一盘散沙
yī​pán​sǎn​shā

a sheet of loose sand

  1. 一 yī numeral
    one
    one; the number 1; single; alone
  2. 盘 盤 pán measure word
    [classifier]
    classifier for things that are coiled or plated (such as coils of incense or plates of food), or for rounds of matches, games, or sets (such as in chess or tennis)
  3. 散沙 sǎn​shā
    lack of cohesion
    lacking in organization, unity, or the spirit of cooperation; often used in the phrase 一盘散沙 yī​pán​sǎn​shā