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仅次于 (jǐn cì yú) — second only to

Definition

An advanced, written phrase meaning 'second only to' — used to rank things, noting what comes directly after the top. Structurally it takes whatever comes after it as the item being outranked (A 仅次于 B = A is just below B).

verb
second only to

Examples

  • 仅次于。
    Tā de chéng jì zài bān lǐ jǐn cì yú bān zhǎng.
    His grades are second only to the class monitor's in the class.
  • 仅次于。
    Zhè zuò chéng shì de jīng jì fā zhǎn shuǐ píng jǐn cì yú shǒu dū.
    The economic development level of this city is second only to the capital.
  • 仅次于。
    Tā de yǐng xiǎng lì zài gōng sī lǐ jǐn cì yú zǒng jīng lǐ.
    His influence in the company is second only to the general manager.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 僅; 仅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
堇
堇jǐn僅jǐn
Same sound today

The traditional form 僅 pairs 人, a person, with 堇, which gives the sound; the simplified 仅 is a later shorthand.

Open 仅 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old form of 次 shows a person exhaling, with the marks above the figure representing breath.

Open 次 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →
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