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分割 (fēn gē) — to partition, to divide (physically or abstractly)

Definition

分割 focuses on the result — dividing something into separate parts, often territory, space, or abstract domains. Compared with 划分, it implies a sharper, more decisive cut; 瓜分 adds a sense of unfair carving-up.

verb
to partitionto divide (physically or abstractly)

Examples

  • 分割。
    Tā jiāng yìng pán fēn gē chéng sì gè fēn qū.
    He partitioned the hard drive into four partitions.
  • 分割。
    Gōng sī jiāng shì chǎng fēn gē chéng bù tóng qū yù.
    The company divided the market into different regions.
  • 分割。
    Liǎng guó fēn gē le zhēng yì lǐng tǔ.
    The two countries partitioned the disputed territory.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

分fēndivide
割gēcut

分 means dividing and 割 means cutting, together describing cutting something into parts.

Characters in this word

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
害
害hài割gē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

割 combines 害, which provides the sound, with 刂, the knife form of 刀, to show cutting.

Open 割 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Math

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