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March 24, 2026
滥(濫)làn(lan4)
The character 滥 (làn) primarily means 'to overflow' or 'to flood,' often used to describe excessive or indiscriminate actions. It can refer to overindulgence in various contexts, such as excessive behavior or the indiscriminate use of resources, making it relevant in discussions about moderation and quality.
Strokes13Radical氵Frequency#9476DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of moderation is highly valued, particularly in the context of food, behavior, and business practices. 滥 highlights the negative consequences of excess, which is often referenced in traditional teachings about balance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a river (represented by the water radical 水) overflowing its banks, creating a flood (滥) that washes everything away indiscriminately. The sound 'làn' can remind you of 'land' being taken over by this flood, emphasizing the excessiveness of the situation.
Meanings of 滥
làn(lan4)
1overflowing
2excessive
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 滥
滥Simplified
濫Traditional
13Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9476Frequency Rank
Podcast: 滥
Podcast: 滥
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AI Study Notes for 滥
Quick Contrast
滥 (làn) vs 泛 (fàn) — choose 滥 for excessive or indiscriminate actions, while 泛 refers to a general overflow without the connotation of excess.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a river (represented by the water radical 水) overflowing its banks, creating a flood (滥) that washes everything away indiscriminately. The sound 'làn' can remind you of 'land' being taken over by this flood, emphasizing the excessiveness of the situation.
Usage Notes
滥 is often used in negative contexts, particularly when discussing poor quality or overuse. Common collocations include 滥用 (làn yòng - to abuse) and 滥竽充数 (làn yú chōng shù - to fill a position with unqualified people). Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone could change the meaning of the word.
HSK Study Tips
Although 滥 is not currently listed in the HSK levels, it connects with other words related to excess and quality, such as 过 (guò - excessive) and 劣 (liè - inferior). Focus on understanding its use in negative contexts to enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of moderation is highly valued, particularly in the context of food, behavior, and business practices. 滥 highlights the negative consequences of excess, which is often referenced in traditional teachings about balance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 滥 with similar-sounding words like 兰 (lán - orchid) and may use it incorrectly in sentences. For example, saying '这道菜太滥了' (This dish is too 'flooded') instead of '这道菜太咸了' (This dish is too salty) demonstrates a misuse of context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 滥
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Grammar Patterns of 滥
滥 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
门德斯先生正领导一场运动，以拯救遭到乱砍____伐的巴西热带雨林。
Mr Mendes was leading a campaign to save Brazil's rainforest from exploitation.
Example Sentences for 滥 (10)
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1
门德斯先生正领导一场运动，以拯救遭到乱砍滥伐的巴西热带雨林。
mén dé sī xiān shēng zhèng lǐng dǎo yī cháng yùn dòng， ， yǐ zhěng jiù zāo dào luàn kǎn làn fá de bā xī rè dài yǔ。
Mr Mendes was leading a campaign to save Brazil's rainforest from exploitation.
2
他被指控滥用秘密的政府行贿基金，金额达1,750万美元。
tā bèi zhǐ kòng làn yòng mì mì de zhèng fǔ háng huì jī jīn， ， jīn é1,750 dá 1,750 wàn。
He's accused of misusing $5 million from a secret government slush fund.
During the annual floods the river deposits its silt on the fields.
Cultural Notes for 滥
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of moderation is highly valued, particularly in the context of food, behavior, and business practices. 滥 highlights the negative consequences of excess, which is often referenced in traditional teachings about balance.
Word Family of 滥
Words Containing This Character19
滥用lànyòngto misuse濫用
滥lànoverflowing濫
泛滥fànlànto be in flood泛濫
陈词滥调cliché陳詞濫調
滥杀to massacre濫殺
滥用职权abuse of power濫用職權
狂轰滥炸to bomb indiscriminately狂轟濫炸
粗制滥造to churn out large quantities without regard for quality (idiom); rough and slipshod work粗製濫造
泛滥成灾fig. rampant泛濫成災
宁缺毋滥better to have nothing (than substandard choice) (idiom); would prefer to go without than accept shoddy option寧缺毋濫
滥竽充数token member of a group濫竽充數
宁缺勿滥same as 寧缺毋濫|宁缺毋滥[nìngquēwúlàn]寧缺勿濫
滥伐to denude濫伐
滥交to fall into bad company濫交
滥觞the origin (of some phenomenon)濫觴
滥调platitude濫調
滥好人sb who tries to be on good terms with everyone濫好人
滥竽token member of a group濫竽
俗滥clichéd俗濫
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 滥用 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 滥
Some common phrases include 滥用 (làn yòng - to abuse) and 滥竽充数 (làn yú chōng shù - to fill a position with unqualified people).
滥 is generally used in informal contexts; however, it can appear in formal writing when discussing issues of quality or excess.
The correct pronunciation is làn, with a falling tone. Practice saying it in isolation and in phrases to master the tone.
