分内事 (fèn nèi shì) — one's duty; one's responsibility

Definition

分内事 means something that falls within one's own duty or responsibility — i.e., what one is expected or obligated to do. Often paired with 本分, which refers more to the moral sense of duty.

noun
one's dutyone's responsibility

Examples

  • 分内事。
    Zuò hǎo fèn nèi shì shì měi gè yuán gōng de běn fèn.
    Doing one's duty well is each employee's obligation.
  • 分内事。
    Zhè bú shì nǐ gāi guǎn de fèn nèi shì.
    This is not your responsibility.
  • 分内事。
    Tā bǎ zhào gù fù mǔ dàng chéng fèn nèi shì.
    He regards taking care of his parents as his duty.

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.

分内within one's duty
分fēnduty内nèiinside
偏正Modifier + head
事shìmatter

分内 means within one's duty, and 事 means matter; together they name matters falling within one's duty.

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.

  • 入入rùto enter
  • 冂冂jiōnghouse

The shape shows 入 entering into 冂, a house, so it pictures bringing something indoors, giving the sense inside.

Open 内 →

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

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →

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