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撒野 (sā yě) — to behave boorishly, to act wildly, to throw a tantrum

Definition

撒野 means to act wildly, rudely, or out of control — usually in a public place. The 撒…野 pattern is fixed: don't split or add objects between 撒 and 野.

verb
to behave boorishlyto act wildlyto throw a tantrum

Examples

  • 撒野，。
    Tā zài shāng chǎng lǐ dà sā yě, bèi bǎo ān dài zǒu le.
    He made a big scene in the mall and was taken away by security.
  • ？
    Nǐ dào zhè lǐ lái sā shén me yě?
    What are you doing causing trouble here?
  • 。
    Hái zi men hē le kā fēi jiù kāi shǐ sā qǐ yě lái.
    After drinking coffee, the kids started acting wild.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

撒sālet loose
野yěwildness

撒 means let loose and 野 means wildness, so someone acts boorishly.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
散
散sàn撒sǎ
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.

Open 撒 →

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
田田tiánfield
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
予
予yǔ野yě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

野 combines 田 (field) above 土 (earth) to show open country, with 予 giving the sound.

Open 野 →
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