分别

• Pinyin: fēn bié
• Hanzi breakdown: 分 = 八 (divide) + 刀 (knife), meaning to cut apart; 别 = 另 (other) + 刂 (knife radical), meaning to separate

Meaning

To part; respectively; separately. Indicates actions done individually or the act of separating.

As a verb, means 'to part ways' or 'to separate.' As an adverb, means 'respectively' or 'separately,' indicating that different subjects each do something different or that the same action applies to different objects individually. Very common in both spoken and written Chinese.

Examples

1. 毕业以后，同学们分别去了不同的城市。 After graduation, the classmates went to different cities respectively.
2. 我们在机场分别了，大家都很难过。 We parted at the airport, and everyone was very sad.
3. 这三道菜分别是酸的、辣的和甜的。 These three dishes are sour, spicy, and sweet respectively.

Usage Guide

Context: narration, enumeration, everyday

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 他们分别来自北京和上海。(They are from Beijing and Shanghai respectively.)
• 我们在车站分别了。(We parted ways at the station.)

Don't Say

• 我分别去了超市。(Don't use 分别 with a single action and single destination — it requires multiple items or people to make the 'respectively/separately' meaning work)

Origin & History

分 (to divide, to separate) + 别 (to part, to distinguish). Together expressing the concept of separating or distinguishing things individually.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal