Definition
之 (zhī) is a literary, classical pronoun meaning 'him/her/it' when used as an object (e.g., after a verb). Unlike 他 (tā), which is the everyday spoken word for 'him', 之 is only used in formal, written, or classical contexts. It is distinct from 其 (qí), which is a possessive pronoun ('his/her/its/their') used before a noun.
pronoun
(literary pronoun) himherit (used as object)
Easily confused
- 临línlook-aliketo face, to overlook (a location or situation)
- 只zhǐsound-alike(classifier) used for one of a pair of animals, objects, or body parts; also for boats, certain containers
- 只zhǐsound-alikeonly, just, merely
- 指zhǐsound-aliketo point at, to indicate, to show
- 支zhīsound-alikeclassifier for long, thin objects (pens, guns), army divisions, and songs/compositions
- 支zhīsound-aliketo prop up, to support
- 直zhísound-alike(adjective) straight; frank; fair
- 至zhìsound-alike(verb, literary) to arrive
- 值zhísound-alike(verb) to be worth
- 纸zhǐsound-alikepaper
Examples
- 之，。Wǒ shēn ài zhī, dàn tā bù ài wǒ.I deeply love him/her, but he/she doesn't love me.
- ，之。Cǐ wù zhēnguì, wǒ qǔ zhī.This item is precious; I take it.
- 之。Qǐng zǐxì tīng zhī.Please listen to it carefully.
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