一盘散沙 (yì pán sǎn shā) — (idiom, derogatory) in a state of disunity; disorganized and lacking cohesion

Definition

Idiom (figurative, derogatory) for a group that lacks unity and cannot act together, literally 'a tray of loose sand'. Use for people, teams, or organizations — not for scattered objects.

idiom
(idiom, derogatory) in a state of disunitydisorganized and lacking cohesion

Examples

  • 一盘散沙，。
    Zhè ge tuán duì jiù xiàng yì pán sǎn shā, shuí yě guǎn bù liǎo shuí.
    This team is like a sheet of loose sand — nobody can manage anyone else.
  • ，一盘散沙。
    Rú guǒ dà jiā bù tuán jié, guó jiā jiù huì biàn chéng yì pán sǎn shā.
    If people don't unite, the country will become a sheet of loose sand.
  • ，一盘散沙。
    Tā men gōng sī nèi bù máo dùn tài duō, jiǎn zhí shì yì pán sǎn shā.
    Their company has too many internal conflicts — it's practically a sheet of loose sand.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 盤; 盘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
皿皿mǐn
Sound part声符shēngfú
般
般bān盤pán
Same sound today

The traditional form 盤 pairs 般, which gives the sound, with 皿, a vessel. This note is about 盤, not the simplified 盘.

Open 盘 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 林林líntrees, forest
  • 攴攴pūto knock, to tap

散 combines 林 (trees or forest) and 攴 (to knock or tap), originally showing knocking to clear vegetation, later extended to breaking up or dispersing.

Open 散 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

沙 puts 少 (dots) beside 水 (water), showing sand on a shoreline.

Open 沙 →

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