打散 (dǎ sàn) — to break up (a group, collection, or organized…

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to break up and scatter' — usually of a group, set, or organized whole. Split it: 把 + object + 打散 + 了, as in 把人群打散了.

verb

to break up (a group, collection, or organized structure)to scatterto disperse

打散。
Jǐng chá bǎ rén qún dǎ sàn le.
The police broke up the crowd.
打散，。
Lǎo shī ràng xué shēng men dǎ sàn, zì yóu tǎo lùn.
The teacher had the students break into smaller groups and discuss freely.
打散，。
Tā bǎ nà tào chá jù dǎ sàn, chóng xīn bāo zhuāng.
He took apart that tea set and repackaged it.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

打 (hit) and 散 (scatter) combine: a group is broken apart and scatters.

Characters in this word

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

扌丁打

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

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

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

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

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.