Definition
本分 (běn fèn) describes someone who stays within their proper role and fulfills their duty without overstepping. It differs from 负责 (fù zé 'responsible'), which focuses on taking charge of a specific task, and from 认真 (rèn zhēn 'conscientious'), which emphasizes being serious and careful in one's work. As a noun, 本分 means 'one's duty' or 'proper role in life'.
noun
one's dutyone's proper role in life
adjective
dutifulconscientiousstaying within one's proper bounds
Examples
- 本分。Zuò hǎo zìjǐ de běn fèn bǐ shénme dōu zhòngyào.Doing your own duty is more important than anything.
- 本分,。Tā shì ge běn fèn rén, cónglái bù zhàn biérén piányi.He is a dutiful person who never takes advantage of others.
- 本分,。Zuò rén yào běn fèn, bú yào zǒng xiǎng zǒu jiéjìng.One should stay within one's bounds and not always try to take shortcuts.
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