Chinese word

波澜

Pronunciation

Pinyinbō lán

Meaning

  • nounupheaval

Example

这几年生活很平静，没有大的波澜。zhè jǐ nián shēng huó hěn píng jìng méi yǒu dà de bō lán

Life has been very peaceful these past few years, with no major upheavals.

Illustration for 波澜 (upheaval)

More examples

经济改革带来了不少波澜，人们既期待又担心。jīng jì gǎi gé dài lái le bù shǎo bō lán rén men jì qī dài yòu dān xīn

Economic reform brought considerable upheaval, and people both looked forward to it and worried about it.

Core concept

A broad disturbance that makes events rise, shift direction, and pass through serious ups and downs.

Common phrases

  • 没有波澜méi yǒu bō lán

    no upheaval

  • 掀起波澜xiān qǐ bō lán

    cause a stir

Similar words

动荡dòng dàng: A period of social disorder and instability that weakens normal public order.
波动bō dòng: A changing level or amount that moves upward and downward over time.
起伏qǐ fú: A pattern of rises and falls in feelings, circumstances, or events.
变化biàn huà: A difference between an earlier state and a later state or condition.

Definition in Chinese

指较大规模的波折或动荡，常用于书面或正式语境来描述重大变化、冲突或转折点。zhǐ jiào dà guī mó de bō zhé huò dòng dàng cháng yòng yú shū miàn huò zhèng shì yǔ jìng lái miáo shù zhòng dà biàn huà chōng tū huò zhuǎn zhé diǎn

Word origin

波 (bō, "wave") names a wave and 澜 (lán, "large wave") intensifies it, so the compound turns physical turbulence into a metaphor for major developments and reversals.

Usage tips

  • The word has a written, formal tone, so it is especially useful in news reports, biographies, and serious discussions rather than casual talk about a minor change of plan.

Other meanings

  • ups and downsnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 波澜壮阔bō lán zhuàng kuògrand and sweepingidiom

Word lists with this word