sei3 fan1 ng5 lit6四分五裂
Jyutpingsei3 fan1 ng5 lit6
Yalesei fān ńgh liht
Definition
Disintegrated; shattered, fragmented, or split apart.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
This idiom describes a state of total collapse or fragmentation, often used for groups, organizations, or families. It carries a strong sense of irreversible damage or loss of unity. While it can apply to physical objects, it is far more common when discussing abstract structures or social entities.
Examples
Their team has ended up completely disintegrated.
Has this organization already fallen apart?
Related words
Common phrases
a situation of total disintegration
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple physical breakage like a broken plate or a torn piece of paper, as it implies a deeper, systemic failure rather than just a mechanical split.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
