十分之四 (shí fēn zhī sì) — four tenths, 0.4

Definition

Literally 'four parts out of ten', i.e. 4/10 or 40%. Use this form (十分之X) for precise fractions spoken or written out — for 40% in everyday talk, 百分之四十 is more common.

numeral
four tenths0.4

Examples

  • 十分之四。
    Zhè ge bǐ lì shì shí fēn zhī sì.
    This ratio is four tenths.
  • 十分之四。
    shí fēn zhī sì De xué shēng xuǎn zé lǐ kē.
    Four tenths of the students choose science.
  • 十分之四。
    Nǐ xū yào wán chéng shí fēn zhī sì de rèn wu.
    You need to complete four tenths of the task.

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 →

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

The form 四 was drawn as a nose breathing out. It later came to be used for the word four.

Open 四 →

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