至于 (as for / when it comes to) · 至于 (pour ce qui est de / quant à)
Price is raised but left unresolved
- A buyer and seller finish discussing quality. 至于价格，以后再说。 — As for the price, we will discuss it later.
- 至于 raises price as a separate issue. 以后再说 postpones it; no price is agreed in this sentence.
Price is raised but left unresolved
- A buyer and seller finish discussing quality. as for (topic) / reaching a degree (context)至于price价格，after以后to say again再说。 — As for the price, we will discuss it later.
- as for (topic) / reaching a degree (context)至于 raises price as a separate issue. after以后to say again再说 postpones it; no price is agreed in this sentence.
You finish discussing quality and postpone the price discussion. What does 至于价格，以后再说。 communicate?
至于 introduces price as the next separate topic. The speaker changes topic rather than concluding the whole discussion. 至于 also has other uses, as in 不至于, which should be learned separately.
Add a comment to the named topic
- Use 至于 + topic，comment. 至于价格 names the issue, and 以后再说 tells what the speaker proposes to do about it.
- 至于送货时间，明天确认。 — As for delivery time, confirm it tomorrow. This postpones confirmation, not necessarily delivery itself.
as for至于price价格，later以后again再discuss说。
Add a comment to the named topic
- Use as for (topic) / reaching a degree (context)至于 + topic，comment. as for (topic) / reaching a degree (context)至于price价格 names the issue, and after以后to say again再说 tells what the speaker proposes to do about it.
- as for (topic) / reaching a degree (context)至于to deliver goods送货(concept of) time时间，tomorrow明天confirm确认。 — As for delivery time, confirm it tomorrow. This postpones confirmation, not necessarily delivery itself.
as for至于price价格，later以后again再discuss说。
Use this lesson’s target form 至于 in the demonstrated sentence: As for the price, later: ____ 价格，以后再说。
至于 + Topic，Comment = as for: 至于价格,以后再说.
Different issues can have different states
- Quality may be accepted while price remains unresolved. Delivery time may still need tomorrow’s confirmation.
- Changing to a topic is not the same as settling it. Read the comment after that topic before deciding what is known.
In 至于价格，以后再说, what does 至于价格 do?
The topic is price. The following comment postpones discussing it.
Match the topic and comment to what is still unresolved.
Read the actual comment after each issue: postponement or an undecided choice.
Keep other uses separate
- 至于价格，我们还没决定。 leaves the price undecided. 不至于这么贵吧。 suggests it should not be so expensive.
- The second construction does not introduce price as a fresh discussion topic. Learn 不至于 as its own expression instead of translating every 至于 as “as for”.
Keep other uses separate
- as for (topic) / reaching a degree (context)至于price价格，we / us我们still / also还not / haven't没to decide (to do something)决定。 leaves the price undecided. unlikely to go so far as to不至于so much这么expensive贵(suggestion)吧。 suggests it should not be so expensive.
- The second construction does not introduce price as a fresh discussion topic. Learn unlikely to go so far as to不至于 as its own expression instead of translating every as for (topic) / reaching a degree (context)至于 as “as for”.
In 至于价格，以后再说, 至于 introduces the price issue even though its discussion is postponed.
Introducing an issue and deciding it are different; 以后再说 leaves it for later.
至于价格 is a final conclusion about every issue.
The speaker changes topic rather than concluding the whole discussion. 至于 also has other uses, as in 不至于, which should be learned separately. 至于 introduces price as the next separate topic.
至于送货时间，明天确认 guarantees that delivery itself happens tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the time for confirmation; the actual delivery time is not stated.
Transfer to who will do the work
- 至于谁来负责，我们还没决定。 — As for who will be responsible, we have not decided yet.
- The responsibility question is now on the agenda, but no person is named as the chosen organiser. Topic selection is not person selection.
Transfer to who will do the work
- as for (topic) / reaching a degree (context)至于who谁to come来to be responsible for负责，we / us我们still / also还not / haven't没to decide (to do something)决定。 — As for who will be responsible, we have not decided yet.
- The responsibility question is now on the agenda, but no person is named as the chosen organiser. Topic selection is not person selection.
Which sentence uses 至于 to introduce the responsibility topic?
The first sentence raises who will be responsible. 不至于 in the other sentence has a different construction.
Separate the issue from the decision
- Name the issue after 至于, then read its actual comment: postponed, undecided or confirmed.
- Do not infer a price, delivery date or responsible person from a topic phrase alone. Keep 不至于 separate from the topic-changing use.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Prepositions.
Separate the issue from the decision
- Name the issue after as for (topic) / reaching a degree (context)至于, then read its actual comment: postponed, undecided or confirmed.
- Do not infer a price, delivery date or responsible person from a topic phrase alone. Keep unlikely to go so far as to不至于 separate from the topic-changing use.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Prepositions.