Meaning of 分钟
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- minute
How to use 分钟
分钟 counts a length of time in minutes, so it goes after a number and usually needs no other measure word. 我等了你二十分钟。(Wǒ děng le nǐ èrshí fēnzhōng.) I waited for you for twenty minutes.
分 (fēn) means to divide, and 钟 (zhōng) is a clock. Picture a clock face divided into small pieces, and each piece is one minute.
Common mistake: Learners often use 分钟 for clock time, but telling the time uses 分 alone: 三点十分 (sān diǎn shí fēn) means 3:10, while 十分钟 means a duration of ten minutes. Also, 十分 on its own usually means "very", so do not drop 钟 when you mean ten minutes.
分钟 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
分 fēn · to divide · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
钟 zhōng · a bell · 9 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Related words
Words that share a character with 分钟.
| 部分 | bùfen | part; portion; piece; Taiwan pr. [bu4fen4] |
| 一部分 | yī bùfen | portion; part of |
| 十分 | shífēn | very; completely |
| 分开 | fēnkāi | to separate; to part |
| 大部分 | dàbùfen | the greater part; the majority; most; Taiwan pr. [da4bu4fen4] |
| 分数 | fēnshù | (exam) grade; mark |
| 分别 | fēnbié | to part; to leave each other; to distinguish; to tell apart |
| 得分 | défēn | to score a point (in a competition, test etc); score; rating; grade |
| 分配 | fēnpèi | to distribute; to assign |
| 分组 | fēn zǔ | to divide into groups; group (formed from a larger group) |
| 分手 | fēnshǒu | to part company; to split up |
| 过分 | guòfèn | excessive; undue; unduly; overly |
Questions about 分钟
What does 分钟 mean?
分钟 (fēnzhōng) means "minute" and is used as a measure word.
How do you write 分钟?
分钟 is made of 2 characters: 分 (4 strokes), 钟 (9 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 分钟 an HSK word?
Yes. 分钟 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 分钟 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 分钟 is written 分鐘.
Where does 分钟 go in a sentence with a verb?
As a duration, it usually comes after the verb: 我跑了三十分钟 (wǒ pǎo le sānshí fēnzhōng), I ran for thirty minutes. If the verb has an object, you can repeat the verb or put the time before the object: 我看了十分钟书 (wǒ kàn le shí fēnzhōng shū).
How do you say "a few minutes" or "how many minutes" with 分钟?
Use 几分钟 (jǐ fēnzhōng) for both. 等几分钟 (děng jǐ fēnzhōng) means wait a few minutes, and 要几分钟? (yào jǐ fēnzhōng?) asks how many minutes it takes.