Fractions with 分之
Saying fractions
- Chinese builds fractions "bottom-first": denominator + part分(of — literary)之 + numerator.
- one third三分之一 = "one third" (literally "of-three, one").
- The whole comes before the part.
Denominator + part分(of — literary)之 + Numerator
- Read the bottom number, then part分(of — literary)之, then the top.
three三(of)分之one一。
- one third三分之一 = "1/3"; 四分之三 = "3/4".
Practice
Write 1/3 in Chinese: 三 ____ 一。
Denominator + 分之 + Numerator: 三分之一 = 1/3.
Practice
Which number is said FIRST in a Chinese fraction?
Bottom first: 三分之一 = of-three, one = 1/3.
Percentages too
- percent百分之 + number = "percent": 百分之五十 = "50%".
hundred百(of)分之fifty五十。
- 百分之五十 = "fifty percent."
Explore
Correct or broken?
Fractions run denominator-first: 三分之一 = one third; percent is 百分之 + number.
Practice
百分之五十 means 50%.
百分之 + number = percent: 百分之五十 = 50%.
Recap
Key idea
- Denominator + part分(of — literary)之 + Numerator — fractions, bottom first
- one third三分之一 (1/3) · 四分之三 (3/4)
- percent百分之 + N = percent: 百分之五十 (50%)
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Numbers.