分组

• Pinyin: fēn zǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 分 = 八 (divide) + 刀 (knife), meaning to divide; 组 = 纟 (silk) + 且 (moreover), meaning group or to organize

Meaning

To divide into groups; grouping. The act of splitting people or items into smaller groups.

Very common in classrooms, workplaces, and competitions. Used when organising people or things into teams or categories. Often followed by 讨论 (discussion) or 比赛 (competition).

Examples

1. 老师让我们分组讨论这个问题。 The teacher asked us to discuss this question in groups.
2. 比赛开始前，选手们先分组。 Before the competition starts, the contestants first divide into groups.
3. 这次活动我们按年龄分组。 For this activity we are grouping by age.

Usage Guide

Context: classroom, work, competition

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 我们分组来完成这个项目吧。(Let's divide into groups to finish this project.)
• 请大家自由分组，每组四个人。(Everyone please form groups freely, four people per group.)

Don't Say

• 我把苹果分组了 (Don't use 分组 for dividing physical objects — use 分类 for categorising items; 分组 is for organising people into teams)

Origin & History

Compound of 分 (divide) and 组 (group), literally meaning to divide into groups.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal