HSK · Level 88
45 words
Chinese word
荒诞
Pronunciation
Pinyinhuāng dàn
Meaning
- adjectiveabsurd
Example
他说的话很荒诞。tā shuō de huà hěn huāng dàn
What he said is very absurd.
More examples
新闻被夸大了，部分内容显得荒诞。xīn wén bèi kuā dà le bù fèn nèi róng xiǎn de huāng dàn
The news was exaggerated, and some of its content seems absurd.
Core concept
A striking break from ordinary reality and reason, often so extreme that it becomes laughable.
Common phrases
荒诞的结局huāng dàn de jié jú
absurd ending
充满荒诞色彩chōng mǎn huāng dàn sè cǎi
full of absurdity
荒诞的寓言huāng dàn de yù yán
absurd fable
Similar words
荒谬huāng miù: Extremely unreasonable because it conflicts with logic or accepted common sense.
可笑kě xiào: Odd or foolish in a way that naturally brings laughter.
Definition in Chinese
与常理和现实明显不符、令人难以置信的言行、情节或情况，常带有荒唐或可笑的意味。yǔ cháng lǐ hé xiàn shí míng xiǎn bù fú lìng rén nán yǐ zhì xìn de yán xíng qíng jié huò qíng kuàng cháng dài yǒu huāng táng huò kě xiào de yì wèi
Word origin
The word combines 荒 (huāng, "wild or disorderly") with 诞 (dàn, "extravagant or fanciful") to suggest something so far from ordinary reality that it may also seem ridiculous.
Usage tips
- For everyday conversation, 荒诞 (huāngdàn, "absurd") works well for an unbelievable claim or plot, while a direct comment about someone can sound harsher than intended.