Grammar · Chapter 39
三分之一, 八折: parts and discounts
whole + 分之 + part · 百分之 + number · 打 X 折
In a fraction the whole comes first, then the part: 三分之一, “of three, one”, 1/3. Per cent is 百分之 + number. A discount names what you pay: 打八折 means you pay 80 %, so it's 20 % off, not 80.
Examples
- 我吃了三分之一。 Wǒ chī le sān fēnzhī yī. I ate a third.
- 百分之八十的学生都及格了。 Bǎi fēnzhī bāshí de xuésheng dōu jígé le. Eighty per cent of the students passed.
- 这件衣服打八折。 Zhè jiàn yīfu dǎ bā zhé. This piece of clothing is 20 % off.