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分寸 (fēn cun) — sense of proportion, proper measure, tact (in behavior or speech)

Definition

分寸 (fēncun) means 'tact' or 'sense of proportion' in how you speak or behave. 规矩 is about following social rules; 分寸 is about reading the situation and not going too far.

noun
sense of proportionproper measuretact (in behavior or speech)

Examples

  • 分寸，。
    Pī píng bié rén yě yào zhù yì fēn cun, bù néng tài guò fèn.
    When criticizing others, you also need to have a sense of proportion and not go too far.
  • ，。
    Tā shuō huà hěn yǒu fēn cun, cóng lái bú ràng rén nán kān.
    He speaks with great tact and never makes anyone feel embarrassed.
  • ，分寸。
    Zài zhè jiàn shì shàng, nǐ yí dìng yào bǎ wò hǎo fēn cun.
    On this matter, you absolutely must strike the right balance.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

分fēnunit
寸cùnunit

分 “a small unit” and 寸 “another small unit” combine to mean proper measure or tact.

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 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

寸 has two unrelated original forms: a line on the hand and an abbreviated form of another character. It was borrowed for its sound, so the picture is unrelated to the modern meaning.

Open 寸 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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