Meanings of 烂
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About 烂
Podcast: 烂
Podcast: 烂
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AI study notes for 烂
坏 (huài) - use 烂 (làn) when emphasizing decomposition or extreme deterioration, whereas 坏 (huài) is more general for 'bad' or 'broken'.
Be careful not to confuse 烂 with similar-sounding words that have positive or neutral connotations. This term is quite informal and often used in conversational contexts. Common collocations include '烂苹果' (rotten apple) or '烂掉' (to rot away).
As an HSK Level 5 word, 烂 connects well with other verbs describing states or conditions, such as '坏' (huài - bad) and '破' (pò - broken). Focus on using it in sentences describing food or situations to reinforce its meaning.
Learners often misuse 烂 by applying it to neutral or positive contexts, such as saying '这个电影烂' (This movie is good), which should instead be '这个电影很好' (This movie is good). Remember, 烂 is negative!
Pronunciation of 烂
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Jason Explains 烂 to you
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Learning Lab
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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.
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Etymology of 烂
Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 兰 represents the sound. Simplified form of 爛.
fire
Origin
烂 = 火 + 兰. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 烂
Parts
Which of these is part of 烂?
How to say soft in Chinese
“soft” in Chinese is烂
The character 烂 (làn) primarily means 'to rot' or 'to decompose,' often used to describe food that has gone bad or is overly soft. In broader contexts, it can refer to anything that is chaotic, messy, or in a state of disrepair, conveying a sense of utter deterioration or failure.
When to use 烂
Be careful not to confuse 烂 with similar-sounding words that have positive or neutral connotations. This term is quite informal and often used in conversational contexts. Common collocations include '烂苹果' (rotten apple) or '烂掉' (to rot away).
烂 or something close to it
坏 (huài) - use 烂 (làn) when emphasizing decomposition or extreme deterioration, whereas 坏 (huài) is more general for 'bad' or 'broken'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 烂 by applying it to neutral or positive contexts, such as saying '这个电影烂' (This movie is good), which should instead be '这个电影很好' (This movie is good). Remember, 烂 is negative!
Write 烂
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Practice writing 烂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 烂
烂 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 14 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
你一直穿你的旧衣服，直到穿____了为止吗？
Do you wear your old clothes until they fall to pieces?
Common confusions with 烂
Same pronunciation but different meanings and usages.
Which one
Which one means “soft”?
Usage Notes for 烂
Learners sometimes confuse 烂 with similar characters like 滥. 烂 should specifically refer to things that are rotten or well-cooked, whereas 滥 relates to excess or abuse.
这个水果烂了。
This fruit has rotted.
他做事情太滥了。
He is too excessive in what he does.
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这个水果____了。
This fruit has rotted.
Example sentences for 烂 (16)
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Word Family of 烂
Words with 烂
What does 灿烂 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 烂
烂 (làn) specifically refers to something that is overly soft, often due to spoilage or overcooking, while 软 (ruǎn) simply means 'soft' without the negative connotation. For instance, bread can be 软 if it's fresh and fluffy, but it may become 烂 if left out too long and begins to rot.
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