() — to let go (of something held); to cast (a net); to spread (one's legs)

Definition

撒 (sā) means 'to let go' (撒手 release your hand) or 'to cast' (撒网 cast a net). It's a verb that needs an object — often something held or thrown. Compare 抛 (a forceful throw) and 放 (a general 'release/put').

verb
to let go (of something held)to cast (a net)to spread (one's legs)

Examples

  • Tā yì sā shǒu, qì qiú jiù fēi shàng le tiān.
    He let go of his hand, and the balloon flew up into the sky.
  • Kàn dào jǐng chá, xiǎo tōu sā tuǐ jiù pǎo.
    Seeing the police, the thief took off running at once.
  • Yú fū zhàn zài chuán tóu, yòng lì bǎ wǎng sā le chū qù.
    The fisherman stood at the bow and cast the net out with force.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Written in full asshǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
sàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

撒 combines 扌 (hand) with 散, which gives the sound; the hand part shows scattering with the hand.

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