分

contributes the idea of splitting or separating · Character component

contributes the idea of splitting or separating, and very often just supplies the sound fen/fēn (or ban, pen, bin)

The graph stacks 八 on top of 刀: 八 is two short strokes curving away from each other, a picture of something coming apart, and 刀 below is a knife, the tool doing the cutting. In the modern form the two splayed strokes sit on the roof of the character and the knife has been flattened into the small hooked box underneath. You can still see the sense of dividing in 掰, where two hands 手 pull something apart, and in 岔, a road that forks; in most others, such as 芬, 粉, 盆 and 纷, 分 is there mainly for its sound.

分 at a glance

Meaning

contributes the idea of splitting or separating

Strokes

4

Characters

26

Role

Usually contributes sound

Characters with 分 (22 of 26)

Frequently asked questions