划分

• Pinyin: huà fēn
• Hanzi breakdown: 划 = to draw/mark; 分 = to divide

Meaning

To divide; to demarcate; to classify. Separating into distinct parts or categories.

Used for territorial division, time periods, categories, or responsibilities. More formal than 分. Implies clear boundaries or criteria for division.

Examples

1. 这个项目的工作需要明确划分。 The work on this project needs to be clearly divided.
2. 历史可以划分为不同的时期。 History can be divided into different periods.
3. 我们按照能力把学生划分成三个小组。 We divided the students into three groups according to ability.

Usage Guide

Context: administration, classification, organization, academic

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 责任要明确划分。(Responsibilities must be clearly divided.)
• 如何划分这些类别？(How should we divide these categories?)

Don't Say

• 划分蛋糕 (for physical division of food, use 切 or 分; 划分 is for abstract/organizational division)

Origin & History

Compound of 划 (to draw, mark) + 分 (to divide), meaning to mark divisions.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal