粉

fěn

分 + 米

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

fěn (noun) powder

fěn (noun) noodles; pasta made from flour

fěn (adjective) white; pink

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 米 represents the meaning and 分 represents the sound.

Semantic: 米 Phonetic: 分

About

粉 is a phonosemantic compound: 米 (mǐ) on the left indicates the meaning, grain and food processing, while 分 (fēn) on the right supplies the sound and also suggests dividing grain into fine particles. Originally, it referred to flour or powder obtained by milling rice. The definition later broadened to any fine, dust-like substance, including cosmetics. Because early face powders were often light reddish, 粉 also acquired the secondary meaning of the color pink, and it continues to describe foods made from starch.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

粉色的花很漂亮。

Fěn sè de huā hěn piào liang.

The pink flower is very beautiful.

妹妹喜欢草莓味的奶粉。

Mèi mei xǐ huān cǎo méi wèi de nǎi fěn.

My younger sister likes strawberry-flavored milk powder.

他把木头磨成了细粉。

Tā bǎ mù tou mó chéng le xì fěn.

He ground the wood into fine powder.

她是那位演员的忠实粉丝。

Tā shì nà wèi yǎn yuán de zhōng shí fěn sī.

She is a loyal fan of that actor.

这盒化妆粉的质感很细腻。

Zhè hé huà zhuāng fěn de zhì gǎn hěn xì nì.

The texture of this box of face powder is very fine.

墙面粉刷后焕然一新。

Qiáng miàn fěn shuā hòu huàn rán yī xīn.

The wall looks brand new after being painted.

社交媒体上有很多美妆博主分享定妆粉的用法。

Shè jiāo méi tǐ shàng yǒu hěn duō měi zhuāng bó zhǔ fēn xiǎng dìng zhuāng fěn de yòng fǎ.

There are many beauty bloggers on social media sharing how to use setting powder.

这些考古发现的谷物已碳化成粉状。

Zhè xiē kǎo gǔ fā xiàn de gǔ wù yǐ tàn huà chéng fěn zhuàng.

The grains discovered in this archaeological excavation have carbonized into a powdery form.

Related Characters

Component: 分

Component: 米

粉