分 fēn — to divide; minute; (a measure word); (a unit of length = 0.33 centimeter); part
请把蛋糕分成六块。Qǐng bǎ dàn gāo fēn chéng liù kuài.Please divide the cake into six pieces.
Common words: 分钟 (fēn zhōng)、部分 (bù fen)、十分 (shí fēn)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "minute"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "minute", including 分 (fēn), 纤 (xiān / qiàn). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "minute" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 分 (fēn), 纤 (xiān / qiàn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span fēn, xiān, qiàn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 分 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 分 fēnto divide; minute; (a measure word); (a unit of length = 0.33 centimeter); partUseful words: 分钟, 部分
- 纤 xiān / qiànboatman's tow-rope; fine; delicate; minuteUseful words: 纤维, 化纤
Common words for these 2 "minute" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 分 (fēn) — so "minute" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "minute".
纤 xiān / qiàn — boatman's tow-rope; fine; delicate; minute
她有一双纤细的手指。Tā yǒu yì shuāng xiān xì de shǒu zhǐ.She has a pair of slender fingers.
Common words: 纤维 (xiān wéi)、化纤 (huà xiān)、纤道 (qiàn dào)
All 2 characters
Open 分、纤 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.