散兵 (sǎn bīng) — straggler (a soldier separated from the main force); skirmisher (a light infantry soldier in a dispersed combat formation)

Definition

A military term combining 散 ('scattered') and 兵 ('soldiers'). It refers to troops out of the main formation — either stragglers separated from their unit or skirmishers sent ahead on independent tasks like scouting.

noun
straggler (a soldier separated from the main force)skirmisher (a light infantry soldier in a dispersed combat formation)
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，散兵。
    Zhàn dòu jié shù hòu, hěn duō sǎn bīng zhǎo bú dào zì jǐ de duì wu.
    After the battle, many stragglers couldn't find their units.
  • ，散兵。
    Gǔ dài zhàn zhēng zhōng, sǎn bīng cháng yòng yú zhēn chá hé sāo rǎo.
    In ancient warfare, skirmishers were often used for reconnaissance and harassment.
  • 散兵。
    Tā men bèi pài qù zuò sǎn bīng rèn wu.
    They were sent on skirmisher missions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

散sànscattered
兵bīngsoldier

"散" means scattered and "兵" means soldier, referring to a soldier away from the main force.

Characters in this word

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.

  • 斤斤jīna short axe
  • 廾廾gǒng2 hands

兵 combines 斤, a short axe, with 廾, two hands, showing a pair of hands holding a weapon.

Open 兵 →

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