TongTong
Sign in

划分 (huà fēn) — to divide (into parts); to partition; to demarcate

Definition

划分 is a written, transitive 'to divide / partition' that emphasizes drawing clear lines (periods, stages, scopes). Unlike 分配 (distribute/allocate) or 分割 (physically split), it focuses on categorization and demarcation.

verb
to divide (into parts)to partitionto demarcate

Examples

  • 划分。
    Gōng sī bǎ yè wù huà fēn chéng sān gè bù mén.
    The company divided the business into three departments.
  • 划分。
    Lì shǐ xué jiā tōng cháng bǎ zhè duàn shí qī huà fēn wèi sān gè jiē duàn.
    Historians usually divide this period into three stages.
  • 划分。
    Wǒ men xū yào míng què huà fēn gè zì de zhí zé fàn wéi.
    We need to clearly demarcate each person's scope of responsibility.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

划huàdivide
分fēndivide

划 and 分 both mean divide, so together they express dividing into parts.

Characters in this word

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
刀刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
戈
戈gē划huá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

划 is made of 刀, a knife, and 戈, a weapon. The 戈 part gives the sound.

Open 划 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Order & Arrangement

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.