Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
爆冷门 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
爆冷门bàolěngménan upset (esp. in sports)HSK 7, unknown, 29 strokes, rank #79744, Very Hard
爆冷门bàolěngménunexpected turn of eventsHSK 7, unknown, 29 strokes, rank #79744, Very Hard
爆冷门bàolěngménto pull off a coupHSK 7, unknown, 29 strokes, rank #79744, Very Hard
爆冷门bàolěngména breakthroughHSK 7, unknown, 29 strokes, rank #79744, Very Hard
bàolěngmén(bao4leng3men2)bao leng men T4
  1. 1an upset (esp. in sports)
  2. 2unexpected turn of events
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

爆冷门(爆冷門)bàolěngmén(bao4leng3men2)

爆冷门 (bào lěngmén) refers to an unexpected outcome, particularly in sports where an underdog defeats a favorite. It can also be used in broader contexts to describe surprising developments that defy expectations, such as in politics or business.

Strokes29Frequency#79744DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In sports, particularly basketball and football, upsets are highly celebrated moments that showcase the unpredictability of competition, reflecting a cultural appreciation for underdogs in Chinese sports narratives.

Memory tip

Imagine a cold door (冷门) suddenly bursting open (爆), revealing an unexpected celebration. The 'cold door' symbolizes something that is not favored, while the sudden explosion signifies the shock of an upset victory.

Meanings of 爆冷门

bàolěngmén(bao4leng3men2)
1an upset (esp. in sports)
2unexpected turn of events
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 爆冷门 means.

About 爆冷门

爆冷门Simplified
爆冷門Traditional
29Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 爆冷门

JasonAmy

Podcast: 爆冷门

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 爆冷门

Quick Contrast

爆冷门 (bàolěngmén) vs 意外 (yìwài) — use 爆冷门 specifically for unexpected outcomes in competitive contexts, while 意外 is more general for any unexpected event.

Usage Notes

This term is often used in informal conversations, especially among sports fans. Be cautious with the tone: 爆 (bào) is pronounced with a falling tone, and using the wrong tone may confuse listeners. Common collocations include '爆冷门比赛' (upset match) or '爆冷门事件' (unexpected event).

HSK Study Tips

While 爆冷门 is not an official HSK word, it connects to HSK vocabulary related to sports and competition. Students at this level should focus on understanding the components and tones, as well as practicing its use in sentences about unexpected outcomes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 爆冷门 with similar phrases like '爆炸' (bàozhà, to explode) or '冷门' (lěngmén, underdog) alone. For example, saying '爆炸冷门' is incorrect; the correct form is simply 爆冷门.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 爆冷门

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 爆冷门, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 爆冷门 to you

Let me explain 爆冷门 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 爆冷门 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 爆冷门?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 爆冷门 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

爆bàoto explode or burst
HSK 619 strokes火
View full entry
冷lěngcold
HSK 17 strokes冫
View full entry
门méngate
HSK 23 strokes门
View full entry

How to say an upset (esp. in sports) in Chinese

“an upset (esp. in sports)” in Chinese is爆冷门bàolěngmén

爆冷门 (bào lěngmén) refers to an unexpected outcome, particularly in sports where an underdog defeats a favorite. It can also be used in broader contexts to describe surprising developments that defy expectations, such as in politics or business.

When to use 爆冷门

This term is often used in informal conversations, especially among sports fans. Be cautious with the tone: 爆 (bào) is pronounced with a falling tone, and using the wrong tone may confuse listeners. Common collocations include '爆冷门比赛' (upset match) or '爆冷门事件' (unexpected event).

爆冷门 or something close to it

爆冷门 (bàolěngmén) vs 意外 (yìwài) — use 爆冷门 specifically for unexpected outcomes in competitive contexts, while 意外 is more general for any unexpected event.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 爆冷门 with similar phrases like '爆炸' (bàozhà, to explode) or '冷门' (lěngmén, underdog) alone. For example, saying '爆炸冷门' is incorrect; the correct form is simply 爆冷门.

Write 爆冷门

爆
冷
门

Practice writing 爆冷门 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 爆冷门?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 爆冷门

Yes, 爆冷门 can be applied to any situation where an unexpected result occurs, such as in politics or business.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 爆冷门?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab