分散

• Pinyin: fēn sàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 分 = 刀 (knife) + 八 (divide), to separate into parts; 散 = 月 (flesh/body) + 攴 (to strike), breaking apart and spreading

Meaning

To scatter; to disperse; to spread out (V); dispersed; scattered; spread out (Adj). Describes spreading people, things, or attention across multiple places or directions.

As a verb, 分散 often describes distributing resources or people (e.g., 分散风险 — spread risk), or diverting attention (分散注意力 — divert attention). As an adjective, it describes something that is spread out and not concentrated in one place. The opposite is 集中 (to concentrate).

Examples

1. 为了避免拥挤，学校让学生分散在不同的时间进入教室。 To avoid crowding, the school had students enter classrooms at staggered times.
2. 他在工作时容易被手机分散注意力。 He is easily distracted by his phone when working.
3. 这些村子分散在山区各处，交通非常不便。 These villages are scattered across the mountainous area, making transport very inconvenient.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, management, study

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 老师要求学生把注意力集中在课堂上，不要分散。(The teacher asked students to keep their attention focused on class and not get distracted.)
• 人群慢慢分散，广场上渐渐安静下来。(The crowd slowly dispersed and the square gradually grew quiet.)

Don't Say

• 用'分散'来表示'分发'的意思 (Don't use 分散 to mean distribute or hand out — use 分发 instead)

Origin & History

A compound of 分 (to divide/separate) + 散 (to scatter/disperse). Both characters emphasise breaking apart and spreading outward.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal