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之间 (zhī jiān) — between; among; amid (used after a noun); (in fixed expressions) a very short period of time

Definition

之间 attaches AFTER a noun to mark 'between/among' (two people, places, or things). It is more literary than 中间 and usually requires a 的 before a verb phrase.

noun
betweenamongamid (used after a noun)(in fixed expressions) a very short period of time

Examples

  • 之间。
    Zhè liǎng zuò chéng shì zhī jiān de jù lí hěn yuǎn.
    The distance between these two cities is very far.
  • 之间。
    Péng you zhī jiān yào hù xiāng xìn rèn.
    Friends should trust each other.
  • 之间，。
    Yì nián zhī jiān, tā xué huì le hěn duō dōng xī.
    In one year, he learned a lot of things.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

之zhīof
间jiānmiddle

The 之 connects a place or group to 间, to mean between.

Characters in this word

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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 间 →

Grammar

Appears in
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