十分之 (shí fēn zhī) — (mathematical expression) ... out of ten, ... tenths

Definition

The fraction marker used between the denominator and the numerator, as in 十分之三 = three-tenths. It pairs with a number after it (十分之五 = five-tenths = half) and the whole phrase takes 的 before a noun.

numeral
(mathematical expression) ... out of ten... tenths

Examples

  • 十分之。
    shí fēn zhī Sān de xué shēng tōng guò le kǎo shì.
    Three tenths of the students passed the exam.
  • 。
    Zhè ge chéng shì shí fēn zhī jiǔ de rén kǒu dōu zhù zài gōng yù lǐ.
    Nine tenths of this city's population live in apartments.
  • 十分之。
    Tā wán chéng le shí fēn zhī qī de gōng zuò.
    He completed seven tenths of the work.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early shape 十 was mostly a single vertical stroke, sometimes with a dot, and later gained a horizontal stroke to form a cross. For the number ten, it marked the next digit above one.

Open 十 →

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

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.