Noun + 之 + Noun (a literary 的) · 名词 + 之 + 名词
Choose a proverb's established wording
- A writer quotes the familiar expression about learning from failure.
- 失败是成功之母。 — 之 links 成功 to 母 in an established literary expression.
Choose a proverb's established wording
- A writer quotes the familiar expression about learning from failure.
- to be defeated失败to be / is是success成功之母。 — (of — literary)之 links success成功 to mother母 in an established literary expression.
Locate the pattern in real examples
- Noun + 之 + Noun (a literary 的): 失败是成功之母。; 这是人生之路的起点。
- Read the whole clause before choosing a translation. The examples show the pattern in use; the context below determines what the speaker claims.
Locate the pattern in real examples
- Noun + (of — literary)之 + Noun (a literary (of / 's)的): to be defeated失败to be / is是success成功之母。; 这是life (one's time on earth)人生之路(of / 's)的starting point起点。
- Read the whole clause before choosing a translation. The examples show the pattern in use; the context below determines what the speaker claims.
A writer quotes the familiar expression about learning from failure. What does 失败是成功之母。 communicate?
之 links 成功 to 母 in an established literary expression. This use is similar to 的, but 之 has other classical uses. Do not replace every spoken 的 mechanically; 我的书 remains the natural everyday form.
Follow the speaker
failure失败is是success成功of之mother母。
- In the opening situation: 失败是成功之母。
- 之 links 成功 to 母 in an established literary expression.
Follow the speaker
failure失败is是success成功of之mother母。
- In the opening situation: to be defeated失败to be / is是success成功之母。
- (of — literary)之 links success成功 to mother母 in an established literary expression.
Using the pattern named in this lesson: Failure is the mother of success: 失败是成功 ____ 母。
Noun + 之 + Noun = a literary “of”: 成功之母.
之 is formal / idiomatic; everyday speech uses 的.
Yes — 意料之中, 一臂之力.
Check the limit of the explanation
- This use is similar to 的, but 之 has other classical uses.
- Do not replace every spoken 的 mechanically; 我的书 remains the natural everyday form.
Check the limit of the explanation
- This use is similar to (of / 's)的, but (of — literary)之 has other classical uses.
- Do not replace every spoken (of / 's)的 mechanically; I / me我(of / 's)的book书 remains the natural everyday form.
Every spoken 的 should be replaced with 之 to improve the sentence.
This use is similar to 的, but 之 has other classical uses. Do not replace every spoken 的 mechanically; 我的书 remains the natural everyday form. 之 links 成功 to 母 in an established literary expression.
Repair the form before interpreting it
- The form 成功的之母 needs repair here. Write 成功之母 instead; keep the word or frame in its demonstrated order.
- Form and meaning are separate checks. After the repair, explain the sentence in its situation rather than treating a familiar translation as a universal rule.
Repair the form before interpreting it
- The form success成功(of / 's)的之母 needs repair here. Write success成功之母 instead; keep the word or frame in its demonstrated order.
- Form and meaning are separate checks. After the repair, explain the sentence in its situation rather than treating a familiar translation as a universal rule.
Rewrite the demonstrated repair exactly: 成功的之母
The demonstrated form is 成功之母. 之 links 成功 to 母 in an established literary expression.
Keep the distinction
- 之 links 成功 to 母 in an established literary expression. Check the relevant speaker, time or group in the surrounding context.
- This use is similar to 的, but 之 has other classical uses. Do not replace every spoken 的 mechanically; 我的书 remains the natural everyday form.
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Particles.
Keep the distinction
- (of — literary)之 links success成功 to mother母 in an established literary expression. Check the relevant speaker, time or group in the surrounding context.
- This use is similar to (of / 's)的, but (of — literary)之 has other classical uses. Do not replace every spoken (of / 's)的 mechanically; I / me我(of / 's)的book书 remains the natural everyday form.
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Particles.
之 here is a formal version of…
人生之路 = 人生的路 (the road of life).