One of… (之一)

Structure (superlative) + noun + 之一

之一 (zhī yī) closes a noun phrase with the sense of «one of the…», and is extremely common in prose, journalism and essays. It typically follows a superlative: 世界上最大的城市之一 = «one of the largest cities in the world». The 之 is the classical possessive particle (= 的), so the structure literally means «one of [the…]». It is more formal and nominal than colloquial 其中一个; it only closes noun phrases, never verbs.

Examples

这zhè是shì世shì界jiè上shàng最zuì大dà的de城chéng市shì之zhī一yī。
This is one of the largest cities in the world.
他tā是shì当dāng代dài最zuì重zhòng要yào的de作zuò家jiā之zhī一yī。
He is one of the most important writers of our time.
这zhè是shì我wǒ一yī生shēng中zhōng最zuì难nán忘wàng的de经jīng历lì之zhī一yī。
It is one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.

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