分
fēn/fən⁵⁵/
The English phrase "cents" is translated into Chinese as 分 (fēn).
分 is a unit of currency used to represent a fraction of a dollar.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as fēn.
Did you know?
- The word 分 is a linguistic 'multitool' in Chinese. Depending on the context, it can mean a cent, a minute of time, a point in a sports score, or the act of breaking up a romantic relationship.
- The characters for 分 literally depict a knife cutting something into pieces, with the character 八 representing the act of separating. This suggests the concept of division or fractions through the physical act of cutting.
- The character 分 is also used in the word 'minute' (分钟, fēnzhōng) when referring to time. This creates a linguistic connection between the division of currency, the division of numbers, and the division of an hour.
Examples in context
- 你只給了我五十美分。You gave me only fifty cents.This sentence is useful for seeing how to express a specific amount of cents using 分.Tatoeba #805200 by Martha, translation #72549 by CK
- 两角20 cents
- 三毛30 cents
- 七毛70 cents
- 我想换两角I want to exchange 20 cents.
- 这支笔只要五分钱。Zhè zhī bǐ zhǐ yào wǔ fēn qián.This pen only costs five cents.
- 我账户里还有几分钱。Wǒ zhànghù lǐ hái yǒu jǐ fēn qián.I still have a few cents in my account.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jia Yi and Hao Ran are paying for a small snack.
- 佳怡 Jiayi这个零食多少钱？Zhège língshí duōshǎo qián?How much is this snack?
- 浩然 Haoran只要一美分。Zhǐyào yī měifēn.It only costs one cent.
- 佳怡 Jiayi太便宜了，给我一分吧。Tài piányi le, gěi wǒ yī fēn ba.That's so cheap, give me one cent.
- 浩然 Haoran给你，浩然请客。Gěi nǐ, Hàorán qǐngkè.Here you go, Hao Ran is treating.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 分, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 分, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
