Noun + 之一
Reach for this when you want to say something is 'one of [a set]' — 'one of the most famous,' 'one of my favorites,' 'one of the world's largest.' Place 之一 right after a noun phrase to mark it as one member of an implied group. Formal-leaning register — common in news, biographies, encyclopedia entries, travel writing, and any context where you want to sound measured rather than gushing. In speech it adds a polished, slightly bookish tone.
Structure
(是) + Noun phrase + 之一
zhī yī
How to Think About It
之一 sits at the END of the noun phrase, not the beginning. English says 'one of the largest cities'; Chinese says '最大的城市之一' — the noun comes first, then 之一 caps it as 'a member of the set.' Pair it with a quantifying adjective (最大 'largest,' 最有名 'most famous,' 最重要 'most important') for it to land naturally. Without a quantifier, the phrase sounds flat.
Examples
他是我最好的朋友之一。
Tā shì wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyou zhī yī.
He's one of my closest friends.
上海是世界上最大的城市之一。
Shànghǎi shì shìjiè shàng zuì dà de chéngshì zhī yī.
Shanghai is one of the largest cities in the world.
这是我读过最好的小说之一。
Zhè shì wǒ dú guò zuì hǎo de xiǎoshuō zhī yī.
This is one of the best novels I've ever read.
环境保护是我们最重要的任务之一。
Huánjìng bǎohù shì wǒmen zuì zhòngyào de rènwù zhī yī.
Protecting the environment is one of our most important tasks.
Common Mistake
Learners put 之一 at the front, mirroring English 'one of the...': 之一最大的城市. Wrong order. 之一 is a suffix on the whole noun phrase — it always trails behind. The right shape is [quantified noun] + 之一.
北京是之一中国最大的城市。
北京是中国最大的城市之一。
Don't Confuse With
其中一个
'One of them' — used when the group has already been mentioned. 之一 names the group inside the noun phrase itself. Use 其中一个 in follow-up sentences; use 之一 when the group is built into the phrase.
一个 + Noun
'A / one [noun]' — just numerical. 之一 specifically means 'one out of a defined set,' implying membership in a notable group.
之中
'Among' — used as a locative ('among the crowd'). 之一 means 'one of'; 之中 means 'within / among.' Don't substitute.
Practice
Fill in: 长城是中国最有名的景点 ___ 。
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之一
Translate to Chinese: He is one of the best students in our class.
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他是我们班最好的学生之一。
Arrange: 之一 / 是 / 城市 / 中国 / 最美的 / 杭州
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杭州是中国最美的城市之一。
Use 之一 to describe something or someone notable.
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篮球是世界上最受欢迎的运动之一。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode:
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear Noun + 之一 in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start, no card.