分开

• Pinyin: fēn kāi
• Hanzi breakdown: 分 (fēn) — to divide, to separate; 开 (kāi) — to open, resultative complement

Meaning

To separate; to part; to split up. Used for physically separating objects or people going separate ways.

Can describe physical separation (moving things apart), relationship breakups, or simply going different directions. Often used with 把 for deliberate separations. Also commonly used in the pattern 分开来看 (to look at separately).

Examples

1. 请把这些书分开放。 Please put these books in separate places.
2. 他们在大学毕业后分开了。 They went their separate ways after graduating from university.
3. 这两件事要分开来看。 These two matters should be looked at separately.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, relationships, organization

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们到了路口就分开走吧。(Let's go our separate ways at the intersection.)
• 把白色和彩色的衣服分开洗。(Wash white and colored clothes separately.)

Don't Say

• 不要用'分开'来表示'分享' — 分开 means to separate or split apart, not to share; for sharing use 分享 (Don't say 跟你分开这个蛋糕 when you mean 分享).

Origin & History

Compound of 分 (to divide, to separate) and 开 (to open, resultative complement indicating completion). Together they express a completed act of separation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal