Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 百分之…… | bǎi fēn zhī… |
| 趴 | pā |
| 巴仙 | bāxiān |
The phrase is used to express a part or object per hundred. You can also use the term 百分比 (bǎi fēn bǐ) to refer to a percentage in a more formal context.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 百分之…… literally means 'per hundred of…'. It is composed of 百 (hundred), 分 (part or division) and 之 (a possessive particle meaning 'of').
Which one should you use?
While 百分之…… is the standard way to express a percentage, 几成 (jǐ chéng) is a colloquial way to say 'how many out of ten' and is often used when referring to an estimated or calculated percentage.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term 巴仙 (bāxiān) is a phonetic transliteration of 'percent' used in Southern Chinese dialects and among Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, such as in Malaysia or Singapore. Additionally, the word 趴 (pā) is also a form present in the language.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the structure 百分之……, the actual number must be placed after the 之 rather than before it. For example, to say 'ten percent', you say 百分之十.
How do you pronounce it?
bǎi fēn zhī…
Did you know?
- The character 趴 has a double meaning and can also be a clipping of 趴體, which comes from the English word 'party'.
- The use of 巴仙 reflects the historical influence of English trade and colonial presence in Malaysia and Singapore.
- The particle 之 (zhī) in the phrase 百分之十 (ten percent) is a classical Chinese possessive that functions similarly to 'of' in English.
Examples in context
- 他的考试成绩是百分之九十。He scored ninety percent on the exam.
- 报告显示，投资增长了百分之五。The report shows that the investment increased by five percent.
- 这个产品的折扣是百分之几？What is the discount percentage for this product?
- 今天的考试有几成把握？What is the likelihood of passing today's exam?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “percent” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 巴仙, 趴, CC BY-SA 4.0.
