一盘散沙 (yī pán sǎn) — (idiom, derogatory) in a state of disunity; disorganized and lacking cohesion
Definition
Idiom (figurative, derogatory) for a group that lacks unity and cannot act together, literally 'a tray of loose sand'. Use for people, teams, or organizations — not for scattered objects.
idiom
(idiom, derogatory) in a state of disunitydisorganized and lacking cohesion
Examples
- 一盘散沙，。Zhè ge tuán duì jiù xiàng yī pán sǎn, shuí yě guǎn bù liǎo shuí.This team is like a sheet of loose sand — nobody can manage anyone else.
- ，一盘散沙。Rú guǒ dà jiā bù tuán jié, guó jiā jiù huì biàn chéng yī pán sǎn.If people don't unite, the country will become a sheet of loose sand.
- ，。Tā men gōng sī nèi bù máo dùn tài duō, jiǎn zhí shì yì pán sǎn shā.Their company has too many internal conflicts — it's practically a sheet of loose sand.
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