Chinese word

分支

Pronunciation

Pinyinfēn zhī

Meaning

  • nounbranch

Example

这条河有很多分支。zhè tiáo hé yǒu hěn duō fēn zhī

This river has many branches.

Illustration for 分支 (branch)

More examples

这条河的一个分支流向东南。zhè tiáo hé de yí gè fēn zhī liú xiàng dōng nán

A branch of this river flows southeast.

Core concept

A larger whole sends out separate arms, each following its own direction while remaining connected to the original source.

Common phrases

  • 分支结构fēn zhī jié gòu

    branch structure

  • 分支点fēn zhī diǎn

    branch point

  • 分支线fēn zhī xiàn

    branch line

Similar words

支流zhī liú: A river or stream that flows away from a main river.
分流fēn liú: A separate stream formed when one flow divides into two or more flows.
分岔fēn chà: A point where a road, line, or path splits into two or more directions.
分歧fēn qí: A difference that arises when opinions or views do not agree.

Definition in Chinese

表示在某一点或阶段出现不同方向或不同选项的分叉情况，既可指物理的分岔，也可指意见、发展路线等抽象的分歧。biǎo shì zài mǒu yì diǎn huò jiē duàn chū xiàn bù tóng fāng xiàng huò bù tóng xuǎn xiàng de fēn chà qíng kuàng jì kě zhǐ wù lǐ de fēn chà yě kě zhǐ yì jiàn fā zhǎn lù xiàn děng chōu xiàng de fēn qí

Word origin

The meaning of 分支 (fēnzhī, "branch") comes from 分 (fēn, "divide") and 支 (zhī, "branch"), so the word presents separation as parts growing from one shared base.

Usage tips

  • The noun commonly follows the name of a field, organization, or system, which makes it useful when naming one part of a larger structure in everyday and technical conversation.

Other meanings

  • tributarynoun
  • forknoun

Opposites

  • 干流gàn liúmain streamnoun
  • 主干zhǔ gànmain trunknoun

Related words

  • 分支点fēn zhī diǎnbranch pointnoun
  • 分支结构fēn zhī jié gòubranch structurenoun

Word lists with this word