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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 阑 represents the sound. Simplified form of 瀾.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half阑 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 澜? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 澜?
Decomposition of 澜
IDS Structure⿰氵阑
澜Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
阑lan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
Complete the Sentence
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)
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1
他的话必将为争论推波助澜。
tā de huà bì jiāng wéi zhēng lùn 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 nà lǐ， ， yìng chèn zài yī piàn bō lán bù xīng de zhàn lán hǎi shuǐ zhī。
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 bō lán bù jīng， ， chē kāi dé hěn。
The return journey was uneventful, the car running perfectly.
4
这则消息震惊了整个社区，直到现在还波澜未息。
zhè zé xiāo xī zhèn jīng le zhěng gè shè qū， ， zhí dào xiàn zài huán bō lán wèi。
The news sent shock waves through the community that have continued to reverberate to this day.
