(fēn) — (bound form) fragrance; sweet smell (used in compounds such as 芬芳)

Definition

芬 (fēn) is a bound form meaning 'fragrance' that only appears inside compounds, most commonly 芬芳. It is never used alone.

bound form
fragrancesweet smell (used in compounds such as 芬芳)

Examples

  • Zhè ge huā yuán lǐ mí màn zhe fēn fāng de xiāng qì.
    This garden is filled with the fragrance of blossoms.
  • Kōng qì zhōng piāo lái yí zhèn fēn fāng de huā xiāng.
    A waft of floral fragrance drifts in the air.
  • Zhè zhǒng xiāng shuǐ yǒu yì zhǒng dàn dàn de fēn fāng.
    This perfume has a subtle fragrance.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
fēnfēn
Same sound today

芬 is built from 艸, the grass form, and 分, which gives the sound.

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