处分

• Pinyin: chǔ fèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 处 = 夂 (walking) + 几 (table) — a place; 分 = 八 (divide) + 刀 (knife) — to cut apart

Meaning

Disciplinary action; punishment; to discipline. Official penalties imposed by organizations or authorities.

Commonly used in formal contexts like workplaces, schools, and government. Types include 警告处分 (warning), 记过处分 (demerit), 开除处分 (dismissal). More formal than 惩罚.

Examples

1. 他因为违反公司规定受到了处分。 He received disciplinary action for violating company rules.
2. 学校决定给那个学生一个警告处分。 The school decided to give that student a warning.
3. 这次处分会记入你的档案。 This disciplinary action will be recorded in your file.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, education, government

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他受到了严重处分。(He received a serious disciplinary action.)
• 公司决定不对他进行处分。(The company decided not to discipline him.)

Don't Say

• 说'妈妈处分了我'表示惩罚 (Don't use 处分 for parental punishment — use 惩罚 or 批评; 处分 is for institutional discipline)

Origin & History

处 (to handle, to deal with) + 分 (to divide, to assign). Together meaning to assign a penalty or judgment.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal