family broken up and scattered
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
one's wife and children are separated and scattered; the family is broken up and dispersed
formalOften describes the tragic consequences of war, famine, or major disaster, leading to the disintegration of a family unit.
Zhàn战
zhēng争
shǐ使
dé得
xǔ许
duō多
jiā家
tíng庭
qī妻
lí离
zǐ子
sàn散
。
The war caused many families to be broken up and scattered.
Nà那
chǎng场
hóng洪
zāi灾
guò过
hòu后
，
bù不
shǎo少
nàn难
mín民
luò落
dé得
gè个
qī妻
lí离
zǐ子
sàn散
de的
xià下
chǎng场
。
After that flood disaster, many refugees ended up with their families torn apart.
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Tā他
yīn因
dǔ赌
bó博
qiàn欠
xià下
jù巨
zhài债
，
zuì最
zhōng终
dǎo导
zhì致
qī妻
lí离
zǐ子
sàn散
。
He incurred huge debts from gambling, which ultimately led to his family being broken up.
Zhè这
gè个
chéng成
yǔ语
cháng常
yòng用
lái来
miáo描
huì绘
luàn乱
shì世
zhōng中
jiā家
tíng庭
de的
bēi悲
cǎn惨
mìng命
yùn运
。
This idiom is often used to depict the tragic fate of families in times of turmoil.