<blockquote>
<p>之 following a <strong>noun</strong> is a <strong>possessive marker</strong></p>
<p>之 following a <strong>verb</strong>  '要'(have) here is a <strong>pronoun</strong> for 'it'</p>
</blockquote>
<p>More examples of 之 as a pronoun when it follows a verb:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>叫他进来然后<strong>杀</strong>(之) - ask him to come in and then <strong>kill</strong> (him)</p>
</li>
<li><p>没有酒就以水<strong>代</strong>(之) - If there's no wine, use water to <strong>substitute</strong> (it)</p>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p>要(钱)何用? = having (money) for what use?</p>
<p>要(之)何用? = having (it) for what use?</p>
<p>'之' is the pronoun for 'money'</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-03T02:10:27.893Z
Is it awkward or not correct to use `为` here, such that `要之为何用`? Because in English `for` is needed, so it sounds more natural for me...
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-03T02:23:00.020Z
"要之何用" is a classical style phrase. In modern Chinese, it would be "要(他/它/这个) 来有什么用"  - "要之何用" can be extended to  "要之有何用处" but it would be a mix of classical and  modern style.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-02T21:58:07.197Z
2017-08-02T22:03:26.583Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>I'm confused. Does this '要之何用' mean 'Is there any use?', or could the '之' in this phrase be regarded as a possessive article and therefore the phrase would mean 'What is the use (for someone)'? Or did I get both of them wrong?</p>

<translation><grammar><meaning><meaning-in-context>
Is the '之' in '要之何用' also regarded as a possessive article?
# Is the '之' in '要之何用' also regarded as a possessive article?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-02)

I'm confused. Does this '要之何用' mean 'Is there any use?', or could the '之' in this phrase be regarded as a possessive article and therefore the phrase would mean 'What is the use (for someone)'? Or did I get both of them wrong?

**Tags:** translation, grammar, meaning, meaning-in-context


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-08-02. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

> 之 following a **noun** is a **possessive marker**
>
> 之 following a **verb** '要'(have) here is a **pronoun** for 'it'

More examples of 之 as a pronoun when it follows a verb:

* 叫他进来然后**杀**(之) - ask him to come in and then **kill** (him)
* 没有酒就以水**代**(之) - If there's no wine, use water to **substitute** (it)

> 要(钱)何用? = having (money) for what use?
>
> 要(之)何用? = having (it) for what use?
>
> '之' is the pronoun for 'money'

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Is it awkward or not correct to use `为` here, such that `要之为何用`? Because in English `for` is needed, so it sounds more natural for me...  
> **username_1**: "要之何用" is a classical style phrase. In modern Chinese, it would be "要(他/它/这个) 来有什么用"  - "要之何用" can be extended to  "要之有何用处" but it would be a mix of classical and  modern style.  

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