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分支 (fēn zhī) — branch (of a company, river, academic field, etc.)

Definition

A noun for a 'branch' of something larger — a company, river, or academic field (like sociology is a branch of social science). 部门 is an organizational unit ('department'), and 岔 is mainly a road/river fork.

noun
branch (of a company, river, academic field, etc.)

Examples

  • 分支。
    Zhè jiā yín háng zài quán guó gè dì dōu yǒu fēn zhī.
    This bank has branches all over the country.
  • 分支。
    Zhè tiáo hé zài xià yóu fēn chéng liǎng gè fēn zhī.
    This river splits into two branches downstream.
  • 分支。
    Shè huì xué shì shè huì kē xué de yí gè fēn zhī.
    Sociology is a branch of the social sciences.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

分fēndivide
支zhībranch

分 (divide) and 支 (branch) picture a divided branch, used for a branch or subdivision.

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.

支 pairs 又 (hand) with 十, a shortened form of 竹 (bamboo), to picture a bamboo branch.

Open 支 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

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