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分散 (fēn sàn) — (verb) to scatter, to disperse, to distribute; (adjective) scattered, dispersed, decentralized

Definition

分散 covers both the action of scattering people/things across different places and the resulting scattered state. Unlike 散落, it focuses on the act of spreading out, not things lying in place; 疏散 adds a safety/evacuation angle.

verb
to scatterto disperseto distribute
adjective
scattereddisperseddecentralized

Examples

  • 分散。
    Rén qún hěn kuài fēn sàn le.
    The crowd dispersed quickly.
  • 分散。
    Lǎo shī bǎ xué shēng fēn sàn dào bù tóng de jiào shì.
    The teacher dispersed the students to different classrooms.
  • 分散，。
    Tā de xiǎng fǎ hěn fēn sàn, méi yǒu zhòng diǎn.
    His thoughts are scattered and lack focus.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

分fēnscatter
散sàndisperse

分 and 散 both point to scattering or loosening, giving the sense of dispersed.

Characters in this word

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

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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