散 (sǎn) — to come loose; to fall apart; to become undone
Definition
散 (sǎn) describes something physical coming loose or falling apart on its own — a bag coming undone, hair coming loose. Compare 散落 (scattered over an area) and 分散 (scattered/dispersed by someone).
verb
to come looseto fall apartto become undone
Examples
- 。Tā de tóu fa sǎn kāi le.Her hair came loose.
- 。Zhè ge yǐ zi yǐ jīng sǎn jià le.This chair has already fallen apart.
- 散，。Wǒ de shū bāo sǎn le, shū dōu diào chū lái le.My schoolbag came undone and all the books fell out.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo 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.
Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.