均分 (jūn fēn) — divide equally, share equally

Definition

均分 means 'to divide something into equal portions' — focuses on the result being equal shares, not the act of giving. Often pairs with 把 to mark the thing being split.

verb
divide equallyshare equally

Examples

  • 均分。
    Tā men jué dìng bǎ lì rùn jūn fēn le.
    They decided to divide the profits equally.
  • 均分。
    Zhè kuài dì wǒ men sān jiā jūn fēn.
    We three families will divide this piece of land equally.
  • 均分，。
    Dà jiā bǎ gōng zuò jūn fēn yí xià, měi rén zuò yí bù fen.
    Everyone divide the work equally, each person does a part.

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.

均jūnequal
分fēndivide

均 gives the manner equally and 分 gives the action divide, so the word means divide equally.

Characters in this word

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
匀
匀yún均jūn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

均 pairs 土 (earth) with 匀, which gives it its sound.

Open 均 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.