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分为 (fēn wéi) — to divide into (parts); to subdivide

Definition

分为 (fēn wéi) is the standard way to say something is divided into parts, with the resulting parts named (a country into provinces, a match into rounds). Unlike 划分, it focuses on the resulting structure, not the act of drawing boundaries.

verb
to divide into (parts)to subdivide
Easily confused

Examples

  • 分为。
    Zhè ge guó jiā fēn wéi sān shí duō gè shěng.
    This country is divided into more than thirty provinces.
  • 分为。
    Gōng sī fēn wéi sān gè bù mén.
    The company is divided into three departments.
  • 分为。
    Bǐ sài fēn wéi chū sài hé jué sài.
    The competition is divided into preliminaries and finals.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

分fēndivide
为wèibecome

To divide something so it becomes separate 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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4Math

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