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发散 (fā sàn) — (physics, optics) to diverge (of rays, light); (Traditional Chinese Medicine) to disperse internal heat or pathogens (e.g., through sweating); to disperse, to dissipate (gases, clouds, etc.)

Definition

Literally 'to send out and scatter': light rays diverging, smoke or gas dissipating, or (in TCM) releasing trapped heat/cold from the body.

verb
(physics, optics) to diverge (of rays, light)(Traditional Chinese Medicine) to disperse internal heat or pathogens (e.g., through sweating)to disperseto dissipate (gases, clouds, etc.)

Examples

  • 发散。
    Yān wù zài kōng qì zhōng màn màn fā sàn.
    The smoke slowly disperses in the air.
  • 发散。
    Tū tòu jìng néng shǐ guāng xiàn fā sàn kāi.
    A convex lens can make light rays diverge.
  • 发散。
    Zhè ge yào fāng yòng lái fā sàn fēng hán.
    This prescription is used to disperse wind-cold (in TCM).

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

发fāemit
散sànscatter

发 means emit and 散 means scatter, describing rays or gases spreading out.

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 發; 发 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 发 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (爆发, 出发) it is 發; in others (理发, 头发) it is 髮.

The form 發, which 发 stands for in many words, was originally drawn as a bow firing an arrow.

Open 发 →

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 →
Appears in
Physics & ChemistryTraditional Medicine & Philosophy

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