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分布 (fēn bù) — to be distributed (over an area); to be spread (spatially or statistically)

Definition

分布 describes how things are spread across an area (e.g. population, species, resources) — usually the state of being scattered, not the act of handing out. For actively distributing items to people, use 分配 or 分发.

verb
to be distributed (over an area)to be spread (spatially or statistically)

Examples

  • 分布。
    Zhōng guó de rén kǒu fēn bù hěn bù jūn yún.
    China's population distribution is very uneven.
  • 分布。
    Zhè zhǒng niǎo zhǔ yào fēn bù zài rè dài dì qū.
    This kind of bird is mainly distributed in tropical areas.
  • 分布。
    Shí yóu zī yuán zài quán qiú de fēn bù bù píng héng.
    The distribution of oil resources around the world is unbalanced.

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; distribute
布bùspread; arrange

分 and 布 both mean to spread or arrange out, so together they describe distribution over an area.

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
巾巾jīnkerchief
Sound part声符shēngfú
父
父fù布bù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

Open 布 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Abstract Concepts

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