Meaning of 过分
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- excessive; undue
- unduly; overly
How to use 过分
过分 describes words, actions or demands that go too far, and it often carries a tone of complaint or criticism. It can be used as an adjective or before another adjective as an adverb meaning overly. Example: 你这样说太过分了。(Nǐ zhèyàng shuō tài guòfèn le.) What you said is going too far.
过 (guò) means to pass or go beyond, and 分 (fèn) here means your proper share or limit. Going past your proper limit is 过分, being excessive.
Common mistake: Learners often read 分 here as first tone fēn, as in 分钟 (fēnzhōng), but in 过分 it is fourth tone fèn. Also, 过分 is not just a neutral "very" like 非常 (fēicháng). It usually implies something unreasonable or unacceptable.
过分 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.
过 guò · to cross · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
分 fēn · to divide · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 过分.
| 不过 | bùguò | only; merely |
| 过来 | guòlái | to come over; to manage |
| 过去 | guòqù | (in the) past; former; previous; to go over; to pass by |
| 通过 | tōngguò | to pass through; to get through; to adopt (a resolution); to pass (legislation) |
| 分钟 | fēnzhōng | minute |
| 经过 | jīngguò | to pass; to go through |
| 部分 | bùfen | part; portion; piece; Taiwan pr. [bu4fen4] |
| 超过 | chāoguò | to surpass; to exceed |
| 一部分 | yī bùfen | portion; part of |
| 十分 | shífēn | very; completely |
| 难过 | nánguò | to feel sad; to feel unwell |
| 见过 | jiànguo |
Questions about 过分
What does 过分 mean?
过分 (guòfèn) means "excessive; undue; unduly; overly".
How do you write 过分?
过分 is made of 2 characters: 过 (6 strokes), 分 (4 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 过分 an HSK word?
Yes. 过分 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 过分 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 过分 is written 過分.
What is the difference between 过分 and 过于?
过于 (guòyú) is a more formal adverb that goes before adjectives, as in 过于紧张 (too nervous). 过分 can do that too, but it can also stand alone as a predicate, as in 他太过分了 (He has gone too far).
Can I say 你太过分了 to a friend?
Yes. It is a very common way to say "That is too much" or "You have crossed the line." Among friends it can be playful, but in a serious tone it is a real complaint.