九分 (jiǔ fēn) — (adverb) 90%, almost completely, nearly (but not fully)

Definition

Used before a verb or verb-complement to mean 'almost completely, nearly' — about 90% there, stronger than 几乎 but not 100%. It modifies the action (e.g. 九分满意, 九分相信), not a noun.

adverb
90%almost completelynearly (but not fully)

Examples

  • 九分。
    Wǒ duì zhè ge fāng àn jiǔ fēn mǎn yì.
    I'm 90% satisfied with this plan.
  • 九分。
    Tā jiǔ fēn xiāng xìn zhè ge gù shi shì zhēn de.
    He's almost completely convinced this story is true.
  • 九分，。
    Chéng gōng yǒu jiǔ fēn kào nǔ lì, yì fēn kào yùn qì.
    Success is 90% dependent on effort and one part luck.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

九jiǔnine
分fēnpart

九 means nine and 分 means part; nine parts of ten suggest nearly complete.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape comes from a stylized hand bent at the wrist, with the lower-right hook showing the bend. Later, it was taken to show a tightened fist bumping up to ten, giving the number nine.

Open 九 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

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