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- | ====== fēnshǒu: 分手 - To Break Up, Part Company ====== | + | |
- | ===== Quick Summary ===== | + | |
- | * **Keywords: | + | |
- | * **Summary: | + | |
- | ===== Core Meaning ===== | + | |
- | * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** fēnshǒu | + | |
- | * **Part of Speech:** Verb (Separable) | + | |
- | * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 | + | |
- | * **Concise Definition: | + | |
- | * **In a Nutshell:** **分手 (fēnshǒu)** is the primary and most direct term used when a couple decides to end their romantic relationship. It's a common, neutral term that carries a sense of finality. Think of it as the standard way to say "we broke up" or "I want to break up." | + | |
- | ===== Character Breakdown ===== | + | |
- | * **分 (fēn):** This character' | + | |
- | * **手 (shǒu):** This is a simple pictograph of a " | + | |
- | * Together, **分手 (fēnshǒu)** literally means "to separate hands." | + | |
- | ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | + | |
- | While breaking up is a universal human experience, the context around **分手 (fēnshǒu)** in China can carry different social weight compared to the West. | + | |
- | In many Western cultures, particularly American culture, dating and breaking up are often viewed through a highly individualistic lens. A breakup, while painful, is primarily a personal decision between two people. In China, while this is also true, the decision can be more deeply intertwined with collectivistic values and family expectations. | + | |
- | Relationships are often seen as a path toward marriage, which is a significant family and social event. Therefore, a **分手** can sometimes be perceived as a failure not just for the couple, but also as a disappointment to both families who may have been invested in the outcome. The concept of " | + | |
- | ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | + | |
- | **分手 (fēnshǒu)** is used overwhelmingly in the context of romantic relationships. It is the standard, go-to term. | + | |
- | * **In Conversation: | + | |
- | * **On Social Media:** It's common to see posts announcing a breakup simply stating " | + | |
- | * **Formality: | + | |
- | * **Separable Verb:** A key grammatical point is that **分手** is a separable verb. This means you can place other words, like the aspect particle `了 (le)`, between `分` and `手`. Both `分手了 (fēnshǒu le)` and `分了手 (fēn le shǒu)` are correct and common. | + | |
- | While it can technically describe the parting of ways for business partners (`和合伙人分手了`), | + | |
- | ===== Example Sentences ===== | + | |
- | * **Example 1:** | + | |
- | * 我听说他们上个星期**分手**了。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Wǒ tīngshuō tāmen shàng ge xīngqī **fēnshǒu** le. | + | |
- | * English: I heard they broke up last week. | + | |
- | * Analysis: A simple, factual statement. This is the most common way to use the term when talking about others. | + | |
- | * **Example 2:** | + | |
- | * 我们**分手**吧,我们不合适。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Wǒmen **fēnshǒu** ba, wǒmen bù héshì. | + | |
- | * English: Let's break up, we're not compatible. | + | |
- | * Analysis: A direct and clear way to initiate a breakup. The second clause provides a common reason. | + | |
- | * **Example 3:** | + | |
- | * **分手**之后,她哭了好几天。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: **Fēnshǒu** zhīhòu, tā kū le hǎo jǐ tiān. | + | |
- | * English: After the breakup, she cried for several days. | + | |
- | * Analysis: Here, **分手** functions as a noun-like event: "the breakup." | + | |
- | * **Example 4:** | + | |
- | * 你为什么想和我**分手**? | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme xiǎng hé wǒ **fēnshǒu**? | + | |
- | * English: Why do you want to break up with me? | + | |
- | * Analysis: Note the structure `和 (hé) + [someone] + 分手` which means "to break up with [someone]." | + | |
- | * **Example 5:** | + | |
- | * 这是我第一次**分了手**,感觉很难过。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ dì-yī cì **fēn le shǒu**, gǎnjué hěn nánguò. | + | |
- | * English: This is the first time I've broken up with someone, and it feels awful. | + | |
- | * Analysis: This sentence perfectly demonstrates the separable verb usage. `分了手 (fēn le shǒu)` emphasizes the completion of the " | + | |
- | * **Example 6:** | + | |
- | * 他们在一起十年了,没人想到他们会**分手**。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Tāmen zài yīqǐ shí nián le, méi rén xiǎngdào tāmen huì **fēnshǒu**. | + | |
- | * English: They were together for ten years, nobody thought they would break up. | + | |
- | * Analysis: Shows how **分手** is used to talk about a future or hypothetical possibility with `会 (huì)`. | + | |
- | * **Example 7:** | + | |
- | * 他是被**分手**的,所以心情很不好。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Tā shì bèi **fēnshǒu** de, suǒyǐ xīnqíng hěn bù hǎo. | + | |
- | * English: He was the one who got dumped, so he's in a bad mood. | + | |
- | * Analysis: The passive voice structure `是...的 (shì...de)` with `被 (bèi)` indicates that the action of breaking up was done *to* him. | + | |
- | * **Example 8:** | + | |
- | * 每次吵架他都提**分手**,我受不了了。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Měi cì chǎojià tā dōu tí **fēnshǒu**, | + | |
- | * English: Every time we argue he brings up breaking up, I can't take it anymore. | + | |
- | * Analysis: `提分手 (tí fēnshǒu)` is a common collocation meaning "to bring up (the topic of) breaking up." | + | |
- | * **Example 9:** | + | |
- | * 我们是和平**分手**的,现在还是朋友。 | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Wǒmen shì hépíng **fēnshǒu** de, xiànzài háishì péngyou. | + | |
- | * English: We broke up amicably, and we are still friends now. | + | |
- | * Analysis: `和平 (hépíng)` means " | + | |
- | * **Example 10:** | + | |
- | * 你跟他**分手**多久了? | + | |
- | * Pinyin: Nǐ gēn tā **fēnshǒu** duōjiǔ le? | + | |
- | * English: How long has it been since you broke up with him? | + | |
- | * Analysis: `跟 (gēn)` is used interchangeably with `和 (hé)` here. `多久了 (duōjiǔ le)` is a standard way to ask "how long?" about a past event. | + | |
- | ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | + | |
- | * **Mistake: Using for non-romantic partings.** | + | |
- | * A learner might say: " | + | |
- | * **Why it's wrong:** This sounds like you were in a romantic relationship with your friend. For severing a friendship, you would be more likely to say something like `我们绝交了 (wǒmen juéjiāo le - we're not on speaking terms anymore)` or more naturally, just describe the situation: `我们不联系了 (wǒmen bù liánxì le - we don't contact each other anymore)`. | + | |
- | * **" | + | |
- | * `离开 (líkāi)` means "to leave" or "to depart" | + | |
- | * **Incorrect: | + | |
- | * **Correct: | + | |
- | * You can `离开` your partner for a business trip without `分手`. The relationship ends only when you `分手`. | + | |
- | * **Not understanding it as a separable verb.** | + | |
- | * Forgetting that you can say `分了手 (fēn le shǒu)` or `分过手 (fēn guo shǒu)` is a common beginner oversight. While `分手了 (fēnshǒu le)` is perfectly fine, understanding its separable nature is key to reaching a higher level of fluency and understanding native speakers. For example, `我们分过两次手 (Wǒmen fēn guo liǎng cì shǒu)` means "We have broken up twice." | + | |
- | ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | + | |
- | * [[谈恋爱]] (tán liàn' | + | |
- | * [[离婚]] (líhūn) - To divorce. This is the legal term for ending a marriage, whereas **分手** is for unmarried couples. | + | |
- | * [[失恋]] (shīliàn) - To be heartbroken, | + | |
- | * [[前任]] (qiánrèn) - Ex (ex-boyfriend, | + | |
- | * [[复合]] (fùhé) - To get back together, to reconcile. The opposite of **分手**. | + | |
- | * [[甩]] (shuǎi) - To dump someone (lit. "to fling" or "to throw off"). A much more colloquial and harsh slang term than the neutral **分手**. | + | |
- | * [[劈腿]] (pītuǐ) - To cheat on a partner (lit. "to split legs" | + | |
- | * [[吵架]] (chǎojià) - To argue, to quarrel. Often a precursor to breaking up. | + | |
- | * [[冷战]] (lěngzhàn) - The silent treatment (lit. "cold war"). A period of non-communication that may lead to a **分手**. | + | |
- | * [[单身]] (dānshēn) - Single. The relationship status one has after a **分手**. | + |