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澜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
澜
lán
overflowing; ripples, waves
ns, 15 strokes, radical 氵
澜
lán
swelling water
unknown, 15 strokes, radical 氵
lán(lan2)lan T2
1overflowing; ripples, waves
2swelling water
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March 24, 2026
澜(瀾)lán(lan2)
The character 澜 (lán) refers to large waves or ripples in water, typically signifying a sense of overflow or swelling. It is often used in poetic or literary contexts to evoke imagery of vast bodies of water and their dynamic movements.
Strokes15Radical氵
Cultural note
In Chinese poetry, water imagery, including waves (澜), is often used to express emotions, such as tranquility or turmoil, reflecting the deep connection between nature and human feelings.
Memory tip
Imagine a large wave (澜) crashing against the shore, overflowing with energy. The character has a water radical (氵), indicating its connection to water, making it easier to remember that it relates to waves and ripples.
Meanings of 澜
lán(lan2)
1overflowing; ripples, waves
2swelling water
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 澜 means.
About 澜
澜Simplified
瀾Traditional
15Strokes
氵Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 澜
Podcast: 澜
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AI study notes for 澜
Quick Contrast
波 (bō) - use 澜 (lán) for larger, more dramatic waves, while 波 (bō) refers to smaller, more regular waves.
Usage Notes
澜 is more commonly used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with 波 (bō), which generally refers to smaller waves or ripples. Common collocations include '澜起波涌' (lán qǐ bō yǒng), meaning 'waves rise and swell'.
HSK Study Tips
While 澜 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to water-related words like 水 (shuǐ) and 波 (bō). Students should focus on the context in which 澜 is used, especially in literature.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 澜 with other water-related terms such as 浪 (làng) or 波 (bō). For example, saying '我看到澜在海里' (I saw waves in the sea) might be inaccurate if referring to smaller waves, where 波 would be more appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 澜
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 澜 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
澜 = 氵 + 阑. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 澜
IDS Structure⿰氵阑
澜Full character
=
氵shui3
left
阑lan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 澜?
How to say overflowing; ripples, waves in Chinese
“overflowing; ripples, waves” in Chinese is澜lán
The character 澜 (lán) refers to large waves or ripples in water, typically signifying a sense of overflow or swelling. It is often used in poetic or literary contexts to evoke imagery of vast bodies of water and their dynamic movements.
When to use 澜
澜 is more commonly used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with 波 (bō), which generally refers to smaller waves or ripples. Common collocations include '澜起波涌' (lán qǐ bō yǒng), meaning 'waves rise and swell'.
澜 or something close to it
波 (bō) - use 澜 (lán) for larger, more dramatic waves, while 波 (bō) refers to smaller, more regular waves.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 澜 with other water-related terms such as 浪 (làng) or 波 (bō). For example, saying '我看到澜在海里' (I saw waves in the sea) might be inaccurate if referring to smaller waves, where 波 would be more appropriate.
Write 澜
澜
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Practice writing 澜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 澜
澜 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他的话必将为争论推波助____。
His comments are bound to add fuel to the debate.
Example sentences for 澜 (5)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他的话必将为争论推波助澜。
tā dehuà bìjiāng wèi zhēnglùn tuī Bō zhù lán。
His comments are bound to add fuel to the debate.
2
船会停靠在那里，映衬在一片波澜不兴的湛蓝海水之中。
chuán huì tíng kào zài nàlǐ， yìng chèn zài yī piàn bōlán bù Xīng de zhàn lán hǎishuǐ zhīzhōng。
The ship would lie there mirrored in a perfectly unmoving glossy sea.
3
回程波澜不惊，车开得很顺。
huí chéng bōlán bù jīng， chē kāi de hěn shùn。
The return journey was uneventful, the car running perfectly.
