divide
divide — 動詞
1. to break something into several separate pieces, sections, or groups, or for som
分開；分割
將一個整體切分成數個部分或群組
to break something into several separate pieces, sections, or groups, or for something to come apart naturally.
Apinya divided the cake into eight equal pieces so that everyone got a slice.
Apinya 把蛋糕切成八等份，讓每個人都能分到一塊。
transitive: divide + object + into + [number] + parts
The teacher divided the class into four small groups for the science fair.
老師把全班分成四個小組，準備科展活動。
Eli took the scissors and divided the sheet of paper into two long strips for his art project.
Eli 拿起剪刀，把一張紙裁成兩條長條，準備做他的美術作品。
When the road divides near the lake, take the left path towards the camping site.
道路在湖邊分岔時，請走左邊那條通往露營區的路。
The children divided the LEGO bricks between the two boxes.
孩子們把樂高積木分放到兩個盒子裡。
文法句型
divide + object + into + parts
divide + object + between/among + people/places
subject + divides (intransitive — roads, groups)
用法筆記
Frequently used with into to specify the resulting parts. With between/among, the focus is on distribution across recipients or locations rather than the act of cutting.
常見錯誤
2. to make the people in a group hold different opinions about an issue, often crea
造成分歧
導致一群人對某事意見不合
to make the people in a group hold different opinions about an issue, often creating two opposing sides.
The question of school uniforms divided the parents' committee deeply.
是否穿制服的問題讓家長委員會產生了嚴重的分歧。
transitive: [issue] + divides + [group]
Opinions are divided on whether the old park should get a new playground.
對於舊公園該不該增建新遊樂場，大家的意見分歧。
passive: opinions + are divided + on + [issue]
The proposed changes divided the staff into supporters and those who opposed them.
提案的改革方案把員工分成贊成和反對兩派。
The community was divided over whether to build a new shopping mall.
這個社區對於是否要蓋一座新購物中心意見分歧。
- unite
bring people together around a common view
文法句型
divide + [group] + into + [opposing sides]
be divided + over/about/on + [issue]
用法筆記
Commonly appears in the passive voice (be divided) or with a direct object that is a collective noun (community, committee, family, staff, party). Frequently followed by over, about, or on to name the issue.
常見錯誤
3. when a physical feature like a wall, road, or river runs between two places, it
分隔；劃分
實體物體成為兩個區域之間的分界線
when a physical feature like a wall, road, or river runs between two places, it creates a clear separation between them.
A narrow stream divides the two farms that have been in the family for generations.
一條小溪分隔了兩座世代相傳的農場。
divide + [two things] — no from needed
The main road divides the residential area from the business district.
那條主要道路把住宅區和商業區隔開。
divide + [area A] + from + [area B]
A low stone wall divides the Watanabes' garden from their neighbour's yard.
一道矮石牆把 Watanabe 家的花園和鄰居的院子隔開。
The mountain range divides the coastal region from the inland plains.
這條山脈將沿海地區和內陸平原分隔開來。
The river divides the old town from the new shopping centre.
這條河將舊城區和新購物中心分隔開來。
- separate
broader; works for both physical and abstract separations
- mark the limit of
descriptive phrase; less common as a single verb
文法句型
divide + [area A] + from + [area B]
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a physical feature (fence, wall, river, road, mountain). Not used for abstract boundaries (use separate instead).
常見錯誤
4. to give portions of something to several people so that everyone receives a fair
分配；分攤
將某物分成若干份分配給多人
to give portions of something to several people so that everyone receives a fair part.
Christopher and his brother divided the household chores equally between them.
Christopher 和弟弟平均分攤了所有家務。
divide + object + equally + between + [two]
The prize money was divided among the three winners of the contest.
獎金由比賽的三位得主平分。
passive: was divided among + [group of three+]
The children divided the sweets after the birthday party.
孩子們在生日派對後把糖果分掉了。
The landlord divided the profits from the farm with the workers each season.
地主每季都和工人們分享農場的收益。
- share
softer, more general; less emphasis on exact portions
- distribute
more formal; can be systematic or official
- allocate
formal; emphasizes assigning for specific purposes
文法句型
divide + object + between + [two people/groups]
divide + object + among + [three or more]
用法筆記
Between is preferred when naming exactly two recipients; among is used for three or more. The object is typically a divisible resource (money, food, work, land).
常見錯誤
5. to work out how many equal groups a quantity can be split into by a particular a
除；除以
將數字分成等份的計算
to work out how many equal groups a quantity can be split into by a particular amount — for instance, splitting twelve into groups of three gives four groups.
The teacher showed the class how to divide 24 by 6 using plastic counters on the table.
老師在桌上用塑膠計數片示範如何計算 24 除以 6。
pattern: divide + number + by + divisor
Divide a pizza into eight slices and each piece is one eighth of the whole.
把披薩切成八片，每一片就是整個披薩的八分之一。
divide + object + into + number + parts
Ravindra divided the camping cost by five so everyone paid the same share.
Ravindra 把露營費用除以五，這樣每個人都付相同的份額。
The children learned to divide on paper before using calculators.
孩子們先在紙上學做除法，然後才開始使用計算機。
- multiply
the inverse mathematical operation
文法句型
transitive: divide + number + by + number
intransitive: number + divides into + number
用法筆記
The standard preposition after a number is "by": divide 12 by 3 (not "with" or "on"). When describing the result, use "into": 12 divides into 3 equal groups.
常見錯誤
6. to choose how much attention, effort, or other limited resources to put toward e
調配；分派
把有限的時間、精力等分配給不同活動
to choose how much attention, effort, or other limited resources to put toward each of several different tasks or activities.
Ritu divides her time between studying law and working at a café.
Ritu 把時間分配在唸法律和在咖啡廳打工之間。
divide + time + between + [two activities]
You need to divide your energy carefully across all the tasks today.
你今天必須小心地把精力分配到每一項任務上。
Gabriel divided his attention between the phone call and the soup he was cooking.
Gabriel 一邊講電話一邊煮湯，注意力得同時顧好兩件事。
The manager divided the team's budget among three different marketing campaigns.
經理把團隊的預算分配給三個不同的行銷活動。
- concentrate
focus all resources on one activity
文法句型
divide + [time/energy/attention/resources] + between + [activities]
用法筆記
Object is usually an abstract resource: time, energy, attention, budget, effort. Typical pattern is divide [resource] between [two activities] or among [several].
7. to deliberately create conflict among the people or groups you lead as a way of
分化；離間
故意使人不和以維持權力
to deliberately create conflict among the people or groups you lead as a way of stopping them from joining forces against you, so you hold on to your authority.
The dictator used divide and rule to stop ethnic groups from uniting against him.
獨裁者採用了分而治之的策略，阻止各族群團結起來反抗他。
fixed phrase: divide and rule
The manager gave each team different details and divided the staff to protect his authority.
經理向各小組提供不同的資訊，藉此分化員工以鞏固自己的權威。
divide + people + and + consequence clause
Some politicians deliberately divide communities along religious lines to preserve their own influence.
有些政客刻意沿著宗教界線分化社區，以維持自身的影響力。
A good leader unites people, but a selfish leader divides them to stay in charge.
優秀的領袖會團結眾人，但自私的領袖則會分化他們以保住自己的地位。
- split up
less deliberate; can be neutral or physical separation
- set against each other
emphasises the conflict created between the parties
- unite
bring together as one group — the opposite goal
文法句型
divide + people / group + to infinitive
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed strategy phrases "divide and rule" or "divide and conquer." The object is typically a group, community, or organization that could otherwise unite against an authority.
常見錯誤
8. when a larger amount can be evenly split by a smaller amount, leaving no extra p
整除
可被整數除盡而無餘數
when a larger amount can be evenly split by a smaller amount, leaving no extra portion — for instance, six goes into eighteen three times with nothing left over.
Bilal checked whether 7 divides into 28 — it does, exactly four times with no remainder.
Bilal 檢查了一下 7 是否能整除 28——可以的，剛好整除 4 次，沒有餘數。
pattern: number + divides into + number (intransitive)
Elena has 36 cupcakes for her 9 guests — she checks whether 9 divides into 36, then gives 4 to each person.
Elena 有 36 個杯子蛋糕要分給 9 位客人——她先確認 9 可以整除 36，然後每人分 4 個。
pattern: number + divides into + number (intransitive, concrete scenario)
The teacher asked students to list all whole numbers that divide into 30 evenly.
老師要求學生列出所有能整除 30 的整數。
The 20 students at the debate club split into pairs — 2 divides into 20 with none left over, making 10 teams.
辯論社的 20 名學生兩兩一組——2 可以整除 20，沒有剩餘，正好分成 10 組。
- remain
what happens when the division is not exact — there is a leftover amount
文法句型
number + divides into + number
用法筆記
This sense is always intransitive and takes "into": the smaller number divides into the larger one. The focus is on whether the operation yields an exact whole number, not on performing the calculation (see sense 8 for the calculation itself).
常見錯誤
9. when members of a law-making body walk into separate groups to record their vote
分組表決
議會議員分兩組進行投票
when members of a law-making body walk into separate groups to record their votes for or against a proposal.
The House of Commons divided on the proposed tax reform late last night.
英國下議院昨晚就稅制改革提案進行了分組表決。
The House + divides + on + [issue]
After hours of heated debate, the members divided and the Speaker announced the result.
經過數小時激烈的辯論後，議員們分組投票，議長隨後宣布結果。
The parliament divided at nine o'clock, with a clear majority in favour of the bill.
議會於晚上九點進行分組表決，結果多數贊成該法案。
The members divided on the education amendment just before the session ended.
議員們在會期結束前就教育修正案進行了分組表決。
- vote by division
the full procedural term; not a single verb
文法句型
The House/Parliament + divides + (on + [issue])
用法筆記
Restricted to parliamentary procedure, primarily in British and Commonwealth political systems. The verb is always intransitive in this sense. Never used for ordinary voting.
常見錯誤
divide — 名詞
1. a noticeable difference or gap between two groups, ideas, or situations that kee
差異；差距
兩者間的明顯區別或隔閡
a noticeable difference or gap between two groups, ideas, or situations that keeps them apart from each other
The growing divide between the rich and the poor is a problem in many countries.
貧富之間的差距日益擴大，是許多國家面臨的問題。
collocation: growing divide
Bridging the digital divide in rural areas remains a key challenge for the government.
縮小偏鄉地區的數位落差仍是政府的一大挑戰。
collocation: digital divide / bridge the divide
Femi noticed a clear divide between what the company promised and what it actually delivered.
Femi 注意到公司承諾的內容與實際交付成果之間存在明顯的差距。
A cultural divide separated the two neighboring villages for generations.
文化差異使得兩個相鄰的村莊世代以來彼此隔絕。
The study found a sharp divide in attitudes between younger and older employees.
該研究發現年輕員工與年長員工之間的態度存在明顯落差。
- gap
more concrete; can refer to physical spaces or abstract differences
- difference
more neutral; does not necessarily imply separation or opposition
- chasm
stronger, more dramatic; suggests a very wide or deep separation
- unity
the state of being joined together as a whole
文法句型
the divide between [noun] and [noun]
用法筆記
Frequently used with adjectives such as 'growing', 'sharp', 'clear', 'deep', 'wide'. The noun is almost always singular in this sense.
常見錯誤
2. a strong disagreement that separates groups of people and creates tension or hos
分歧；隔閡
造成對立與緊張的深刻衝突
a strong disagreement that separates groups of people and creates tension or hostility between them
The proposed policy opened a deep divide among members of the city council.
這項提案在市議會成員之間造成了嚴重的分歧。
deep divide among [group]
Devika tried to heal the divide between the two departments after months of arguments.
Devika 試圖修復兩個部門之間因爭執數月而產生的隔閡。
heal the divide between [group] and [group]
The ethnic divide in the region has led to years of mistrust and occasional violence.
該地區的種族對立導致多年的不信任與零星的暴力衝突。
A religious divide runs through the country, affecting everything from politics to education.
宗教分歧在該國無所不在，影響層面從政治到教育皆然。
The divide over immigration policy shows no sign of narrowing anytime soon.
在移民政策上的嚴重分歧短期內沒有縮小的跡象。
- consensus
general agreement among a group
文法句型
the divide between [group] and [group] over [issue]
用法筆記
Unlike the 'difference' sense (sense 1), this sense always involves emotional tension or active hostility between groups. Frequently found in political, social, and organisational contexts. Common collocating verbs: 'heal', 'widen', 'deepen', 'create', 'open up'.