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瀾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
瀾lánoverflowing; ripples, wavesx, 20 strokes, radical 氵
lán(lan2)lan T2
  1. 1overflowing; ripples, waves
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March 24, 2026

瀾lán(lan2)

The character 瀾 (lán) refers to the concept of overflowing, especially in the context of water, such as ripples or waves. It often describes a state of movement or disturbance on the surface of a body of water, conveying a sense of fluidity and dynamism. This character is frequently used in literary contexts to evoke imagery related to nature and emotions.

Strokes20Radical氵
Cultural note

In Chinese poetry, water imagery often symbolizes emotions and philosophical concepts, with characters like 瀾 embodying the beauty and complexity of nature. This connection to water reflects the cultural appreciation for harmony and flow in both nature and life.

Memory tip

Imagine a large wave (瀾) crashing against the shore, creating ripples that overflow onto the beach. The character's radical '水' (water) suggests its connection to bodies of water, while the phonetic component '蘭' (lán) reminds you of the sound. Picture the wave's motion as it spills over, linking the character's meaning to its form.

Meanings of 瀾

lán(lan2)
1overflowing; ripples, waves
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 瀾

瀾Simplified
20Strokes
氵Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 瀾

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AI study notes for 瀾

Usage Notes

When using 瀾, it’s important to be mindful of context; it often appears in poetic or literary expressions rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include terms related to nature, such as '海瀾' (ocean waves). Be cautious with the tone; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 瀾 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to water-related terms found in lower levels, such as 水 (water) and 波 (wave). Focus on recognizing its usage in literary texts, which can enhance your understanding of metaphorical language in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 瀾 with related characters like 波 (wave) due to their similar meanings. For example, saying '我喜欢波' (I like waves) when they mean to express an appreciation for the broader concept of water movements can lead to a misunderstanding; instead, they might use '我喜欢瀾'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 瀾

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Etymology of 瀾

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 阑 represents the sound. Simplified form of 瀾.

Memory hint

water

Semantic (meaning)氵
+
Phonetic (sound)闌
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

瀾 = 氵 + 闌. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 瀾

IDS Structure⿰氵闌
瀾Full character
=
氵shui3
left
闌lan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 瀾?

How to say overflowing; ripples, waves in Chinese

“overflowing; ripples, waves” in Chinese is瀾lán

The character 瀾 (lán) refers to the concept of overflowing, especially in the context of water, such as ripples or waves. It often describes a state of movement or disturbance on the surface of a body of water, conveying a sense of fluidity and dynamism. This character is frequently used in literary contexts to evoke imagery related to nature and emotions.

When to use 瀾

When using 瀾, it’s important to be mindful of context; it often appears in poetic or literary expressions rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include terms related to nature, such as '海瀾' (ocean waves). Be cautious with the tone; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 瀾 with related characters like 波 (wave) due to their similar meanings. For example, saying '我喜欢波' (I like waves) when they mean to express an appreciation for the broader concept of water movements can lead to a misunderstanding; instead, they might use '我喜欢瀾'.

Write 瀾

瀾

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Word Family of 瀾

Words containing this character9
波澜bōlánbillows波瀾
力挽狂澜to pull strongly against a crazy tide (idiom); fig. to try hard to save a desperate crisis力挽狂瀾
澜lánswelling water瀾
推波助澜to encourage sth to get bigger推波助瀾
杨澜Yang Lan (1968-), Chinese media proprietor, journalist, and talk show hostess楊瀾
波澜壮阔surging forward with great momentum波瀾壯闊
澜沧江Lancang River of Qinghai and Yunnan, the upper reaches of Mekong River 湄公河[Méi​gōng​Hé] of Southeast Asia瀾滄江
澜沧县Lancang Lahuzu autonomous county in Pu'er 普洱[Pǔ​'ěr], Yunnan瀾滄縣
澜沧拉祜族自治县Lancang Lahuzu Autonomous County in Pu'er 普洱[Pǔ​'ěr], Yunnan瀾滄拉祜族自治縣
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 瀾

What does 波澜 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 瀾

The correct pronunciation is 'lán' with a rising tone.

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