本分

• 拼音: běn fèn
• 汉字拆解: 本 = 木 + 一 (tree root — fundamental); 分 = 刀 + 八 (divide — one's allotted portion/role)

含义

One's duty, proper role, or obligations within a social or professional position; honest and content with one's lot in life.

Can function as a noun referring to one's proper obligations (做好本分) or as an adjective describing a person who is humble, honest, and not overreaching. Carries a strong Confucian undertone of fulfilling one's designated role without complaint.

例句

1. 作为一名教师，认真备课、耐心授业是最基本的本分。
2. 他为人本分，从不争名夺利，赢得了同事的普遍尊重。
3. 领导者应当恪守本分，以身作则，而非以权谋私。

用法指南

语境: ethics, work, social roles

语气: serious

正确说法

• 每个岗位上的人都应该尽到自己的本分，这样整个组织才能有序运转。(Everyone in their position should fulfil their own duties so that the entire organisation can operate in an orderly manner.)
• 她不追求晋升，只求把本分内的事做到最好。(She does not pursue promotion; she only seeks to do her assigned duties as well as possible.)

错误说法

• 这不是我的本分，我不管 — while grammatically correct, this phrasing sounds like shirking responsibility; prefer 这超出了我的职责范围 in professional contexts

起源与历史

本 (root/original/fundamental) + 分 (portion/duty/role)

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal