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失散 (shī sàn) — to be separated from (loved ones), to lose contact with, especially of family members

Definition

A specific kind of separation — losing contact with family or loved ones, usually through war, disaster, or displacement, often with no news. Stronger and more permanent than 分手 (break up) or 离别 (parting).

verb
to be separated from (loved ones)to lose contact withespecially of family members

Examples

  • 失散，。
    Tā men zài zhàn zhēng zhōng shī sàn le, wǔ shí duō nián hòu cái chóng féng.
    They got separated during the war and didn't reunite until over fifty years later.
  • 失散，。
    Dì zhèn hòu hěn duō jiā tíng dōu shī sàn le, zhì jīn méi yǒu xiāo xi.
    After the earthquake, many families were separated and there is still no news.
  • 失散，。
    Tā xiǎo shí hou gēn mǔ qīn shī sàn, yì zhí xiǎng zhǎo dào tā.
    She was separated from her mother as a child and has always wanted to find her.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

失shīlose
散sànscatter

失 and 散 both convey loss and scattering, together describing people becoming separated.

Characters in this word

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

The shape is explained as a fallen person's footprint surrounded by drops of blood; another reading pairs 手 (hand) and 乙 to show something falling from a hand.

Open 失 →

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
Family & KinshipFriends & Social

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