分类

• Pinyin: fēn lèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 分 = to divide; 类 = category/type

Meaning

To classify; to categorize; classification. Arranging things into groups based on characteristics.

Used in academic, administrative, and everyday contexts for organizing items, information, or concepts into categories. Very common in discussions about garbage sorting, data organization, and scientific taxonomy.

Examples

1. 现在很多城市都要求垃圾分类。 Now many cities require garbage sorting.
2. 图书馆的书是按主题分类的。 The books in the library are classified by subject.
3. 生物学家按物种特征对动物进行分类。 Biologists classify animals according to species characteristics.

Usage Guide

Context: organization, science, daily life

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你会垃圾分类吗？(Do you know how to sort garbage?)
• 这些文件需要分类整理。(These documents need to be sorted and organized.)

Don't Say

• 分类人 (You don't 分类 people casually — it sounds clinical; for grouping people, use 分组 or describe specific categorization)

Origin & History

Compound of 分 (to divide) + 类 (category, type), meaning to divide into categories.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal