散 sàn — scatter, disperse · English

散

sàn

scatter, disperse

At a glance · 散

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从肉𢿚声，形声字，本指分离、散布。隶楷作「散」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「散」本指分开、解体，引申为散开、散文（不押韵）。

Structure

形声字，攴（攵/肉）为意符，𢿚为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinsàn

Radical攵

Strokes12

UnicodeU+6563

Character type形声

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English scatter, disperse To scatter, disperse; prose.

Français disperser, éparpiller Disperser, éparpiller; prose.

Español dispersar, prosa Dispersar, esparcir; prosa.

العربية يتفرّق، ينثر يتفرّق أو ينثر أو نثر.

Русский рассеивать, расходиться Рассеивать, разъединять; проза.

Common words

散sànscatter
分散fēn sànseparate

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