About
The character 纷 is the modern simplified form of 紛, a phono-semantic compound. Traditionally, 紛 combined the silk radical 糹 on the left with the phonetic 分 on the right; the simplified version retains 分 and uses the abbreviated silk radical 纟. The silk component indicates the original meaning: tangled or scattered silk threads. The right-hand 分, meaning 'divide', not only gives the sound but also connotes things being apart or scattered. From this literal sense of disheveled silk, the meaning extended to confusion, disorder, numerousness, and chaotic scattering, as in falling snow or a flurry of opinions.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
雪花纷纷扬扬地落下。
意见纷纭，难以统一。
五彩缤纷的灯光很漂亮。
这场纷争持续了好几年。
思绪纷乱，无法集中精神。
各种消息纷至沓来。
面对纷繁复杂的世界，他感到迷茫。
在历史的纷扰中寻求真理并非易事。
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.