散兵游勇 (sǎn bīng yóu yǒng) — (literally) straggling troops, scattered soldiers; (figuratively) people not belonging to an organized group; independent operators; stragglers

Definition

An idiom for 'stragglers' — originally soldiers separated from their unit, now used for people or groups drifting without organization. Carries a slightly negative tone of disorder or unreliability.

idiom
(literally) straggling troopsscattered soldiers(figuratively) people not belonging to an organized groupindependent operatorsstragglers

Examples

  • 散兵游勇，。
    Zhè xiē sǎn bīng yóu yǒng yuán lái dōu shì tuì wǔ jūn rén, xiàn zài sì chù piāo bó.
    These scattered troops were all former soldiers, now drifting around.
  • 散兵游勇。
    Gōng sī lǐ de yì xiē sǎn bīng yóu yǒng zǒng shì gēn bú shàng xiàng mù jié zòu.
    Some of the stragglers in the company always can't keep up with the project pace.
  • 散兵游勇，。
    Zhè ge shè qū yóu gè zhǒng sǎn bīng yóu yǒng zǔ chéng, quē fá tǒng yī de guǎn lǐ.
    This community is made up of all sorts of scattered elements, lacking unified management.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

散兵scattered troops
散sànscattered兵bīngsoldiers
偏正Modifier + head
游勇wandering fighters
游yóuwandering勇yǒngbrave fighters
偏正Modifier + head

散兵 and 游勇 are two parallel images, scattered troops and wandering fighters, together describing stragglers.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

  • 斤斤jīna short axe
  • 廾廾gǒng2 hands

兵 combines 斤, a short axe, with 廾, two hands, showing a pair of hands holding a weapon.

Open 兵 →

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
斿
斿yóu游yóu
Same sound today

游 combines 水 (water) with 斿, which gives the sound yóu and also relates to travelling.

Open 游 →

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
力力lìstrong
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng勇yǒng
Same sound today

勇 pairs 甬, which gives the sound, with 力, a strength part, to mean brave and strong.

Open 勇 →

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