分立 (fēn lì) — to separate and establish as distinct entities

Definition

Means to split one entity into two or more independent parts (e.g. 三权分立 'separation of powers'). A formal/written term — in everyday speech, 划分 or 分开 is more natural for simple 'separate'.

verb
to separate and establish as distinct entities

Examples

  • 分立。
    Gōng sī jué dìng jiāng liǎng gè bù mén fēn lì.
    The company decided to establish the two departments separately.
  • 分立、。
    Guó jiā fēn lì le xíng zhèng, lì fǎ hé sī fǎ quán lì.
    The state separated and established executive, legislative, and judicial powers.
  • 分立。
    Jí tuán fēn lì le cái wù hé rén lì zī yuán guǎn lǐ zhí néng.
    The group established financial and human resource management functions separately.

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fēnseparate
立lìestablish

分 as separate and 立 as establish combine to mean establish separately or stand apart.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →

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