā de dāng wù zhī jí

    Improving education quality is the nation's top priority.

  • 20 总而言之 zǒng ér yán zhī — in summary HSK 7
    • 总 overall, general (provides the summarizing aspect)
    • 而 and (grammatical connector linking 'overall' to 'speaking')
    • 言 to speak, words (indicates verbal expression)
    • 之 it (classical particle completing the phrase)
    Example

    总而言之，学习中文需要耐心和努力。

    zǒng ér yán zhī xué xí zhōng wén xū yào nài xīn hé nǔ lì

    In summary, learning Chinese requires patience and effort.

  • 21 持之以恒 chí zhī yǐ héng — to persevere; to persist with perseverance HSK 7
    • 持 to hold; to maintain
    • 之 it; this (classical particle)
    • 以 with; by means of
    • 恒 constancy; permanence; perseverance
    Example

    只要持之以恒，你一定能成功。

    zhǐ yào chí zhī yǐ héng nǐ yí dìng néng chéng gōng

    As long as you persevere, you will definitely succeed.

  • 22 敬而远之 jìng ér yuǎn zhī — to respect but keep at a distance HSK 7
    • 敬 to respect, to revere
    • 而 but, yet (conjunction connecting respect and distance)
    • 远 far, distant (to keep at a distance)
    • 之 it, them (classical pronoun referring to the object being kept at distance)
    Example

    他对那些复杂的人际关系总是敬而远之。

    tā duì nà xiē fù zá de rén jì guān xi zǒng shì jìng ér yuǎn zhī

    He always maintains a respectful distance from those complex interpersonal relationships.

  • 23 无价之宝 wú jià zhī bǎo — priceless treasure HSK 7
    • 无 without, no
    • 价 price, value
    • 之 possessive/attributive particle
    • 宝 treasure
    Example

    健康是人生中的无价之宝。

    jiàn kāng shì rén shēng zhōng de wú jià zhī bǎo

    Health is a priceless treasure in life.

  • 24 来之不易 lái zhī bù yì — hard-won; not easily obtained HSK 7
    • 来 to come; represents the arrival or obtaining of something
    • 之 classical possessive particle; connects the components
    • 不 not; negates the following character
    • 易 easy; refers to ease or simplicity
    Example

    这个机会来之不易，你一定要把握住。

    zhè ge jī huì lái zhī bù yì nǐ yí dìng yào bǎ wò zhù

    This opportunity is hard-won, you must seize it.

  • 25 重中之重 zhòng zhōng zhī zhòng — top priority HSK 7
    • 重 important, weighty (first occurrence, indicating something of importance)
    • 中 among, within (indicating selection from a group)
    • 之 of (classical possessive particle connecting the concepts)
    • 重 important, weighty (second occurrence, completing the emphatic structure)
    Example

    教育是国家发展的重中之重。

    jiào yù shì guó jiā fā zhǎn de zhòng zhōng zhī zhòng

    Education is the top priority for national development.

Structure & writing
1 之 zhī — to go (to a place)
之 is a component in 2 characters
HSK 5
乏 fá lacking; without
HSK 7
芝 zhī lingzhi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), a fungus growing on dead wood with a reddish-brown glossy cap, used medicinally; regarded as an auspicious plant in ancient times

之 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order