分批 (fēn pī) — in batches; in turn; by groups

Definition

Adverb meaning 'in batches' or 'in groups by turn' — used when people or things are divided into smaller sets and processed one group at a time. Typically modifies verbs like 发送, 支付, or 练习.

adverb
in batchesin turnby groups

Examples

  • 分批。
    Zhè xiē huò wù yào fēn pī fā sòng.
    These goods should be shipped in batches.
  • 分批，。
    Wǒ men fēn pī liàn xí kǒu yǔ, měi rén wǔ fēn zhōng.
    We practiced speaking in turn, five minutes each.
  • 分批。
    Xué fèi kě yǐ fēn pī zhī fù.
    Tuition can be paid in installments.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

分fēndivide
批pībatch

分 means divide and 批 means batch, so the idea is to divide things into batches.

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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
比
比bǐ批pī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

批 puts 手 (hand) beside 比, which gives the sound.

Open 批 →

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