分
fēn
to divide; to separate
to distribute; to allocate; to distinguish (good and bad); (bound form) branch of (an organization); sub- (as in 分局[fen1 ju2]); fraction; one tenth (of certain units); unit of length equivalent to 0.33 cm; minute (unit of time); minute (angular measurement unit); a point (in sports or games); 0.01 yuan (unit of money)
division (八) + knife (刀) = to divide and separate
The character shows the ancient concept of dividing by cutting - using a blade to split something into separate parts. This core idea extends to all forms of division: separating time into minutes, splitting things into fractions, or distributing resources.
老师把学生分成三组。
lǎo shī bǎ xué shēng fēn chéng sān zǔ
The teacher divided the students into three groups.
这道数学题很难，我分不出对错。
zhè dào shù xué tí hěn nán, wǒ fēn bù chū duì cuò
This math problem is very difficult, I can't distinguish right from wrong.
Words with 分
百分之一百
bǎi fēn zhī yī bǎi
one hundred percent
百分
bǎi fēn
percent
过分
guò fèn
excessive; undue
不分昼夜
bù fēn zhòu yè
day and night
绝大部分
jué dà bù fen
overwhelming majority
分店
fēn diàn
branch (of a chain store)
一分为二
yī fēn wéi èr
one divides into two
分拆
fèn chāi
to separate off
百分率
bǎi fēn lǜ
percentage
平分秋色
píng fēn qiū sè
to both share the limelight
分派
fēn pài
to assign (a task to different people)
身分
shēn fèn
variant of 身份[shen1 fen4]