How to Say Fractions and Percentages with 分之 (fēn zhī)
分之 (fēn zhī) builds every fraction and percentage, and the catch is the order: the denominator (the bottom number) comes first. 三分之一 is “one third,” literally “of three parts, one,” and 四分之三 is “three quarters.” Percentages use the same frame with 百: 百分之五十 is “50%.” Before a noun, add 的: 三分之一的学生 (“a third of the students”).
Why this trips learners up
To say a fraction in Chinese you use 分之 (fēn zhī), and there is one thing you have to get used to: the denominator comes first. The frame is Denominator + 分之 + Numerator. So “one third” is 三分之一 (sān fēn zhī yī), literally “of three parts, one,” and “three quarters” is 四分之三 (sì fēn zhī sān). This is the mirror image of English and of most European languages, where the top number leads, so it pays to slow down at first: 三分之一, not 一分之三.
Percentages work the same way, with 百 (hundred) as the denominator: 百分之 + Number. “50%” is 百分之五十 (bǎi fēn zhī wǔshí), literally “of a hundred parts, fifty,” and “90%” is 百分之九十. Since a percentage is just “so many hundredths,” you already know how to say one as soon as you can say a fraction.
When the fraction describes a noun, link them with 的: 三分之一的学生 (“a third of the students”), 百分之八十的人 (“80% of people”). Drop the 的 and the phrase sounds unfinished.
In statistics and news you will often meet a more formal frame for “makes up / accounts for”: A + 是 / 占 + B + 的 + [fraction]. 房租占了我收入的三分之一 (“rent accounts for a third of my income”), 海外业务占总收入的百分之六十 (“overseas business makes up 60% of total revenue”). 占 (zhàn) means something like “comprises” or “accounts for,” while 是…的 says that one amount “is” a fraction of another.
One handy note: “a half” has two voices. The precise, mathematical 二分之一 is perfectly correct, but in everyday speech people usually just say 一半 (yí bàn). Save 分之 for other fractions, for percentages, and for any time you want to sound precise.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
zhè kuài dàngāo 这块蛋糕 Object wǒ 我 Subject chī 吃 Verb le 了 Function word sān 三 Number fēn zhī 分之 Pattern yī 一 Number
I ate a third of this cake (三分之一, denominator first).
zhè cì huódòng 这次活动 Time bǎi 百 Number fēn zhī 分之 Pattern jiǔshí 九十 Number de 的 Pattern rén 人 Subject dōu 都 Adverb lái 来 Verb le 了 Function word
90% of the people came to this event (百分之九十, the same frame with 百).
zhège xuéqī 这个学期 Subject yǐjīng 已经 Adverb guò 过 Verb le 了 Function word sān 三 Number fēn zhī 分之 Pattern èr 二 Number le 了 Function word
Two-thirds of this semester has already gone by (三分之二, with 了).
wǒmen bān 我们班 Place sān 三 Number fēn zhī 分之 Pattern èr 二 Number de 的 Pattern tóngxué 同学 Subject dōu 都 Adverb dài 戴 Verb yǎnjìng 眼镜 Object
Two-thirds of the students in our class wear glasses (fraction + 的 + noun).
wǒmen xuéxiào de liúxuéshēng 我们学校的留学生 Subject zhǐ 只 Adverb zhàn 占 Verb bǎi 百 Number fēn zhī 分之 Pattern shíwǔ 十五 Number
International students make up only 15% of our school (占 + percentage).
tā de gōngzī 他的工资 Subject zhǐ 只 Adverb shì 是 Verb lǎobǎn de 老板的 Other wǔ 五 Number fēn zhī 分之 Pattern yī 一 Number
His salary is only a fifth of the boss’s (A 是 B 的 + fraction).
fángzū 房租 Subject zhàn 占 Verb le 了 Function word wǒ měi yuè shōurù de 我每月收入的 Other sān 三 Number fēn zhī 分之 Pattern yī 一 Number
Rent takes up a third of my monthly income (占 … 的 + fraction).
zhè jiā gōngsī de hǎiwài yèwù 这家公司的海外业务 Subject zhàn 占 Verb zǒng shōurù de 总收入的 Other bǎi 百 Number fēn zhī 分之 Pattern liùshí 六十 Number
This company’s overseas business accounts for 60% of total revenue (占 … 的 + percentage).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: The denominator (the bottom number) is said first, so “three quarters” is 四分之三, not 三分之四. Flip them and you have said 4/3 instead of ¾.
Why it happens: The 之 is not optional. “50%” is 百分之五十, never 百分五十. Treat 分之 as one inseparable unit meaning “parts of.”
Why it happens: A fraction in front of a noun needs 的: 三分之一的学生 (“a third of the students”), not 三分之一学生. Without 的 the phrase sounds unfinished.
Compare & contrast
| 分之: the precise fraction (二分之一) | 一半: the everyday “half” | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 我吃了这块蛋糕的二分之一wǒ chī le zhè kuài dàngāo de èr fēn zhī yī | 我吃了这块蛋糕的一半wǒ chī le zhè kuài dàngāo de yí bàn | 这块蛋糕我吃了二分之一 is correct but sounds like a maths problem. In real life you would say 我吃了这块蛋糕的一半 (“I ate half of this cake”). Same amount, different register. |
| 百分之五十的人同意bǎi fēn zhī wǔshí de rén tóngyì | 一半的人同意yí bàn de rén tóngyì | 百分之五十的人同意 (“50% agreed”) is the precise, statistical voice; 一半的人同意 (“half agreed”) is the everyday one. For exactly one half, 一半 is usually the natural choice. |
Try it yourself
Say “I’ve read a third of this book.” Remember the denominator (3) comes first.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say Fractions and Percentages with 分之 (fēn zhī) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.