fēnlèi: 分类 - To Classify, Sort, Category

Keywords: fenlei, fēn lèi, 分类, how to say classify in Chinese, sort in Chinese, category in Chinese, Chinese word for classification, organize in Chinese, garbage sorting, 垃圾分类 (lājī fēnlèi), data analysis in Chinese.

Summary: 分类 (fēnlèi) is a fundamental Chinese word meaning “to classify,” “to sort,” or “category.” It's an essential term for creating order, used in contexts ranging from daily chores like garbage sorting (垃圾分类) to organizing digital files and complex scientific classification. Understanding 分类 is key to grasping how structure and categorization are discussed in modern China, both in everyday life and in professional settings.

Pinyin (with tone marks): fēnlèi

Part of Speech: Verb / Noun

HSK Level: HSK 4

Concise Definition: To sort things into groups based on their type; a category or classification.

In a Nutshell: 分类 (fēnlèi) is the act of creating order out of chaos by putting similar things together. Imagine you have a messy pile of books. The process of putting them into piles like “fiction,” “history,” and “science” is 分类. As a noun, it refers to the categories themselves, like the label on the box. It's a practical, logical word used for any task that involves grouping and organizing.

分 (fēn): This character means “to divide,” “to separate,” or “part.” The top part (八) originally represented separation, and the bottom part (刀) is a knife. So, you can picture it as using a knife to divide something into parts.

类 (lèi): This character means “kind,” “type,” or “class.” It's a bit more complex, but a simple way to remember it is that it's about sorting different *types* of things, like different kinds of grain (米 - rice).

Together, 分类 (fēnlèi) literally means “to divide by type,” which perfectly captures its meaning of “to classify” or “to sort.”

While not a deeply philosophical term, 分类 has taken on immense cultural significance in modern China, especially through the concept of 垃圾分类 (lājī fēnlèi) - mandatory garbage sorting. In recent years, major cities like Shanghai and Beijing have implemented strict, compulsory recycling and waste-sorting programs that affect the daily life of hundreds of millions of people. This has elevated 分类 from a simple verb to a national civic duty and a symbol of modern, organized, and environmentally conscious living.

Comparison to Western Concepts: In the West, “organizing” might bring to mind personal productivity or home tidying (like the Marie Kondo method), which focuses on individual choice and well-being. In China, the most prominent example of 分类 (garbage sorting) is a top-down, society-wide initiative. It reflects a cultural value of collective action for the common good and the government's ability to mobilize the population towards a shared, systematic goal. The emphasis is less on personal decluttering and more on large-scale, uniform order.

分类 is a highly versatile and common word used across many domains.

In Daily Life: The most common use is 垃圾分类 (lājī fēnlèi), “garbage sorting.” You'll see signs and designated bins for it everywhere. It's also used for sorting laundry (衣物分类) or organizing books (图书分类).

In the Digital World: It's used for organizing computer files into folders (文件分类), filtering emails (邮件分类), or tagging content on social media to put it into a category.

In Business and Academia: In a business context, it refers to product categories (产品分类) or customer segmentation (客户分类). In science, it's used for the taxonomy of species (物种分类). It's a neutral, functional term that can be used in both formal and informal settings.

种类 (zhǒnglèi) - Kind, type, variety. The specific categories that result from the act of 分类.

类别 (lèibié) - Category, classification. A more formal synonym for 分类 when used as a noun.

整理 (zhěnglǐ) - To tidy up, organize. The broader action of putting things in order, which often includes 分类.

排序 (páixù) - To sort in a specific order (e.g., alphabetically, numerically). It's about sequence, whereas 分类 is about grouping.

划分 (huàfēn) - To divide, to partition. Emphasizes creating clear boundaries or divisions between groups.

垃圾分类 (lājī fēnlèi) - Garbage sorting. The most significant and widespread modern application of the term in China.

归类 (guīlèi) - To classify, to sort and assign. A very close synonym of 分类, often emphasizing the final step of assigning an item to its proper category.

分组 (fēnzǔ) - To divide into groups. Very similar to 分类 but is almost exclusively used for people (e.g., students, team members).