sei3 fan1 ng5 saan3四分五散

Jyutpingsei3 fan1 ng5 saan3

Yalesei fān ńgh saan

Definition

Scattered in all directions; completely disintegrated, broken up, or split apart.

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How it's used

Describes a state of total fragmentation or collapse, often implying a loss of unity or structure. It is frequently used to describe groups, organizations, or families that have broken apart due to conflict or external pressure. While it sounds slightly more formal than everyday slang, it is common in both casual conversation and news reports.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋sing4成go3個tyun4團deoi2隊sei3四fan1分ng5五saan3散，hou2好naan4難zoi3再hap6合zok3作。

Their whole team is scattered and split up, it is hard for them to work together again.

gung1公si1司zap1執zo2咗lap1笠zi1之hau6後，di1啲jyun4員gung1工sei3四fan1分ng5五saan3散。

After the company went bankrupt, the employees all went their separate ways.

Common phrases

gaau2搞dou3到sei3四fan1分ng5五saan3散

to cause something to fall apart

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 四分五裂, which is a more common idiom used to describe a situation that is falling apart or breaking into pieces. While they are very similar, 四分五裂 is more frequently used to describe the state of an object or a political entity, whereas 四分五散 emphasizes the dispersion of people.