之

之 (Kangxi radical 4, 丿+3 in traditional Chinese and Korean, 丿+2 in mainland China and Japanese, 4 strokes in traditional Chinese and Korean, 3 strokes in mainland China and Japanese, cangjie input 戈弓人 (INO), four-corner 3030₇, composition ⿳丶㇇乀)

• 乏, 芝, 𠯣, 㝎, 㞫, 𡘕, 𬔱, 椘, 𡭿, 𪦆, 𩖳, 𢾘, 𬼛, 𧉌, 𫩝, 𭾣, 𭓆, 𫡛, 𮗧, 𪢇

• し (Hiragana character derived from Man'yōgana)
• シ (Katakana character derived from Man'yōgana)
• 𛁄 (Hentaigana character derived from Man'yōgana)

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 82, character 4
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 125
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 43, character 1
• Unihan data for U+4E4B

Historical forms of the character 之
Shang	Western Zhou	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts
Oracle bone script j14766 j14767 j14768 j14769 j14770 j14771 j14772 j14773 j14774 j14775 j14776 j14777 j14778 j14779 j14780 j14781 j14782 j14783 j14784 j14785 j14786 j14787 j14788 j14789 j14790 j14791 j14792 j14793 j14794 j14795 j14796 j14797 j14798 j14799 j14800 j14801 j14802 j14803 j14804 j14805 j14806 j14807 j14808 j14809 j14810 j14816 j14817 j14818 j14819 j14820 j14821 j14822 j14823 j14824 j14825 j14826 j14827 j14828 j14829 j14830 j14831 j14832 j14833 j14834 j14835 j14836 j14837 j14838 j14839 j14840 j14841 j14842 j14843 j14844 j14845 j14846 j14847 j14848 j14849 Bronze inscriptions b09079 b09080 b09081 b09082 b09083 b09084 b09085 b09086 b09087 b09088 b09089 b09090 b09091 b09092 b09093 b09094 b09095 b09096 b09097 b09098 b09099 b09100 b09101 b09102 b09103 b09104 b09105 b09106 b09107 b09108 b09109 b09110 b09111 b09112 b09113 b09114 b09115 b09116 b09117 b09118 b09119 b09120 b09121 b09122 b09123 b09124 b09125 b09126 b09127 b09128 b09129 b09130 b09131 b09132 b09133 b09134 b09135 b09136 b09137 b09138 b09139 b09140 b09141 b09142 b09143 b09144 b09145 b09146 b09147 b09148 b09149 b09150 b09151 b09152 b09153 b09154 b09155 b09156 b09157 b09158 b09159 b09160 b09161 b09162 b09163 b09164 b09165 b09166 b09167 b09168 b09169 b09170 b09171 b09172 b09173 b09174 b09175 b09176 b09177 b09178 b09179 b09180 b09181 b09182 Small seal script s04434 Transcribed ancient scripts L30055 L30056 L30048 L30049 L30050 L30051 L30052 L30053 L30054 L01016 L01017 L01018 L01019 L01020 L01021 L01022 L01023 L01024 L01025 L01026 L01027 L01028 L01029 L01030 L01031 L01032 L01033 L01034 L01035 L01036 L01037 L01038 L01039 L01040 L01041 L01042 L01043 L01044 L00998 L00999 L01000 L01001 L01002 L01003 L01004 L01005 L01006 L01007 L01008 L01009 L01010 L01011 L01012 L01013 L01014 L01015
References: Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including: Shuowen Jiezi (small seal), Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions), Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) : 止 (“foot”) + 一 (“the beginning place”); compound meaning “to go”.

demonstrative pronoun "this; he; she; it"

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m-daj ~ m-di (“that; this”) (STEDT). Cognate with 是 (OC *djeʔ, “this”), Tibetan དེ (de, “that”), Tibetan འདི ('di, “this”), Burmese ဒီ (di, “this”).

"to go; to proceed"

Cognate with 時 (OC *djɯ, “time; season”) (> 辰 (OC *djɯn, “date; time”)), 志 (OC *tjɯs, “goal”), 趾 (OC *kjɯʔ, “foot”) (> 止 (OC *kjɯʔ, “to stop”)), Burmese စ (ca., “to start; to begin”) (Schuessler, 2007).

之

1. (literary) to go

   • 吾欲之楚。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5^th – 3^rd centuries BCE

     Wú yù zhī chǔ. [Pinyin]

     I want to go to Chu.

   • 孔丘之齊見景公。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     孔丘之齐见景公。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mozi, c. 4^th century BCE

     Kǒng Qiū zhī qí jiàn Jǐng Gōng. [Pinyin]

     Kong Qiu visited the state of Qi and saw Lord Jing.

   1. (obsolete) to sprout; to come about

      • 如語焉而未之然。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        如语焉而未之然。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE

        Rú yù yān ér wèi zhī rán. [Pinyin]

        As though you have said something to your parents but their reply has not yet come.

2. (obsolete) this; these

   • 之子于歸。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     之子于归。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Zhī zǐ yúguī. [Pinyin]

     This girl is to get married.

   • 之二蟲又何知？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     之二虫又何知？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Zhī èr chóng yòu hé zhī? [Pinyin]

     What should these two small creatures know about the matter?

3. (literary) Genitive or attributive marker
   1. Indicates that the previous word has possession of the next one.

      生命之道  ―  shēngmìng zhī dào  ―  the way of life/life's way

      北部灣之星——欽州 [MSC, trad.]
      北部湾之星——钦州 [MSC, simp.]

      Běibùwān zhī xīng — Qīnzhōu [Pinyin]

      star of the Gulf of Tonkin-- Qinzhou

      • 天其永我命于茲新邑，紹復先王之大業，厎綏四方。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        天其永我命于兹新邑，绍复先王之大业，厎绥四方。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: The Book of Documents, circa 4^th – 3^rd century BCE

        Tiān qí yǒng wǒ mìng yú zī xīn yì, shàofù xiānwáng zhī dàyè, dǐsuí sìfāng. [Pinyin]

        Heaven will perpetuate its decree in our favour in this new city; the great inheritance of the former kings will be continued and renewed, and tranquillity will be secured to the four quarters (of the kingdom)

      • 生之快樂將代替了死之悲哀 [MSC, trad.]
        生之快乐将代替了死之悲哀 [MSC, simp.]

        From: 1935 May 2, Fang Zhimin, 《可愛的中國》

        shēng zhī kuàiyuè jiāng dàitì le sǐ zhī bēi'āi [Pinyin]

        (please add an English translation of this usage example)

      • 第二條關係雙方當事人之住所，由雙方共同協議；未為協議或協議不成時，得聲請法院定之。 [MSC, trad.]
        第二条关系双方当事人之住所，由双方共同协议；未为协议或协议不成时，得声请法院定之。 [MSC, simp.]

        From: 2019 May 17, 《司法院釋字第七四八號解釋施行法》

        Dì-èr tiáo guānxì shuāngfāng dāngshìrén zhī zhùsuǒ, yóu shuāngfāng gòngtóng xiéyì; wèi wéi xiéyì huò xiéyì bùchéng shí, dé shēngqǐng fǎyuàn dìng zhī. [Pinyin]

        (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   2. Indicates that the previous word modifies the next one.

      尺寸之功  ―  chǐcùnzhīgōng  ―  a minor contribution

      • 萬乘之國弒其君者，必千乘之家。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        万乘之国弑其君者，必千乘之家。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

        Wànshèng zhī guó shì qí jūn zhě, bì qiānshèng zhī jiā. [Pinyin]

        In the kingdom of ten thousand chariots, the murderer of his sovereign shall be the chief of a family of a thousand chariots.

      • 相同性別之二人，得為經營共同生活之目的，成立具有親密性及排他性之永久結合關係。 [MSC, trad.]
        相同性别之二人，得为经营共同生活之目的，成立具有亲密性及排他性之永久结合关系。 [MSC, simp.]

        From: 2019 May 17, 《司法院釋字第七四八號解釋施行法》

        Xiàngtóng xìngbié zhī èr rén, dé wèi jīngyíng gòngtóng shēnghuó zhī mùde, chénglì jùyǒu qīnmìxìng jí páitāxìng zhī yǒngjiǔ jiéhé guānxì. [Pinyin]

        (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   3. particle indicating that the preceding element is specialised or qualified by the next

      • 五穀者，種之美者也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        五谷者，种之美者也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

        Wǔgǔ zhě, zhǒng zhī měi zhě yě. [Pinyin]

        Of all seeds, the best are the five kinds of grain.

      • 物之甘者，吃過必酸。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
        物之甘者，吃过必酸。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

        From: c. 13th century, various editors, A Collection of Conversations of Master Zhu (《朱子語類》)

        Wù zhī gān zhě, chīguo bì suān. [Pinyin]

        Things that are sweet leave a sour aftertaste.

4. (archaic) Particle infixed in a subject-predicate construct acting as a nominalizer or indicating a subordinate clause.

   • 我周之東遷，晉、鄭是依。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     我周之东迁，晋、郑是依。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Guoyu, circa 4^th century BCE

     Wǒ Zhōu zhī dōngqiān, Jìn, Zhèng shì yī. [Pinyin]

     That we the Zhou migrated East — that was wholly reliant on Jin and Zheng.

   • 子固非魚也，子之不知魚之樂全矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     子固非鱼也，子之不知鱼之乐全矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Zǐ gù fēi yú yě, zǐ zhī bùzhī yú zhī yuè quán yǐ. [Pinyin]

     [Y]ou certainly are not a fish. That you do not know the happiness of fishes is a complete and valid argument.

   • 雖我之死，有子存焉。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     虽我之死，有子存焉。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Liezi, 1^st – 5^th century CE

     Suī wǒ zhī sǐ, yǒu zǐ cún yān. [Pinyin]

     Despite that I will die, there will be children who survive me.

   • 大道之行也，天下為公。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     大道之行也，天下为公。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Dàdào zhī xíng yě, tiānxià wèi gōng. [Pinyin]

     When the Grand Course was pursued, a public and common spirit ruled all under the sky.

5. (literary) The third-person pronoun: him, her, it, them, when it appears in a non-subject position in the sentence.

   取而代之  ―  qǔ'érdàizhī  ―  to take the place of (the aforementioned subject)

   我們不能對此事聽之任之。 [MSC, trad.]
   我们不能对此事听之任之。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒmen bùnéng duì cǐ shì tīngzhīrènzhī. [Pinyin]

   We cannot pass this matter by without protest.

   茲制定××法，公布之。 [MSC, trad.]
   兹制定××法，公布之。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zī zhìdìng × × fǎ, gōngbù zhī. [Pinyin]

   The Law on XX is hereby enacted and promulgated.
   (Standard enacting formula on Taiwanese Presidential Orders)

   • 好一一聽之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     好一一听之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Han Feizi, circa 2^nd century BCE

     Hào yīyī tīng zhī. [Pinyin]

     He preferred to listen to them one-by-one.

   • 甘橘，大厘城有之，其味酸。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: Tang Dynasty, Fan Chuo, Manshu, chapter 7, part 7

     Gānjú, Dàlí chéng yǒu zhī, qí wèi suān. [Pinyin]

     Dali City has sweet tangerines, but their flavour is sour.

   • 第二條關係雙方當事人之住所，由雙方共同協議；未為協議或協議不成時，得聲請法院定之。 [MSC, trad.]
     第二条关系双方当事人之住所，由双方共同协议；未为协议或协议不成时，得声请法院定之。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2019 May 17, 《司法院釋字第七四八號解釋施行法》

     Dì-èr tiáo guānxì shuāngfāng dāngshìrén zhī zhùsuǒ, yóu shuāngfāng gòngtóng xiéyì; wèi wéi xiéyì huò xiéyì bùchéng shí, dé shēngqǐng fǎyuàn dìng zhī. [Pinyin]

     The residence of both involved parties with the relationship described in the second article is to be jointly settled by both parties; when it has not been settled, or the settlement was unsuccessful, they may request the court to determine it.

Remember that Chinese grammar is more about reducing ambiguity and less about following rules. The other meanings of this word all stem from the 3rd pronoun and demonstrative meaning (except the "to go" meaning which is unrelated). It roughly means "him, it, this" > "his, its" > "'s"/qualifier. Compare 其 (OC *ɡɯ, “he, his, its”) > Min Nan possessive 個.

Juxtaposition alone can indicate possession or qualification in Chinese even without this word. The actual purpose of this word is to act like a comma to group the words before it as a noun clause and prevent what comes after from being interpreted as the object of a verb. Consider "上山道" whence "上之山道" (mountain road that is up there) and "上山之道" (road for climbing a mountain). Like 的, unambiguous and popular compounds like 食品 (shípǐn) drop the 之 (zhī). Other grammatical characters also work by enforcing a grouping of words. Modern Chinese fossilizes this word and uses 的 instead, which originated from either 之 or 者 (OC *tjaːʔ, “one who > relativiser”), and took on the "'s"/qualifier meaning.

之 (zhī) as a pronoun, functions like a noun determiner while 然 (rán) is a verb determiner. Consider "食此藥！若不食之, 將死" which would mean "Eat this medicine! If you don't [eat] this (like if you eat some other medicine), you'll die" and contrast "食此藥！不然(=若不食), 將死" which would mean "Eat this medicine! If you don't do this (or if you do something else), you'll die."