分层 (fēn céng) — to stratify, to divide into layers | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

To divide something into distinct layers or strata. Used in technical and scientific contexts (geology, sampling, data analysis) rather than everyday speech.

verb

to stratifyto divide into layers

Easily confused

分居fēn jūlook-aliketo live apart (of spouses or family members)

Examples

。
Zhè ge jié gòu xū yào fēn sān céng.
This structure needs to be divided into three layers.
分层。
Wǒ men duì yàng pǐn jìn xíng le fēn céng.
We stratified the sample (carried out stratification on the sample).
。
Kē xué jiā bǎ yán shí fēn chéng le jǐ céng.
The scientists divided the rock into several layers.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

分 means to divide, and 层 means a layer, so the sense is to divide into layers.

Characters in this word

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

八刀分

八八bāto separate
刀刀dāoknife

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 層; 层 is its simplified writing.

尸曾層

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

曾

曾céng層céng

Same sound today

The traditional form 層 uses 尸 for the meaning and 曾 for the sound; the simplified 层 is a later abbreviation.

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