分

fēn

part

把蛋糕分成两半。

Divide the cake into two halves.

formal

A portion or share of something divided into parts

每个人得到一分蛋糕。

Each person gets a share of the cake.

这块地被分成三分。

This piece of land is divided into three parts.

Often used with measure words like '一分' (one part) or '三分之一' (one-third).

formal

To separate or divide into parts

请把这些文件分开。

Please separate these documents.

他们决定分手。

They decided to break up.

Common in phrases like '分开' (to separate) or '分手' (to break up).

formal

A unit of time equal to 1/60 of an hour (minute)

现在是三点十分。

It's ten minutes past three.

火车晚点五分。

The train is delayed by five minutes.

Often written as '分钟' in modern usage, but '分' is still common in spoken language.

formal

A unit of money equal to 1/100 of a yuan (fen)

这个苹果卖五分。

This apple costs five fen.

Rarely used in modern currency transactions due to inflation.

formal

To distinguish or differentiate

你能分出这两种颜色的区别吗？

Can you tell the difference between these two colors?

Common in phrases like '分辨' (to distinguish) or '分清' (to clarify).

formal

Score or grade in an exam or competition

他这次考试得了九十分。

He scored ninety points on this exam.

Often used with numbers, e.g., '九十分' (90 points).

Collocations

分开to separate分享to share分数score/grade分钟minute分布distribution

Synonyms

部分份额划分区分

Antonyms

合并聚合整体

Related Phrases

分道扬镳idiom

to part ways

分秒必争idiom

to seize every minute and second

分崩离析idiom

to collapse and fall apart

Pro Tip

Distinguishing '分' and '分钟'

'分' alone can mean 'minute' in spoken Chinese, but '分钟' (fēnzhōng) is clearer in writing to avoid confusion with other meanings like 'part' or 'score'.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

The meaning of '分' changes drastically based on context. Always check the surrounding words to determine whether it refers to time, division, score, or money.

Word Origin

From Old Chinese '分' (bŭn), meaning 'to divide' or 'portion'. The character is composed of '八' (divide) and '刀' (knife), suggesting the act of cutting something apart.

Usage Notes

1. '分' is a highly versatile character used in many contexts, from time and money to dividing objects or abstract concepts. 2. In modern Chinese, '分钟' (fēnzhōng) is often used for 'minute' to avoid ambiguity with other meanings of '分'. 3. When used as a verb, '分' often requires an object (e.g., '分蛋糕' to divide the cake).

Word Breakdown

八

divide

root

刀

knife

root

汉英词典

分

fēn

part

把蛋糕分成两半。

Divide the cake into two halves.

formal

A portion or share of something divided into parts

每个人得到一分蛋糕。

Each person gets a share of the cake.

这块地被分成三分。

This piece of land is divided into three parts.

Often used with measure words like '一分' (one part) or '三分之一' (one-third).

formal

To separate or divide into parts

请把这些文件分开。

Please separate these documents.

他们决定分手。

They decided to break up.

Common in phrases like '分开' (to separate) or '分手' (to break up).

formal

A unit of time equal to 1/60 of an hour (minute)

现在是三点十分。

It's ten minutes past three.

火车晚点五分。

The train is delayed by five minutes.

Often written as '分钟' in modern usage, but '分' is still common in spoken language.

formal

A unit of money equal to 1/100 of a yuan (fen)

这个苹果卖五分。

This apple costs five fen.

Rarely used in modern currency transactions due to inflation.

formal

To distinguish or differentiate

你能分出这两种颜色的区别吗？

Can you tell the difference between these two colors?

Common in phrases like '分辨' (to distinguish) or '分清' (to clarify).

formal

Score or grade in an exam or competition

他这次考试得了九十分。

He scored ninety points on this exam.

Often used with numbers, e.g., '九十分' (90 points).

Collocations

分开to separate分享to share分数score/grade分钟minute分布distribution

Synonyms

部分份额划分区分

Antonyms

合并聚合整体

Related Phrases

分道扬镳idiom

to part ways

分秒必争idiom

to seize every minute and second

分崩离析idiom

to collapse and fall apart

Pro Tip

Distinguishing '分' and '分钟'

'分' alone can mean 'minute' in spoken Chinese, but '分钟' (fēnzhōng) is clearer in writing to avoid confusion with other meanings like 'part' or 'score'.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

The meaning of '分' changes drastically based on context. Always check the surrounding words to determine whether it refers to time, division, score, or money.

Word Origin

From Old Chinese '分' (bŭn), meaning 'to divide' or 'portion'. The character is composed of '八' (divide) and '刀' (knife), suggesting the act of cutting something apart.

Usage Notes

Word Breakdown

八

divide

root

刀

knife

root

汉英词典