so1 saan3疏散
Jyutpingso1 saan3
Yalesō saan
Definition
To evacuate, disperse, or scatter to a safer place due to a disaster or emergency.
neutralpeopleplaces
How it's used
Focuses on the organized movement of people away from a dangerous area, often used in formal news reports or official announcements. While it can apply to dispersing crowds, it carries a sense of urgency and safety that makes it sound more serious than simply moving people along. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation unless discussing emergency procedures or public safety incidents.
Examples
You need to evacuate immediately when there is a fire.
Have the police dispersed the crowd yet?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 散步, which means to take a stroll or go for a walk. Using 疏散 in a social context to mean leaving a party or gathering sounds bizarrely like an emergency evacuation is taking place.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
