CHENGYU
四分五裂(sì fēn wǔ liè)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral, negative
- Source:
- 《战国策·魏策一》
MEANING
- Literal
- split into four and cracked into five
- Figurative meaning
- to fall apart; to be torn to pieces
ORIGIN STORY
In the Strategies of the Warring States, Zhang Yi warns the king of Wei: side with one neighbor and another attacks — "this is the way of being split in four and cracked in five." The image is a state, or any group, coming apart.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“to disintegrate”
EXAMPLES
这个组织内部矛盾重重，已经四分五裂。Zhège zǔzhī nèibù máodùn chóngchóng, yǐjīng sì fēn wǔ liè.HSK6
Riven by internal conflicts, the organization has fallen apart.
国家四分五裂，人民深受其害。Guójiā sì fēn wǔ liè, rénmín shēn shòu qí hài.HSK6
The country was torn in pieces, and the people suffered.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It is about a whole breaking into pieces — not about being busy or scattered temporarily.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01