分别 (fēnbié) — separately / respectively / to part
HSK 3 | adverb / verb | doing things separately or parting from each other
分别 (fēnbié)
As an adverb: separately or respectively (each in their own way). As a verb: to part from someone, to say goodbye.
Meanings
- [adverb] Separately, respectively, individually.
- [verb] To part (from someone), to separate, to say goodbye.
Example Sentences
这两道题，请分别回答。 Zhè liǎng dào tí, qǐng fēnbié huídá. Please answer these two questions separately.
他们在机场分别了，都流了眼泪。 Tāmen zài jīchǎng fēnbié le, dōu liú le yǎnlèi. They parted at the airport and both shed tears.
这三件衣服分别是红色、蓝色和绿色的。 Zhè sān jiàn yīfu fēnbié shì hóngsè, lánsè hé lǜsè de. These three pieces of clothing are red, blue, and green respectively.
我们分别去了不同的地方旅游。 Wǒmen fēnbié qù le bùtóng de dìfāng lǚyóu. We each went to different places to travel.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 分别回答 | answer separately |
| 分别是 | are respectively |
| 依依分别 | part reluctantly |
| 分别多年 | separated for many years |
| 各自分别 | each separately |
Memory Hook
分 means "to divide/separate" and 别 means "to part/different" — dividing apart is the act of separating or listing each one distinctly.