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分开 (fēn kāi) — to separate, to part

Definition

Used when people or things are split apart or do something apart from each other. Compared to 分手, it is a general separation, not specifically a romantic breakup.

verb
to separateto part

Examples

  • 分开。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè xiē dōng xī fēn kāi.
    Please separate these things.
  • ，分开。
    Tā men zài yì qǐ sān nián, hòu lái fēn kāi le.
    They were together for three years, then separated.
  • 分开。
    Zhè ge wèn tí wǒ men fēn kāi huí dá.
    We will answer this question separately.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

分fēndivide
开kāiapart; open

分 means divide and 开 indicates apart or open, so together they mean separate.

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 開; 开 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 一一yīlatch and/or wooden pole that shuts a door
  • 廾廾gǒnga pair of hands

The traditional form 開 shows 廾, a pair of hands, and 一, a latch or pole, inside 門, a door: hands opening a latched door. The simplified 开 is a shorthand form, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 开 →
Appears in
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