====== fēnlèi: 分类 - To Classify, Sort, Category ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **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.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **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.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **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."
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * 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.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **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.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 上海现在实行严格的垃圾**分类**。
    * Pinyin: Shànghǎi xiànzài shíxíng yángé de lājī **fēnlèi**.
    * English: Shanghai is now implementing strict garbage sorting.
    * Analysis: This is the most common and culturally relevant use of the term in modern China. It refers to the mandatory government policy.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 图书馆的管理员正在给新书**分类**。
    * Pinyin: Túshūguǎn de guǎnlǐyuán zhèngzài gěi xīnshū **fēnlèi**.
    * English: The librarian is classifying the new books.
    * Analysis: A classic example of the verb "to classify." The action is ongoing, indicated by 正在 (zhèngzài).
  * **Example 3:**
    * 你的问题属于哪一个**分类**？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ de wèntí shǔyú nǎ yīgè **fēnlèi**?
    * English: Which category does your question belong to?
    * Analysis: Here, **分类** is used as a noun, meaning "category." This is common in customer service or technical support.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 我需要把这些文件**分类**一下，不然太乱了。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào bǎ zhèxiē wénjiàn **fēnlèi** yīxià, bùrán tài luàn le.
    * English: I need to sort these files for a bit, otherwise it's too messy.
    * Analysis: A very practical, everyday use related to personal organization. 一下 (yīxià) softens the verb, making it sound more casual.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 科学家们根据基因把动物进行**分类**。
    * Pinyin: Kēxuéjiāmen gēnjù jīyīn bǎ dòngwù jìnxíng **fēnlèi**.
    * English: Scientists classify animals according to their genes.
    * Analysis: This shows a formal, academic use of the term. 进行 (jìnxíng) adds a sense of formality to the action.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 这个网站的产品**分类**很清晰。
    * Pinyin: Zhège wǎngzhàn de chǎnpǐn **fēnlèi** hěn qīngxī.
    * English: The product categories on this website are very clear.
    * Analysis: A common e-commerce or business context, with **分类** used as a noun to mean the system of categorization.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 请把脏衣服按颜色**分类**。
    * Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ zāng yīfú àn yánsè **fēnlèi**.
    * English: Please sort the dirty clothes by color.
    * Analysis: A simple, instructional sentence you might hear at home. 按 (àn) means "according to."
  * **Example 8:**
    * 我们可以把任务按优先级进行**分类**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen kěyǐ bǎ rènwù àn yōuxiānjí jìnxíng **fēnlèi**.
    * English: We can classify the tasks according to priority.
    * Analysis: A typical phrase used in project management or a professional work environment.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 在机器学习中，**分类**是一个核心问题。
    * Pinyin: Zài jīqì xuéxí zhōng, **fēnlèi** shì yīgè héxīn wèntí.
    * English: In machine learning, classification is a core problem.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates its use as a technical term in the field of computer science and data analysis.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 电影的**分类**有很多种，比如喜剧、恐怖片和科幻片。
    * Pinyin: Diànyǐng de **fēnlèi** yǒu hěnduō zhǒng, bǐrú xǐjù, kǒngbùpiàn hé kēhuànpiàn.
    * English: There are many categories of movies, for example: comedy, horror, and sci-fi.
    * Analysis: Here **分类** refers to genre or classification system. It's the noun form describing the different types.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **分类 (fēnlèi) vs. 整理 (zhěnglǐ):** This is a critical distinction.
    * **分类 (fēnlèi)** is specifically about **sorting into groups**. It's about deciding what type something is and putting it with similar things.
    * **整理 (zhěnglǐ)** means "to tidy up" or "to organize." It's a much broader term. You might first **分类** your books by genre, and then **整理** them by putting them neatly on the shelf. **分类** is often one step in the process of **整理**.
    * **Incorrect:** ~~我需要**分类**我乱七八糟的房间。~~ (I need to *classify* my messy room.)
    * **Correct:** 我需要**整理**我乱七八糟的房间。 (I need to *tidy up/organize* my messy room.)
  * **分类 (fēnlèi) vs. 种类 (zhǒnglèi):**
    * **分类 (fēnlèi)** can be the *action* of classifying, or the *system* of classification.
    * **种类 (zhǒnglèi)** refers to "a kind," "a type," or "a variety"—it's one of the resulting categories from the action of classifying.
    * **Example:** 你喜欢哪一**种类**的音乐？ (Which *type/kind* of music do you like?) vs. 我们来给音乐**分类**吧。(Let's *classify* the music.)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * **[[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).