松散 (sōng san) — loose, not tight (of physical objects, structures, or connections); inattentive, lax (of discipline, attention, or organization)

Definition

Used for both physical things (a loose knot, structure) and abstract situations (lax discipline, scattered attention). Note the neutral-to-negative tone in both senses.

adjective
loosenot tight (of physical objects, structures, or connections)inattentivelax (of discipline, attention, or organization)

Examples

  • 松散，。
    Zhè ge shéng zi tài sōng san le, róng yì duàn.
    This rope is too loose; it breaks easily.
  • 松散，。
    Tā zuì jìn xué xí hěn sōng san, chéng jì xià jiàng le hěn duō.
    He has been very inattentive in his studies lately, and his grades have dropped a lot.
  • 松散，。
    Zhè ge tuán duì guǎn lǐ sōng san, xiào lǜ bù gāo.
    This team's management is loose, so efficiency is low.

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.

松sōngloose
散sànscattered

松 loose and 散 scattered combine to mean not tight or lax.

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
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng松sōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

松 uses 木 (wood) to show it is a tree, and 公 to give the sound.

Open 松 →

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
Texture & Quality

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