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分神 (fēn shén) — to give some attention to (something else while busy); to be distracted, to lose focus

Definition

分神 (fēnshén) means letting your attention drift off-task while busy — to be distracted or to split focus onto something else. A short, vivid verb; a related sense is to spare a little attention for someone or something on the side.

verb
to give some attention to (something else while busy)to be distractedto lose focus

Examples

  • 分神。
    Kāi chē de shí hou bú yào fēn shén.
    Don't get distracted while driving.
  • ，。
    Tā kāi chē shí fēn le shén, chà diǎn chū shì.
    He got distracted while driving and almost had an accident.
  • ，分神。
    Wǒ zài zuò fàn, nǐ bāng wǒ fēn shén kàn yí xià hái zi.
    I'm cooking, please give some attention to watching the kid for me.

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
神shénattention

分 means “divide,” and 神 refers to attention or mental energy, so the sense is diverted attention.

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
示示shìgod; deity
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn神shén
Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

Open 神 →
Appears in
Thinking & Cognition

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