Lessons 6, 7, 10, 13: Scope and emphasis: 其中, 甚至, 只是, 以……为主

Words that name a part of a group, the most striking example, the limit "only", and "mainly".

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 6 · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 7 · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 10 · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 13

我们班一共十八个学生，其中有五个女学生。

Wǒmen bān yígòng shíbā ge xuésheng, qízhōng yǒu wǔ ge nǚ xuésheng.

There are eighteen students in our class in total, including five girls.

Explanation

其中 means "among them" (= 那里面) and can be a subject or an attributive.

甚至 has two uses. (A) As a conjunction: placed before the last item in a coordinate group of nouns, adjectives, verbs, prepositional phrases, or clauses, to highlight that item. (B) As an adverb: emphasizes a striking fact; it is usually followed by 都 or 也 (or 连……都/也), and can go before the subject.

只是 means "just, only" and is used to limit the scope (the textbook only lists this entry together with examples).

以……为主

为 is like 作为, and 主 is the basic, most important thing. The pattern 以……为主 means "to take ... as the main, mainly ...": 以种地为主 means making a living mainly by farming.

Structure

1
其中…
"Among them" (= 那里面), used as a subject or an attributive.
- 我们班一共十八个学生，其中有五个女学生。
  Wǒmen bān yígòng shíbā ge xuésheng, qízhōng yǒu wǔ ge nǚ xuésheng.
  There are eighteen students in our class in total, including five girls.
- 北京有很多公园，颐和园是其中最美的一个。
  Běijīng yǒu hěn duō gōngyuán, Yíhéyuán shì qízhōng zuì měi de yí ge.
  Beijing has many parks, and the Summer Palace is one of the most beautiful.
- 中国有很多河，长江是其中最长的一条。
  Zhōngguó yǒu hěn duō hé, Chángjiāng shì qízhōng zuì cháng de yì tiáo.
  China has many rivers, and the Yangtze is the longest among them.
- 其中一个人站出来问他：“如果用你的矛去刺你的盾，结果会怎么样呢？”
  Qízhōng yí ge rén zhàn chūlai wèn tā: "Rúguǒ yòng nǐ de máo qù cì nǐ de dùn, jiéguǒ huì zěnmeyàng ne?"
  One of them stepped out and asked him: "If you used your spear to pierce your shield, what would happen?"
2
A，B，甚至 C / 甚至连optional…都 / 也…
Emphasizes the most striking element or fact; usually followed by 都 / 也.
- 在城市，在农村，甚至边远山区，打国际电话也很方便。
  Zài chéngshì, zài nóngcūn, shènzhì biānyuǎn shānqū, dǎ guójì diànhuà yě hěn fāngbiàn.
  In the city, in the countryside, even in remote mountain areas, making international calls is convenient.
- 我来了快半年了，去的地方很少，甚至连长城也没去过。
  Wǒ lái le kuài bàn nián le, qù de dìfang hěn shǎo, shènzhì lián Chángchéng yě méi qù guo.
  I've been here almost half a year and have been to very few places; I haven't even been to the Great Wall.
- 学得好的留学生，甚至可以听懂中文广播了。
  Xué de hǎo de liúxuéshēng, shènzhì kěyǐ tīngdǒng Zhōngwén guǎngbō le.
  International students who study well can even understand Chinese radio broadcasts.
- 冬天这里参加冬泳的人很多，有年轻人，有老人，甚至还有七八岁的孩子。
  Dōngtiān zhèlǐ cānjiā dōngyǒng de rén hěn duō, yǒu niánqīngrén, yǒu lǎorén, shènzhì hái yǒu qī-bā suì de háizi.
  In winter here, many people swim, young people, old people, and even children of seven or eight.
- 过去不要说买汽车，买房子了，甚至连电视也买不起。
  Guòqù búyào shuō mǎi qìchē, mǎi fángzi le, shènzhì lián diànshì yě mǎi bu qǐ.
  In the past, let alone buying a car or a house, we couldn't even afford a TV.
3
只是…
"Just, only," limiting the scope.
- 我没有什么事，只是想让你尝尝这棵老树结的新葡萄。
  Wǒ méiyǒu shénme shì, zhǐshì xiǎng ràng nǐ chángchang zhè kē lǎoshù jié de xīn pútao.
  I don't need anything; I just want you to taste the new grapes from this old tree.
- 我只是问问你，没有别的意思。
  Wǒ zhǐshì wènwen nǐ, méiyǒu bié de yìsi.
  I'm just asking you; I don't mean anything else.
- 我只是认识她，对她并不了解。
  Wǒ zhǐshì rènshi tā, duì tā bìng bù liǎojiě.
  I only know her; I don't really understand her at all.
4
以N / V为主
Taking ... as the main, mainly ...
- 以种地为主
  yǐ zhòngdì wéi zhǔ
  Mainly farming
- 学生当然应该以学习为主。
  Xuésheng dāngrán yīnggāi yǐ xuéxí wéi zhǔ.
  Students should of course focus mainly on studying.

Usage notes

其中 refers to the scope within the group just mentioned (那里面); it usually follows a clause that has stated a total, for example 一共十八个学生，其中……
甚至 emphasizes the most striking case; when 连 is present, 都 or 也 usually follows.

Practice

22 questions in 2 sets. One at a time, checked instantly, with explanations.

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