TongTong
Sign in

分 (fēn) — (classifier) minute (unit of time); (classifier) cent (1/100 of a yuan); (classifier) point (in games, scores)

Definition

分 (fēn) is a versatile measure word: used alone for minutes of time, cents of a yuan, and points in a game. For telling time by the minute in full, speakers usually say 分钟 (fēnzhōng), not 分 alone.

classifier
minute (unit of time)cent (1/100 of a yuan)point (in games, scores)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Wǒ děng le shí fēn.
    I waited for ten minutes.
  • 。
    Wǒ yǒu yì yuán wǔ fēn.
    I have one yuan and five cents.
  • 。
    Wǒ dé le wǔ fēn.
    I got five points.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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.

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 1HSK 2.0 Level 31000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsMeasure WordsMoney & CurrencyTime of Day

Browse more HSK 1 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.