之后/之前/之中/之内 (formal localizers with 之)

Structure noun／clause + 之 + 后／前／中／内／间

This family of localizers links a noun or clause via the formal particle 之 (zhī) to a reference point: 之后 "after", 之前 "before", 之中 "in the midst of / among", 之内 "within (a span or limit)", 之间 "between (two points)", 之外 "outside of / besides". 之后 and 之前 alternate with the colloquial 以后/以前, but 之中、之内、之间 belong squarely to written, formal register: 言谈之中 "in the course of conversation", 两年之内 "within two years", 此事在意料之中 "this was within expectation". The 之 makes the phrase compact and bookish; everyday speech prefers 里面、当中 or 以内.

Examples

这zhè项xiàng工gōng程chéng必bì须xū在zài两liǎng年nián之zhī内nèi完wán成chéng。
This project must be completed within two years.
言yán谈tán之zhī中zhōng，他tā流liú露lù出chū几jǐ分fēn得dé意yì。
In the course of the conversation, he let a touch of smugness show.
此cǐ事shì完wán全quán在zài意yì料liào之zhī中zhōng，并bìng不bù令lìng人rén意yì外wài。
This was entirely within expectation and surprised no one.
两liǎng国guó之zhī间jiān的de分fēn歧qí并bìng非fēi一yī日rì之zhī间jiān形xíng成chéng。
The differences between the two countries did not arise overnight.

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