分手 (fēn shǒu) — to break up (with a romantic partner)

Definition

分手 (fēn shǒu) means 'to break up' and is used only for ending a romantic relationship. Unlike 分开 (fēn kāi), which can separate anything (people, objects, ideas), 分手 is specifically romantic. It is a separable verb (离合词): you can insert words like 过 or 了 between 分 and 手.

verb

to break up (with a romantic partner)

Examples

分手。
Tā gēn wǒ fēn shǒu le.
He broke up with me.
。
Tāmen fēn guò liǎng cì shǒu.
They broke up twice.
分手，。
fēn shǒu de shíhou, tā kū le.
When they broke up, she cried.

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