分 (fēn) means "to divide, minute" with 4 strokes, radical 刀 (knife), HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: to divide
Other meanings:
- minute
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
分 is a compound ideograph showing 八 on top and 刀 (knife) below. 八 in its oldest form depicted two lines curving apart, representing division or separation. Together the character shows a knife cutting something into two parts, a direct visual argument for the meaning 'to divide'.
Form evolution
Oracle-bone and bronze forms already have the two-part structure, with a clearer knife shape at the bottom. Seal script regularised both components into the symmetrical form still visible today. Clerical and modern standard scripts preserve 八 over 刀 essentially unchanged, making 分 one of the more transparent high-frequency characters.
How the meaning evolved
The original meaning of splitting or dividing extended naturally to portion, share, and part of a whole. From there it developed into units of measurement for time (minute), currency (fen, one hundredth of a yuan), and grading (point, as in a test score). The verb sense (fēn) and the noun sense (fèn, as in 身分 identity, one's portion in life) are distinguished by tone.
Cultural note
The tonal split between fēn (divide, minute, point) and fèn (share, duty, status) trips up many learners, because both are written the same. 缘分 (yuánfèn), the idea of fated connection between people, uses the fèn reading and captures a culturally important concept with no clean English equivalent.
Mnemonic
A knife dividing things — to separate, a minute
Decomposition
Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.
Basic info
| Pinyin | fēn |
| Meanings | to divide, minute |
| Stroke count | 4 strokes |
| Radical | 刀 (#18: knife) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1, write by hand at HSK 1-2 |
| Frequency | #10 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 分
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 分 | fēn | to divide, minute | HSK 1 |
| 分钟 | fēnzhōng | minute | HSK 1 |
| 百分之 | bǎifēnzhī | percent | |
| 部分 | bùfen | Part | HSK 4 |
| 十分 | shífēn | very | HSK 4 |
| 充分 | chōngfèn | To the full | HSK 5 |
| 分布 | fēnbù | distribution | HSK 5 |
| 分手 | fēnshǒu | Break up | HSK 5 |
| 成分 | chéngfèn | component | HSK 5 |
| 分别 | fēnbié | part | HSK 5 |
| 分配 | fēnpèi | distribution | HSK 5 |
| 分析 | fēnxī | Analysis | HSK 5 |
| 过分 | guòfèn | excessive | HSK 5 |
| 本分 | běnfèn | one's duty, one's job | HSK 7-9 |
| 比分 | bǐfēn | score | HSK 5 |
| 处分 | chǔfèn | to discipline, punishment | HSK 7-9 |
| 得分 | défēn | to score | HSK 3 |
Related characters
Similar meaning (abstract)
On the new HSK 1 exam
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Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.