名词 + 之 + 形容词
so … that it astonishes: a written exclamation
Structure
名词 之 形容词 ， 令人…
What it means
A written exclamation, 'X is so adj that…'. It turns 'X is very adj' into a noun phrase, 'the adj-ness of X', then comments on it.
How it is built
Noun + 之 + adjective，comment (令人…, 让人…, 可想而知): 变化之快，令人难以相信 (The speed of change is hard to believe). Also: 竞争之激烈可想而知.
When to use it
Formal writing and speeches, for striking degrees. The plain spoken version: 变化非常快，让人不敢相信. Common forms: 之快, 之多, 之大, 之广, 之激烈.
Watch out
It needs a comment after it; alone it is not a sentence: ✗ 运费之低。 ✓ 运费之低，让人吃惊。 No 很 before the adjective: ✗ 运费之很低.
Examples
运费之低，让外国人十分惊讶。
The shipping is so cheap that it astonishes foreigners.
变化之快，令人难以相信。
The speed of change is hard to believe.
Learn this in Lesson 54 · HSK 6: 电商、直播与快递 (E-commerce, livestreams and parcels)
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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