…之一
one of the …
Structure
（最）… 的 名词 之一
What it means
One of the …: picks out a single member of a group, very often 'one of the most …'.
How it is built
(最) + adjective + 的 + noun + 之一: 长城是世界上最有名的建筑之一 (The Great Wall is one of the most famous structures in the world). 之一 always comes last.
When to use it
之 is classical 的, so 之一 is 'one of them'. Neutral to formal. Same family: 三分之二 (two thirds), 其中之一 (one of them).
Watch out
Chinese order, not English: ✗ 之一最有名的建筑 ✓ 最有名的建筑之一. 之一 already means 'one', so no 一个: ✗ 他是一个我最好的朋友之一 ✓ 他是我最好的朋友之一.
Examples
这也是中国能够保持统一的原因之一。
This is also one of the reasons China has stayed unified.
长城是世界上最有名的建筑之一。
The Great Wall is one of the most famous structures in the world.
Learn this in Lesson 34 · HSK 5–6: 方言与普通话 (Dialects and the standard language)
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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