Meaning of 区分
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to differentiate
- to draw a distinction
- to divide into categories
How to use 区分
区分 is a verb for telling two or more things apart or sorting them into groups. It often appears in patterns like 区分A和B or 区分开来. Example: 我分不清他们俩，很难区分。(Wǒ fēn bu qīng tāmen liǎ, hěn nán qūfēn.) I can't tell the two of them apart. They are hard to differentiate.
区 (qū) means an area or zone, and 分 (fēn) means to divide. To 区分 is to split things into separate zones in your mind so you can tell them apart.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 区分 with 分开 (fēnkāi). 分开 means to physically separate things or people, while 区分 means to recognize or define the difference between them. Also keep 分 in the first tone here, not the fourth tone fèn used in 部分 in Taiwan.
区分 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.
区 qū · area · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
分 fēn · to divide · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 区分.
| 分钟 | fēnzhōng | minute |
| 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 |
| 地区 | dìqū | region; area (informal or geographical term); prefecture (in China's administrative system |
| 区别 | qūbié | difference; to distinguish |
| 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 |
Questions about 区分
What does 区分 mean?
区分 (qūfēn) means "to differentiate; to draw a distinction" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 区分?
区分 is made of 2 characters: 区 (4 strokes), 分 (4 strokes). That is 8 strokes in total.
Is 区分 an HSK word?
Yes. 区分 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 区分 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 区分 is written 區分.
What is the difference between 区分 and 区别?
区别 (qūbié) can be a noun meaning 'difference', as in 有什么区别 (what's the difference). 区分 is mainly a verb meaning to make the distinction. You say 区分两者, but 两者的区别.
Can 区分 be used in formal writing?
Yes. It is common in both speech and formal writing, such as 区分情况 (distinguish between situations) or 严格区分 (strictly distinguish). In very casual speech people may also say 分清 or 分得清.