十之八九 (shí zhī bā jiǔ) — most likely; very probably; in all likelihood

Definition

Idiom meaning 'in most cases; very probably' — similar to 多半, but slightly more literary. Used when the speaker is making a strong guess about something based on evidence.

idiom
most likelyvery probablyin all likelihood

Examples

  • ，十之八九。
    Tā jīn tiān méi lái shàng bān, shí zhī bā jiǔ shì shēng bìng le.
    He didn't come to work today — most likely he's sick.
  • ，十之八九。
    Zhè me wǎn le hái bù huí lái, shí zhī bā jiǔ yòu jiā bān le.
    It's so late and he's still not back — he's probably working overtime again.
  • ，十之八九，。
    Kàn zhè tiān qì, shí zhī bā jiǔ yào xià yǔ, nǐ dài sǎn ba.
    Looking at the weather, it's very likely going to rain — take an umbrella.

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.

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

Open 之 →

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

八 shows two bent lines, indicating the original meaning 'to divide'; it was later used for 'eight' because the words sounded alike.

Open 八 →

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

The shape comes from a stylized hand bent at the wrist, with the lower-right hook showing the bend. Later, it was taken to show a tightened fist bumping up to ten, giving the number nine.

Open 九 →

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