fēn
adjective #24,606

Meanings

  1. 1 numerous
  2. 2 confused

Examples

HSK 1
Fēnfēn
one after another; in profusion
HSK 6
Jiūfēn
dispute; conflict

Tips

memory
(silk) + (divide): silk threads divided into many strands.

Components

radical
silk; thread (radical form of 糸)
Left silk-thread radical (side form of ) anchors in the cord/textile family with 线 thread, weave, paper. Here it gives the concrete image of tangled threads, many strands jumbled together, the original sense behind 纷乱 disordered, 纷纷 in profusion.
phonetic
fēn
to divide; portion
Right supplies the sound, fēn carried over directly. also adds a strong semantic flavour: dividing, scattering, separating. With silk threads it gives "threads scattering in every direction", exactly the disordered crowd of 纷争 dispute, 纷扰 disturbance, 缤纷 colourful and varied.

Stroke Order

fēn