分组 (fēn zǔ) — to divide into groups, to group

Definition

A verb meaning to divide people or things into smaller groups (e.g. for discussion or work). The result is the noun 组, not a single whole.

verb

to divide into groupsto group

分组。
Wǒ men xiān bǎ dà jiā fēn zǔ ba.
Let's first divide everyone into groups.
。
Zhè cì huó dòng fēn chéng le wǔ gè zǔ.
This activity was divided into five groups.
分组，。
fēn zǔ Tǎo lùn yǐ hòu, měi gè zǔ dōu yào huì bào.
After the group discussion, each group needs to report.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

分 means to divide and 组 means a group, so the word describes dividing things into groups.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

八刀分

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 組; 组 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìsilk

Sound part声符shēngfú

且

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 組 pairs 糸 (silk) with 且 as a sound part; the simplified 组 is a shorthand.

Appears in