分子

fēnzǐ

noun #1,647

Measure Word

一个分子 gè

Meanings

1 molecule
2 element (of a group)
3 member

Characters

to divide; portion

small; particle; suffix

Examples

水分子由两个氢原子和一个氧原子组成。

Shuǐ fēnzǐ yóu liǎng gè qīng yuánzǐ hé yí gè yǎng yuánzǐ zǔchéng.

A water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

他是恐怖分子。

Tā shì kǒngbù fènzǐ.

He is a terrorist.

积极分子受到了表扬。

Jījí fènzǐ shòudào le biǎoyáng.

The active members received praise.

Tips

usage

分子 has two pronunciations with different meanings: fēnzǐ = molecule (science), fènzǐ = element/member of a group (often negative: 恐怖分子 terrorist, 犯罪分子 criminal). The tone on 分 changes the meaning.

mistakes

Don't confuse 分子 fēnzǐ (molecule/numerator) with 分子 fènzǐ (member of a group). Context and tone determine which meaning applies.

Stroke Order

分 fēn

子 zǐ