福分 (fú fen) — good fortune; blessing

Definition

福分 refers to one's share of good fortune or luck that comes from fate — something you're born with or destined to enjoy, not earned by effort. Used to comment on a person's blessed circumstances (a good marriage, lucky break).

noun
good fortuneblessing

Examples

  • 福分，。
    Tā zhēn yǒu fú fen, néng yǒu zhè me hǎo de qī zi.
    He really is blessed to have such a good wife.
  • 福分。
    Néng hé nǐ chéng wéi péng you shì wǒ de fú fen.
    Being able to become friends with you is my good fortune.
  • 福分。
    Zhè zhǒng fú fen bú shì měi gè rén dōu néng xiǎng shòu dào de.
    This kind of blessing is not something everyone can enjoy.

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.

福fúfortune
分fēnportion

福 fortune and 分 portion together name a share of good luck.

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
示示shì
Sound part声符shēngfú
畐
畐fú福fú
Same sound today

福 combines 示 and 畐, with 示 carrying the meaning and 畐 the sound.

Open 福 →

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 →

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