分号 (fēn hào) — semicolon (punctuation mark ;); branch (of a company, organization, etc.)

Definition

Two unrelated meanings: the punctuation mark 'semicolon' (;), and a 'branch' of a company or organization. The two senses have nothing in common — the first is 符号, the second is 组织机构.

noun
semicolon (punctuation mark ;)branch (of a company, organization, etc.)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 分号？
    Zhè ge jù zi zhōng yīng gāi yòng fēn hào hái shì dòu hào?
    Should we use a semicolon or a comma in this sentence?
  • 分号。
    Gōng sī zài gè dì shè lì le duō gè fēn hào.
    The company has set up multiple branches in various places.
  • 分号。
    Tā fù zé guǎn lǐ shàng hǎi fēn hào de rì cháng yùn yíng.
    She is responsible for managing the daily operations of the Shanghai branch.

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fēndivision/branch
号hàomark/firm

The 分 sense of division or branch combines with 号 as a mark or firm.

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.

  • 口口kǒumouth
  • 丂丂kǎoexhaled air; a tiger's cry

The shape 号 comes from 口, a mouth, and 丂, exhaled air or a tiger's cry.

Open 号 →

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