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次于 (cì yú) — to be second only to; to be inferior to (in rank, importance, quality)

Definition

次于 (cì yú) means 'second to / inferior to' — a formal written verb used to rank A below B (A 次于 B). Unlike 比, it implies an ordered ranking rather than a simple comparison.

verb
to be second only toto be inferior to (in rank, importance, quality)

Examples

  • 次于。
    Tā de chéng jì jǐn zài bān lǐ cì yú lǐ míng.
    His grades are second only to Li Ming's in the class.
  • 次于。
    Zhè ge de zhì liàng cì yú nà ge.
    The quality of this one is inferior to that one.
  • 次于。
    Wǒ de zhōng wén shuǐ píng cì yú tā.
    My Chinese level is inferior to his.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

次cìrank below
于yúto

次 gives ranking and 于 links it to the thing compared.

Characters in this word

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 →
Appears in
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