分
to divide; to separate; to distribute; to allocate; to distinguish (good and bad); (bound form) branch of (an organization); sub- (as in 分局[fen1 ju2]); fraction; one tenth (of certain units); unit of length equivalent to 0.33 cm; minute (unit of time); minute (angular measurement unit); a point (in sports or games); 0.01 yuan (unit of money); part; share; ingredient; component
Closest English meanings
divide·separate·part
The Calligrapher — Wáng Xīzhī 王羲之
The 'Sage of Calligraphy'; his running script has set the standard for 1,700 years.
Eastern Jin calligrapher (303–361), master of running script/cursive script/regular script — the Sage of Calligraphy; his Orchid Pavilion Preface is the most celebrated work in the tradition, and nearly every later master traces lineage to his hand. Eastern Jin dynasty
Cultural Story
分 splits one thing into parts. In the 隆中对 Zhuge Liang read the map and foresaw the realm 三分天下, divided among Cao, Sun, and Liu. The character sets a knife over a unit, cutting it asunder. From rations to kingdoms, 分 marks the moment a whole becomes shares, and someone must decide how the pieces fall.
Common words & phrases
- 分别 separate · part · respectively
- 分手 part · break up · split
- 分钟 minute
- 分配 distribute · allocate · assign
- 分析 analyze · analysis
Read the story behind the character
The clock ticks another 分钟 while the manager 分配 tasks before stand-up. A couple 分手 at the station, suitcases in hand. The app 分析 the receipt and shows who owes what. The word runs through the day's small arithmetic of time, money, and people pulled apart or portioned out.
Own this character
Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Wáng Xīzhī 王羲之, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.