scatter, disperse, spend, squander
散 centers on things breaking apart and spreading outward: scattering, dispersing, or spending resources until they are gone.
散 is thought to combine 攵 (a hand holding a stick) with a component representing separation or scattering. The exact historical development of the left side is uncertain, but the character consistently conveys breaking apart and dispersing.
The left side looks like scattered pieces (龷 and ⺼), and the right side 攵 is a hand with a stick. Imagine using a stick to break something apart, sending pieces scattering everywhere.
For サン, picture scattering sand with a stick: sand -> サン, and the sand disperses in all directions.
breaking up (a meeting, gathering, etc.); dispersal (e.g. of a crowd)
walk; stroll
spreading; disseminating; scattering
dispersion; breakup; scattering; decentralization; decentralisation; distribution
to fall (e.g. blossoms, leaves)
thoroughly; completely; utterly
leaflet; flyer; handbill
emission; emanation; radiation; diffusion; dispersion
to scatter; to cause a shower of
walking; strolling; roaming; wandering; exploring
dissemination; scattering; sprinkling; spraying
to scatter around; to leave untidy; to make a mess
to be in disorder; to lie scattered around
to be scattered about; to disperse; to be littered (with)
(having a) haircut; hair-cutting; hair-dressing
deserted (esp. store, market, town, streets); quiet; still; hushed; empty
vague; desultory; distracted; loose; half-hearted; diffuse; scattered
dispersion; separation; scattering; breakup
sporadic; scattering
scattering of ashes (cremated remains)
prose
adjournment
collection (gathering) and distribution