Definitions

(noun) part; section; division
(noun) department; ministry
(noun) troops; military unit
(classifier) classifier for literary works; films; machines

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. ⻏ represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "部" has its origins in the administrative and territorial divisions of ancient China, with its structure combining the phonetic component "咅", which hints at its pronunciation, and the radical "阝", a variant form of "邑" denoting a settlement or city. This composition originally conveyed the idea of a governed district or a populated area under jurisdiction, reflecting its early use in the context of regional administration and military command. Over time, the meaning expanded from these concrete geographical and organizational units to encompass more abstract categorical divisions, leading to its modern senses of a section, department, or category, as seen in words for parts of a whole or branches of an institution. The character's traditional and simplified forms are identical, preserving this structural and conceptual lineage throughout its history.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 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

这是我的一分。

Zhè shì wǒ de yī bùfen.

This is part of me.

他在销售门工作。

Tā zài xiāoshòu bùmén gōngzuò.

He works in the sales department.

公司内有严格规定。

Gōngsī nèibù yǒu yángé guīdìng.

The company has strict internal regulations.

因素影响结果。

Wàibù yīnsù yǐngxiǎng jiéguǒ.

External factors affect the outcome.

我全准备好了。

Wǒ quánbù zhǔnbèi hǎo le.

I am fully prepared.

队正在执行任务。

Bùduì zhèngzài zhíxíng rènwù.

The troops are carrying out a mission.

我们需要署新策略。

Wǒmen xūyào bùshǔ xīn cèlüè.

We need to deploy a new strategy.

这个门的全项目都必须经过内审核。

Zhège bùmén de quánbù xiàngmù dōu bìxū jīngguò nèibù shěnhé.

All projects of this department must undergo internal review.