Translation and Meaning of: 分 - fun

The word 「分」 (fun) in the context of Japanese is quite rich and multifaceted, serving various roles within the language and culture. In terms of pronunciation, it takes on different readings, such as 「ふん」 (fun) and 「ぶん」 (bun), depending on the context in which it is used. Its etymology traces back to the Kanji, which is composed of the radical 「刀」 (katana - meaning "sword") and 「八」 (hachi - which can mean "to divide" or "to split into pieces"). Thus, the concept of subdivision or separation is deeply rooted in the word.

In practice, 「分」 is widely used in daily Japanese to express units such as time, percentages, and even in concepts related to a portion or part of something larger. When used to indicate minutes, its readings are 「ふん」 (fun) or 「ぷん」 (pun), as in "sanpun" (3 minutes), reflecting its function in the time measurement system. This specific reading is very common in everyday situations, whether in bus schedules, TV programming, or simply marking daily appointments.

On the other hand, when 「分」 is read as 「ぶん」 (bun), the meaning shifts to the concept of section or block. In this context, it is common to find the word used in expressions like 「作文」 (sakubun), which means essay or composition. This variation underscores the flexibility of Japanese in adapting meanings within different contexts. This ability to allocate different meanings to a single Kanji is what makes the Japanese language a challenge, but also a fascinating field of study for those interested in Asian cultures and languages.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 別 (betsu) - Different, separated
• 区切り (kugiri) - Division, separation (general)
• 部分 (bubun) - Part, section
• 仕切り (shikiri) - Division, separation (in the context of management or control)
• 分け目 (wakeme) - Division, line of separation
• 分け隔て (wakehedate) - Division, distinction (often in a social context)
• 分担 (buntan) - Sharing, shared responsibility
• 分割 (bunkatsu) - Division, fractioning
• 分散 (bunsan) - Dispersion, separation into different parts
• 分配 (bunpai) - Distribution, allocation
• 分析 (bunseki) - Analysis, division into parts for study
• 分類 (bunrui) - Classification, categorization
• 分離 (bunri) - Separation, disconnection
• 分岐 (bunki) - Division, branching (in a context of paths)
• 分解 (bunkai) - Decomposition, breaking into parts
• 分裂 (bunretsu) - Division, split
• 分布 (bunbu) - Distribution, dispersion (geographical)
• 分量 (bunryou) - Quantity, measure of part
• 分度 (bundo) - Division in degrees, angular measurement
• 分野 (bunya) - Field, domain (of study or activity)
• 分身 (bunshin) - Part of me, doppelgänger
• 分泌 (bunpi) - Secretion, release of substances
• 分子 (bunshi) - Molecule, unit of chemistry
• 分数 (bunsuu) - Fractions, representation of parts
• 分母 (bunbo) - Denominator, the bottom part of a fraction
• 分業 (bungyou) - Division of labor, specialization
• 分限 (bungen) - Limit, restriction on division
• 分別 (bunbetsu) - Discernment, distinction between parts
• 分立 (bunritsu) - Independent division, autonomy
• 分隊 (buntai) - Division into units, groups
• 分局 (bunkyoku) - Subdivision of an agency or department
• 分校 (bunkou) - School or branch, educational unit
• 分譲 (bunjou) - Sale in installments, property division
• 分割払い (bunkatsubarai) - Instalment payment, split into payment convenience
• 分かち (wakachi) - Division, separation (more in an aspect of sharing)

分

Romaji: fun
Kana: ふん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: minute

Meaning in English: minute

Definition: To divide or separate something.

Example Sentences - (分) fun

See below some example sentences:

私は自分の家具を造ることができます。

Watashi wa jibun no kagu o tsukuru koto ga dekimasu

I can make my own furniture.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 自分 (jibun) - reflexive pronoun meaning "myself"
• の (no) - partícula possessiva que indica que algo pertence a alguém
• 家具 (kagu) - noun that means "furniture"
• を (wo) - direct object particle that indicates the target of the action
• 造る (tsukuru) - verb that means "to do" or "to build"
• こと (koto) - noun that indicates an action or event
• が (ga) - subject particle that indicates who performs the action
• できます (dekimasu) - verb meaning "to be able to" or "to be able to"

私は嫌な気分です。

Watashi wa iyana kibun desu

I have an unpleasant feeling.

I feel bad.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 嫌な (iya na) - adjective that means "unpleasant"
• 気分 (kibun) - noun that means "state of mind"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb indicating the polite and formal form of the present tense of the verb "ser/estar"

私は憂鬱な気分です。

Watashi wa yūutsu na kibun desu

I have a feeling of sadness/depression.

I feel depressed.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 憂鬱 (yuuutsu) - a noun that means "melancholy," "sadness"
• な (na) - particle that connects the previous noun to an adjective, in this case, "yuuutsu" to "kibun"
• 気分 (kibun) - noun that means "state of mind," "mood"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite and formal way of expressing oneself in Japanese

私はすっきりした気分です。

Watashi wa sukkiri shita kibun desu

I'm feeling refreshed.

I feel invigorated.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• すっきりした - adjective that means "clean," "refreshing," or "clear"
• 気分 - noun that means "state of mind" or "mood"
• です - linking verb that indicates the existence or state of something, in this case "I am"

私は自分の立場を守ります。

Watashi wa jibun no tachiba o mamorimasu

I defend my position.

I will protect my position.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 自分 - Japanese reflexive pronoun that means "to oneself."
• の - possessive particle that indicates that "自分" belongs to "私"
• 立場 - Japanese noun that means "position" or "posture".
• を - object particle that indicates that "立場" is the direct object of the action
• 守ります - Japanese verb that means "to protect" or "to defend," conjugated in the present affirmative.

私は自分の過ちを認めます。

Watashi wa jibun no ayamachi o mitomemasu

I recognize my mistakes.

I admit my mistakes.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 自分 - reflexive pronoun that means "oneself"
• の - possessive particle indicating possession of something
• 過ち - noun meaning "error" or "failure"
• を - direct object particle that indicates the target of the action
• 認めます - Verb that means "recognize" or "admit"

私の気分は良いです。

Watashi no kibun wa ii desu

I'm feeling well.

My mood is good.

• 私 - personal pronoun meaning "I" in Japanese.
• の - Title that indicates possession or expiration.
• 気分 - noun that means "state of mind" or "mood".
• は - Particle that marks the topic of the sentence.
• 良い - adjective meaning "good" or "pleasant."
• です - verb to be in the present, used to indicate a statement or a current situation.

私の月給は十分ではありません。

Watashi no gekkyū wa jūbun de wa arimasen

My monthly salary is not enough.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 月給 - monthly salary
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 十分 - adjective that means "sufficient"
• ではありません - expression indicating negation

私たちは自分たちの思考を局限することができます。

Watashitachi wa jibuntachi no shikō o kyokugen suru koto ga dekimasu

We can limit our thoughts.

• 私たちは - 「私たち」
• 自分たちの - "Our own" in Japanese
• 思考を - "Thought" in Japanese
• 局限する - "Limit" in Japanese
• ことができます - "Can be done" in Japanese

私たちは自分たちの行動を改める必要がある。

Watashitachi wa jibuntachi no kōdō o aratameru hitsuyō ga aru

Precisamos mudar nossas ações.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 自分たちの - pronome reflexivo "nosso"
• 行動を - substantivo "comportamento"
• 改める - verbo "mudar"
• 必要がある - expressão "é necessário"