Definitions

fèn (classifier) classifier for gifts, documents, newspapers and other paper items
fèn (noun) portion; share

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character is a phonosemantic compound: the human radical on the left gives the meaning, and on the right gives the sound. It is used as a measure word for portions, shares, or copies of documents. The phonetic is itself composed of (eight) above (knife), depicting the act of dividing something into parts. Adding the human radical specifies a portion or share that belongs to a person, differentiating from the verb 'to divide'.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

工作很辛苦。

Zhè fèn gōngzuò hěn xīnkǔ.

This job is very tough.

请给我一菜单。

Qǐng gěi wǒ yī fèn càidān.

Please give me a menu.

十二月天气很冷。

Shí'èr yuèfèn tiānqì hěn lěng.

The weather is very cold in December.

这是我的身证件。

Zhè shì wǒ de shēnfèn zhèngjiàn.

This is my identification document.

他付出了双的努力。

Tā fùchūle shuāng fèn de nǔlì.

He put in double the effort.

公司需要分析市场额。

Gōngsī xūyào fēnxī shìchǎng fèn'é.

The company needs to analyze market share.

按合同额分配利润。

Àn hétóng fèn'é fēnpèi lìrùn.

Distribute profits according to the contractual share.

他的言论有失其身

Tā de yánlùn yǒu shī qí shēnfèn.

His remarks are beneath his status.