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走散 (zǒu sǎn) — (of a crowd) to disperse, to break up; (of a companion while walking/traveling) to lose contact with, to become separated from

Definition

A separable verb meaning to get separated from someone while walking or traveling together, or for a crowd to break up and scatter. Often used with 了 to mark the moment of losing each other (我们走散了).

verb
(of a crowd) to disperseto break up(of a companion while walking/traveling) to lose contact withto become separated from

Examples

  • ，走散。
    Gōng yuán lǐ de rén tài duō le, wǒ men zǒu sǎn le.
    There were too many people in the park, and we got separated.
  • ，走散。
    Dà jiā màn diǎn zǒu, bié zǒu sǎn le.
    Everyone, slow down a bit, don't get separated.
  • 走散。
    Lǚ xíng de shí hou wǒ hé péng you zǒu sǎn le.
    During the trip I got separated from my friend.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

走zǒuwalk
散sànscatter

走 gives walking, and 散 adds the result of becoming scattered or separated.

Characters in this word

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

The original shape showed a running man, with a foot added later.

Open 走 →

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 →
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