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HSK 4

份

measure word for portions/copies

measure wordneutral
份
fèn4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
fèn
Part of speech
measure word
Level
HSK 4
Strokes
6
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 份

份 is written with 6 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 份 mean?

份 (fèn) is a measure word (classifier) that counts things coming in portions, sets, or copies: a serving of food (一份饭), a copy of a document or newspaper (一份报纸, 一份合同), a job (一份工作), a gift (一份礼物), or a share of something divided up (三份).

Its core idea is 'one unit of something meant to be portioned or duplicated.' English speakers should note that 份 handles what English scatters across 'a copy,' 'a serving,' 'a portion,' and 'a share' — one classifier covers them all. It can also form nouns: 一部分 (a part), 身份 (identity), 缘份 (fate/affinity).

Do not confuse it with 分 (fēn), the character it derives from, which means 'to divide,' 'minute,' or 'point/cent.' As a measure word 份 is always pronounced fèn (fourth tone).

Memory hook: 份 has 分 (divide) inside plus a person radical — a person's divided share, i.e. one portion.

Example sentences

我想点一份炒饭。

Wǒ xiǎng diǎn yí fèn chǎofàn.

I'd like to order a serving of fried rice.

spoken

请给我打印两份。

Qǐng gěi wǒ dǎyìn liǎng fèn.

Please print two copies for me.

neutral

他找到了一份不错的工作。

Tā zhǎodào le yí fèn búcuò de gōngzuò.

He found a pretty good job.

neutral

这份礼物是给你的。

Zhè fèn lǐwù shì gěi nǐ de.

This gift is for you.

spoken

Common phrases with 份

一份工作yí fèn gōngzuòa job
一份报纸yí fèn bàozhǐa copy of a newspaper
一份礼物yí fèn lǐwùa gift
一份饭yí fèn fàna serving of food

Synonyms

个gè

个 is the all-purpose classifier for discrete objects. 份 specifically marks something in portions, copies, or shares — you say 一份报纸 (a copy) or 一份工作 (a position), where 个 would sound wrong or too generic.

Don't confuse 份 with

分fēn

分 (fēn) means 'to divide,' 'minute,' 'point/score,' or 'cent (of money).' 份 (fèn) is the measure word for portions and copies. They share a shape and origin but differ in tone and use — 五分钟 (five minutes) vs 一份饭 (one serving).

半bàn

半 means 'half.' 份 is a whole portion or copy as a counting unit. 半份 means 'half a portion,' combining the two — don't use one for the other.

Frequently asked questions

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