闲散 (xián sǎn) — (of a person) free and at leisure, idle; (of resources) unused, idle

Definition

闲散 (xiánsǎn) describes a state of being free from work or duties — used for people enjoying leisure or resources sitting unused. Pairs naturally with 资金, 人员, 日子, 时光.

adjective
(of a person) free and at leisureidle(of resources) unusedidle

Examples

  • 闲散，、。
    Tā tuì xiū yǐ hòu guò dé hěn xián sǎn, měi tiān jiù shì kàn kàn shū, sàn sàn bù.
    After retiring, he lives a very leisurely life — just reading books and taking walks every day.
  • 闲散，。
    Gōng sī yǒu yì bǐ xián sǎn zī jīn, zhèng zài kǎo lǜ zěn me tóu zī.
    The company has a sum of idle funds and is considering how to invest it.
  • ，闲散。
    Tā zhěng tiān wú suǒ shì shì, xiǎn de hěn xián sǎn.
    He has nothing to do all day and seems quite idle.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

闲xiánidle
散sànloose, at leisure

闲 “idle” and 散 “loose, at leisure” join to mean free and unused.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閒; 闲 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 閒 puts 月 (moon) inside 門 (door), as if moonlight peeks through a door; this picture gives the idea of a gap or space. The simplified 闲 is a later abbreviation.

Open 闲 →

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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