Vietnamese

edit

Etymology

edit

Sino-Vietnamese word from (part; portion), , from Middle Chinese (bjunH), (bjunH).

The huyền tone here is rather problematic. The regular tone derivation pattern, based on the original Middle Chinese tone and onset consonant would be as follows:

The huyền tone suggests an unattested Middle Chinese reading:

  • (*bjun, portion, level tone, voiced obstruent onset) > Vietnamese phần

Alternatively, the huyền tone suggests non-Classical Chinese origin. Compare and hạ, mùi and vị, and vị.

Doublet of phân and phận. Cognate with Mandarin (fèn) and Cantonese (fan6). See also phần tử and phân tử, and Phần Lan.

Pronunciation

edit

Noun

edit

phần

  1. a part of something that may or may not be divided from a larger whole; a part, a portion, a ration, etc.
    phần lớnthe majority
  2. (television) a season; a series
    Meronym: tập (episode)
  3. (film) a prequel or a sequel
  4. (arithmetic) a decimal place
    Coordinate term: hàng (integer place)
    phần chụcthe first decimal place; the tenths place
    phần trămthe second decimal place; the hundredths place
    phần nghìnthe third decimal place; the thousandths place
  5. tenth part
    • 2005, chapter 21, in Cao Tự Thanh, transl., Anh hùng xạ điêu, Văn học, translation of 射雕英雄传 by Jīn Yōng (Kim Dung):
      – Cha ta tinh thông thuật âm dương ngũ hành, con gái ông tự nhiên cũng biết được ba phần, []
      "My father is expert in yin-yang and five-element techniques; as his daughter naturally I know a little as well, []"
      (literally, “I know three tenths as well”)

Derived terms

edit

Particle

edit

phần

  1. (arithmetic) used in fractions, between the numerator and the denominator; per; -th
    một phầnone fourth
    năm mươi phần trămfifty percent

See also

edit

Verb

edit

phần

  1. (colloquial) Short for để phần (to set a share aside).