分 fēn — divide · English

分

fēn

divide

At a glance · 分

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「分」从八从刀，甲骨文象以刀分物，金文小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「分」本义为分开、划分，引申分别、名分、分数。

Structure

从八、从刀，会意字，以刀剖物为分，本为分开。

At a glance

Pinyinfēn

Radical刀

Strokes4

UnicodeU+5206

Character type会意

Theme数术

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English divide divide; small unit of time etc.

Français affection / part Affection, part. «交友投分» : le lien d'affection (fèn).

Español afecto / parte Afecto, parte. «交友投分»: el lazo de afecto (fèn).

العربية مودّة / نصيب مودّة، نصيب. «交友投分»: رابطة المودّة (فِن).

Русский расположение / доля Расположение, доля. «交友投分»: узы приязни (фэнь).

Common words

分别fēn biéseparate
分数fēn shùscore

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