无序 (wú xù) — disorder; lack of order | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal, written term for a state of disorder or chaos, often used in academic or institutional contexts (e.g. 市场, 竞争, 社会). Unlike a simple messy room, it implies a systemic lack of order or rules.

noun

disorderlack of order

Examples

无序，。
Shè huì xiàn rù wú xù zhuàng tài, rén rén zì wēi.
Society fell into a state of disorder, with everyone feeling insecure.
无序。
Zhè zhǒng wú xù jìng zhēng sǔn hài le shì chǎng huán jìng.
This kind of disorderly competition damages the market environment.
无序，。
Wén jiàn bǎi fàng wú xù, hěn nán zhǎo dào xū yào de zī liào.
The documents are placed in disorder, making it hard to find the needed materials.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

无wúlack

序xùorder

无 expresses lack, and 序 expresses order.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

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

广予序

Meaning part形符xíngfú

广广guǎng

Sound part声符shēngfú

予

予yǔ序xù

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

序 combines 广 and 予; 予 gives the sound, while 广 marks the meaning.

Open 序 →

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