分明
fēn míng · HSK 7
clear
🔍 分 (divide) + 明 (bright) = so bright you can divide every detail apart
When light is bright enough, every edge stands out sharply — things become distinct and unmistakable. Fen ming: divided by brightness into crystal-clear parts.
分 — knife 刀 + eight 八 (split apart)
分 originally depicted a knife (刀) cutting something into two parts, shown by 八 above (which itself meant 'divide'). The core sense is 'to divide' or 'split', from which extended meanings like 'portion', 'minute', and 'part' developed. Pronounced fèn, it carries the sense of an allotted share.