sei3 saan3四散
Jyutpingsei3 saan3
Yalesei saan
Definition
To scatter, disperse, or flee in all directions.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Focuses on the chaotic or sudden nature of a group breaking apart. It is often used to describe crowds, animals, or small objects that are no longer held together in a single location. Unlike simple verbs for splitting up, it carries a sense of movement towards multiple points simultaneously.
Examples
The people scattered in all directions immediately when they saw danger.
Will the birds scatter in all directions when they hear a sound?
Related words
Common phrases
scatter and flee in all directions
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
