四分五裂 sì fēn wǔ liè shattered, fragmented

Explanation

形容分裂成许多部分，不完整、不团结、不统一的状态。

Describes a state of being split into many parts, incomplete, ununited, and disintegrated.

Origin Story

战国时期，秦国日益强大，其他六国为了对抗秦国，曾试图联合起来，形成合纵联盟。然而，由于各国利益冲突，猜忌重重，这个联盟最终四分五裂。秦国利用六国之间的矛盾，各个击破，最终统一了中国。这个故事就体现了，一个国家或组织内部如果四分五裂，就会失去力量，容易被敌人各个击破。

zhànguó shíqī, qín guó rìyì qiángdà, qítā liù guó wèile duìkàng qín guó, céng shìtú liánhé qǐlái, xíngchéng hé zòng liánméng. rán'ér, yóuyú gè guó lìyì chōngtú, cāijì chóngchóng, zhège liánméng zuìzhōng sì fēn wǔ liè. qín guó lìyòng liù guó zhī jiān de máodùn, gè gè jī pò, zuìzhōng tǒngyī le zhōngguó. zhège gùshì jiù tǐxiàn le, yīgè guójiā huò zǔzhī nèibù rúguǒ sì fēn wǔ liè, jiù huì shīqù lìliàng, róngyì bèi dírén gè gè jī pò.

During the Warring States period, the Qin state became increasingly powerful, and the other six states attempted to unite against it, forming a coalition. However, due to conflicts of interest and mutual suspicion, this coalition eventually fell apart. The Qin state exploited the contradictions among the six states, defeated them one by one, and ultimately unified China. This story demonstrates that if a country or organization is divided, it will lose strength and be easily defeated by its enemies.

Usage

多用于形容国家、政党、组织等不团结，分裂的状态。

duō yòng yú xiāo róng guójiā, zhèngdǎng, zǔzhī děng bù tuánjié, fēnliè de zhuàngtài

Often used to describe the state of disunity and division of countries, political parties, or organizations.

Examples

• 他们之间因为一点小事就闹得四分五裂。

  tāmen zhī jiān yīn wèi yī diǎn xiǎo shì jiù nào de sì fēn wǔ liè

  They quarreled and fell apart because of a small matter.

• 公司内部意见分歧，导致项目进展四分五裂。

  gōngsī nèibù yìjiàn fēnqí, dǎozhì xiàngmù jìnzǎn sì fēn wǔ liè

  Disagreements within the company have led to the project falling apart.

Related Idioms

• 支离破碎

• 一盘散沙

Opposite Idioms

• 团结一致

• 众志成城