Chinese Word
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noun / verb HSK 5
fēn zhī
branch · offshoot · to branch off

Meaning

分支 literally means 'to divide branches' and refers to something that splits off from a main body or trunk. It's commonly used for tree branches, organizational branches, and especially in computing for code branches in version control systems.

Usage

In everyday speech, 分支 is often used in technical or organizational contexts rather than for literal tree branches (where 树枝 is more common). It's very popular in IT and software development circles when discussing Git branches or decision trees. Can function as both a noun ('a branch') and a verb ('to branch off').

Examples

  1. 01
    这家公司在上海设立了一个新的分支机构。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī zài Shàng hǎi shè lì le yī gè xīn de fēn zhī jī gòu.
    This company established a new branch organization in Shanghai.
  2. 02
    程序员需要从主分支创建一个新分支来开发这个功能。
    Chéng xù yuán xū yào cóng zhǔ fēn zhī chuàng jiàn yī gè xīn fēn zhī lái kāi fā zhè ge gōng néng.
    The programmer needs to create a new branch from the main branch to develop this feature.

Characters

Measure words

  • 个gè一个分支
  • 条tiáo一条分支

Common collocations

  • 分支机构
    fēn zhī jī gòu
    branch organization
  • 创建分支
    chuàng jiàn fēn zhī
    create a branch (computing)
  • 分支流程
    fēn zhī liú chéng
    branching process
  • 代码分支
    dài mǎ fēn zhī
    code branch

Antonyms

Origin

Combines 分 (to divide/separate) with 支 (branch/support), creating a compound that emphasizes the splitting or branching action from a main structure.

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