Meaning
分手 literally means 'to separate hands' and refers to ending a romantic relationship or partnership. It's the most common and natural way to express breaking up with a boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner in Mandarin. The word can also be used more broadly to mean parting ways with friends or colleagues, though the romantic usage is by far the most frequent.
Usage
This is the standard, neutral term for breaking up in modern Mandarin. It's used in both formal and informal contexts. Common patterns include 跟...分手 (to break up with...) and 分手了 (broke up/have broken up). The tone is straightforward and factual rather than overly emotional or dramatic.
Examples
- 01他们上个月分手了。.They broke up last month.
- 02她决定跟男朋友分手。.She decided to break up with her boyfriend.
Characters
Common collocations
- 跟...分手...to break up with...
- 分手了broke up, have broken up
- 提出分手to propose breaking up
- 和平分手to break up amicably
Antonyms
Origin
The word comes from the literal image of two people letting go of each other's hands, symbolizing separation and the end of closeness.