TSUMUGU · TBCL 3 (est.) · 語法
…分之…
grammar point · tier 2 · fractions 分數 (X parts, of which Y)
States a fraction: the whole is split into [denominator] equal parts, of which [numerator] are taken — total parts named before the part taken.
Hook inherited from 量詞.
States a fraction
框 · Frame
[denominator] 分之 [numerator] — e.g. 三分之一 = 1/3
觸 · Trigger
Naming a part of a whole — a fraction, a proportion, how much of the total.
序 · The move
1Name how many equal parts the whole splits into — that number goes first.Is this the total, the denominator?
2Write 分之 after it.分 = the parts; 之 = of.
3Name how many parts you are taking — that number goes last.Smaller number last for a proper fraction; 三分之一, not 一分之三.
例 · Examples
1這條this (long, thin thing)腳踏車步道bike path他he大概probably, roughly只only騎了rode三分之一one third (three parts, of which one)。
He's probably only ridden about a third of this bike path.
界 · Boundary
English fraction orderChinese says the denominator first (三分之一 = three-parts-of-one); English says the numerator first (one-third). The total comes before the part taken.
百分之… (percent)Same frame with 百 fixed as the whole: 百分之五十 = 50%. A percent is a fraction whose denominator is always one hundred.
✗ 一分之三 (for 1/3) → ✓ 三分之一 (denominator 三 first, numerator 一 last)
✗ 三之一 → ✓ 三分之一 (分 cannot be dropped; it carries the parts)
✗ 百分五十 → ✓ 百分之五十 (之 is required between whole and part)
English speakers transcribe their own order, putting the numerator first; the Chinese frame reverses it, denominator first.