Chinese word

之内

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhī nèi

Meaning

  • nounwithin

Example

问题应在一周之内解决。wèn tí yīng zài yì zhōu zhī nèi jiě jué

The problem should be resolved within a week.

Illustration for 之内 (within)

More examples

他承诺三天之内给我回复。tā chéng nuò sān tiān zhī nèi gěi wǒ huí fù

He promised that he would reply to me within three days.

Core concept

A boundary encloses a permitted range, and whatever falls inside it stays within the time, space, amount, or group being considered.

Common phrases

  • 三天之内sān tiān zhī nèi

    within three days

Similar words

以内yǐ nèi: Means no later than, no farther than, or no more than a stated limit.
里lǐ: Names the inside of a place or thing in a natural conversational way.
里面lǐ miàn: Names the enclosed inner area of a physical place or object.
之中zhī zhōng: Places a person or thing within a set of people, things, or possible choices.

Definition in Chinese

表示处于某一界限之内，不超过该范围，常用于时间、空间或数量的限定。biǎo shì chǔ yú mǒu yí jiè xiàn zhī nèi bù chāo guò gāi fàn wéi cháng yòng yú shí jiān kōng jiān huò shù liàng de xiàn dìng

Word origin

The compound joins 之 (zhī, "of; linking element"), a classical linking element that points to the relevant range, with 内 (nèi, "inside"), turning an inner-side image into a range marker.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this word often carries a formal or written tone, so it is especially natural in notices, rules, and official explanations rather than relaxed talk.

Other meanings

  • amongnoun
  • insidenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word