divide into stages; by installment
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to divide a continuous process into periods or stages
Often used in academic, historical, or project management contexts to indicate phasing or periodization.
Lì历
shǐ史
xué学
jiā家
bǎ把
Zhōng中
guó国
lì历
shǐ史
fēn分
qī期
wéi为
gǔ古
dài代
、
jìn近
dài代
hé和
xiàn现
dài代
sān三
gè个
jiē阶
duàn段
。
Historians divide Chinese history into three stages: ancient, modern, and contemporary.
Zhè这
xiàng项
gōng工
chéng程
tài太
dà大
，
bì必
xū须
fēn分
qī期
jiàn建
shè设
。
This project is too large and must be constructed in stages.
verb
to divide in time into several installments or occasions
Commonly used with financial payments, vacations, or deliveries to spread over time. Often appears in commercial and contractual contexts.
Mǎi买
fáng房
shí时
kě可
yǐ以
xuǎn选
zé择
fēn分
qī期
fù付
kuǎn款
。
When buying a house, you can choose to pay in installments.
Gōng公
sī司
yǔn允
xǔ许
yuán员
gōng工
fēn分
qī期
xiū休
jià假
。
The company allows employees to take vacation in installments.
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Zhè这
bǐ笔
kuǎn款
xiàng项
kě可
yǐ以
fēn分
shí十
èr二
qī期
cháng偿
huán还
。
This payment can be repaid in twelve installments.