分量

• Pinyin: fèn liàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 分 = 八 + 刀 (to divide with a knife — a portion or share); 量 = 里 + 旦 (measure + sunrise — to gauge, to measure)

Meaning

Weight; portion size; authority; significance. The physical weight of an object, the size of a serving, or the figurative gravity of a person's words or status.

Most commonly used in its figurative sense to describe the weight or importance of words, decisions, or authority figures. 分量十足 means 'carrying full weight'. In culinary contexts, refers to the generosity of a serving. Distinct from 重量 (physical weight) in that 分量 often implies perceived importance.

Examples

1. 他的话在公司里很有分量，每当他开口发表意见，与会者都会认真倾听并慎重考量。 His words carry a lot of weight in the company; whenever he speaks up, everyone listens carefully and considers his views seriously.
2. 这道菜虽然价格不菲，但分量实在太少，食客普遍反映有种花了大钱却没吃饱的失落感。 This dish is expensive, but the portion is so small that many diners complain it feels like they paid a lot and still didn’t get full.
3. 最终报告中每一句话都经过严格斟酌，因为这份文件在决策层眼中具有相当重要的分量。 Every sentence in the final report was weighed carefully, because this document carries considerable weight in the eyes of top decision-makers.

Usage Guide

Context: social, business, food, authority

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 作为行业内资历最深的专家，他在技术评审会议上的每一次发言都极具分量，往往能直接左右最终决策的走向。(As the most experienced expert in the industry, every statement he makes at technical review meetings carries enormous weight, often directly influencing the direction of the final decision.)
• 顾客在网上留下的差评中反复提到餐厅的分量严重缩水，与两年前相比减少了将近三分之一，却没有相应调低价格。(Customers in their negative online reviews repeatedly mentioned that the restaurant's portion sizes had shrunk significantly — nearly a third less than two years ago — without a corresponding reduction in price.)

Don't Say

• 用 重量 when meaning figurative importance — 重量 is strictly physical weight in measurable units; for figurative weight or authority, 分量 is the correct choice

Origin & History

分 (portion/allotment) + 量 (measure/weight) — the measured portion or weight of something; its evaluated significance

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal