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美分 (Měi fēn) — cent (unit of US currency)

Definition

noun
cent (unit of US currency)

Examples

  • 美分。
    Zhè ge píng guǒ zhǐ yào wǔ shí Měi fēn.
    This apple only costs fifty cents.
  • 美分。
    Wǒ zài zhuō shàng zhǎo dào le yí gè Měi fēn.
    I found a cent on the table.
  • 美分。
    Měi fēn Zài měi guó yǐ wài de guó jiā hěn shǎo yòng.
    Cents are rarely used outside of the US.

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.

美měiAmerican
分fēncent

美 contributes American, and 分 contributes cent, together naming a US currency unit.

Characters in this word

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

美 shows 大, a person, wearing 羊, a headdress of feathers or ram's horn.

Open 美 →

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
Money & Currency

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