keoi1 saan3驅散驱散
Jyutpingkeoi1 saan3
Yalekēui saan
Definition
To disperse, dispel, or drive away a crowd of people or animals.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Formal in tone, this term is primarily used in news reports or official statements regarding crowd control or military operations. It implies a sense of authority and organized action, making it sound unnatural when applied to casual situations like shooing away a stray cat or a friend.
Examples
The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters.
How are you going to disperse those people who are gathered there?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in everyday social contexts, as it sounds overly bureaucratic or aggressive. For casual situations like shooing away an animal or a nuisance, use 趕走 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
