faa3 zing2 wai4 ling4化整為零化整为零
Jyutpingfaa3 zing2 wai4 ling4
Yalefa jíng wàih lìhng
Definition
To break up a whole into parts; to scatter or deconstruct an entity into fragments.
writtenworkmoney
How it's used
Originally a military strategy for guerrilla warfare, this idiom is now frequently applied to business, finance, or project management. It describes the tactical decision to split a large, daunting task or a significant sum of money into smaller, more manageable pieces to reduce risk or increase flexibility. It carries a sense of deliberate, strategic planning rather than just accidental fragmentation.
Examples
We broke the plan into smaller parts and did them one by one.
Why do you want to break up the funds and invest them in smaller amounts?
Related words
Common phrases
a strategy of breaking the whole into parts
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for simply breaking something into pieces, but it implies a calculated strategy to achieve a goal more effectively. It is not used for physical objects that are broken by accident, such as dropping a plate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
