How to Write 分 (fēn/fèn) — Meaning “To divide; minute; cent; point”

Imagine holding a knife (刀) and slicing a figure eight (八) right down the middle. This visual of cutting the eight into two halves helps you recall that 分 means 'to divide' or 'separate'.

Start with the top part: write the left-falling stroke, then the right-falling stroke to form a wide 八. Below, write the knife radical (刀) with a horizontal hook and a left-falling stroke. A common mistake is making the top too narrow or the bottom too large, so keep the 八 balanced and the 刀 centered.

⺈ is not a standalone character but a component used in words like 包 (bāo, 'to wrap'), and it has a single downward-left stroke. 㓞 (qià) is a rare character meaning 'to carve', with a different top part (like 丰). In contrast, 分 has a clear 八 on top and is very common, while the others are either a component or obscure.

分 appears in everyday words like 分开 (fēn kāi, 'to separate'), 分数 (fēn shù, 'score' or 'fraction'), and 部分 (bù fen, 'part'). Culturally, it is essential in exam scores (e.g., 100分 means a perfect score), and in money (1分 is a cent), showing its importance in measurement and evaluation.

Common words containing 分 include: 分开 (fēn kāi) — To separate; to part; 分数 (fēn shù) — Score; grade; fraction; 部分 (bù fèn) — part / portion / section.