# 分崩离析

fēn bēng lí xī

Break apart and lose cohesion

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Split, collapse, separate, and scatter

**Traditional Chinese:** 分崩離析

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe an organization or whole falling apart.

Stronger than a temporary disagreement.

## Understanding the expression

Several words of breaking and separation reinforce one another, producing a picture of a whole that no longer holds together. The expression suits collapsing alliances, divided organizations, and systems whose connections fail. It is stronger than ordinary disagreement because the shared structure itself is threatened or gone. A clear example identifies what bound the parts together and what broke that bond. Repair may require rebuilding trust or function, not merely making an announcement.

## Examples

联盟因内斗分崩离析。

### Traditional Chinese

聯盟因內鬥分崩離析。

lián méng yīn nèi dòu fēn bēng lí xī 。

The alliance fell apart through internal fighting.

资金断裂后，公司分崩离析。

### Traditional Chinese

資金斷裂後，公司分崩離析。

zī jīn duàn liè hòu ， gōng sī fēn bēng lí xī 。

The company broke apart after funding collapsed.

共同目标消失，团队分崩离析。

### Traditional Chinese

共同目標消失，團隊分崩離析。

gòng tóng mù biāo xiāo shī ， tuán duì fēn bēng lí xī 。

The team disintegrated when its shared goal disappeared.

她努力调解，避免协会分崩离析。

### Traditional Chinese

她努力調解，避免協會分崩離析。

tā nǔ lì tiáo jiě ， bì miǎn xié huì fēn bēng lí xī 。

She worked to mediate and prevent the association from falling apart.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%88%86%E5%B4%A9%E9%9B%A2%E6%9E%90)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=989&webMd=1&la=0)

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