About
The character "分" originates from a pictographic representation of an object being divided by a blade, with its earliest form depicting a knife above the numeral eight, conceptually indicating the act of cutting something into parts. This foundational idea of separation or division has remained central to its meaning, extending from the physical act of splitting to more abstract applications such as the division of time into minutes and seconds, the creation of fractional units in measurement, or the distinction between different elements, as seen in words like "分析" (to analyze). While its written form has stabilized over centuries, its conceptual range has broadened, allowing it to function as both a verb for dividing and a noun for a resultant part or a unit of measure, maintaining a direct semantic link to its original structural premise.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我们分苹果吧。
这是我的大部分钱。
请给我五分钟时间。
他考试得了很高的分数。
请把蛋糕分成八份。
他们因意见不合而分手了。
我们必须区分事实和观点。
他仔细分析了问题的每个部分。