分数和倍数
A is only a fraction of B; fractions, multiples and ratios
Structure
A 仅为／相当于／是 B 的 几分之几／几倍
What it means
Expresses fractions, multiples and ratios: A is a fraction of B, A is n times B, or A and B stand in a ratio.
How it is built
Fraction: 分母 + 分之 + 分子: 三分之一 (one third). Multiple: A 是 B 的三倍: 他的工资是我的三倍 (His pay is three times mine). Ratio: A 与 B 之比为 2 比 1.
When to use it
仅为 (only) is written; 相当于 (equal to) and 是 are neutral. Percent is a fraction of 100: 百分之六十五 = 65%. News uses these heavily to compare incomes, prices and growth.
Watch out
增加了两倍 means tripled; 增加到两倍 means doubled. The denominator comes first: ✗ 一分之三 ✓ 三分之一 (one third).
Examples
农村老人的养老金仅为城市退休职工的几十分之一。
A rural pension is only a few per cent of an urban retiree’s.
城乡居民的收入之比约为2.4比1。
The ratio of urban to rural income is about 2.4 to 1.
Learn this in Lesson 58 · HSK 6: 乡村振兴 (The countryside)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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