分手
fēn shǒu HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他们上个月分手了。
Tāmen shàng gè yuè fēnshǒu le.
They broke up last month.
我不想和他分手。
Wǒ bù xiǎng hé tā fēnshǒu.
I don't want to break up with him.
分手后,她很难过。
Fēnshǒu hòu, tā hěn nánguò.
After the breakup, she was very sad.
他们分手了。
Tāmen fēnshǒu le.
They broke up.
她不想分手。
Tā bù xiǎng fēnshǒu.
She doesn't want to break up.

💡 Memory Tip

Visualize two people letting go of each other's hands (分 fēn - to divide, 手 shǒu - hand). This image directly represents the core meaning of ending a connection.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in register and is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese. It is most frequently applied in the context of romantic breakups but can also be used for ending deep friendships. It is a direct and standard term, not overly formal or informal.

📖 Grammar Points

It is an intransitive verb. Common patterns include: Subject + 分手 (e.g., 他们分手了); Subject + 和/跟 + Person + 分手 (e.g., 他和我分手了); 分手 can also be used as a noun in phrases like 分手以后.

🏯 Cultural Notes

While the term itself is straightforward, discussions about 分手 often reflect broader cultural attitudes toward relationships, privacy, and social expectations. Public breakups or the concept of '分手费' (breakup compensation) can be topics of social discussion.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 离婚 (líhūn, to divorce), which is specifically for ending a marriage, 分手 is for non-marital relationships. It is more final and emotionally charged than 分开 (fēnkāi), which can mean a temporary physical separation.

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