分裂
fēnliè · HSK 6
split
✂️ 分 (divide) + 裂 (split/crack) = split apart
分 means to divide or separate; 裂 means to crack or rupture. Together they reinforce each other: something divides AND cracks open. Used for splitting groups, dividing cells, or breaking apart.
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.
裂 — 列 (liè, phonetic) + 衣 (clothing)
A semantic-phonetic compound: 衣 'clothing' gives the meaning and 列 supplies the sound. The original sense was tearing or splitting cloth, which broadened to 'split, crack, rupture' in general. The 衣 component is written split around 列 rather than on the side.