HSK · Level 118
45 words
Chinese word
骚乱
Pronunciation
Pinyinsāo luàn
Meaning
- nounriot
Example
街上发生了骚乱，很多商店关门了。jiē shàng fā shēng le sāo luàn hěn duō shāng diàn guān mén le
A riot broke out in the street, and many stores closed.
More examples
示威演变成了骚乱，许多人受伤。shì wēi yǎn biàn chéng le sāo luàn xǔ duō rén shòu shāng
The demonstration turned into a riot, and many people were injured.
Core concept
A public crowd situation where loud conflict spreads and normal order breaks down.
Common phrases
煽动骚乱shān dòng sāo luàn
incite a riot
制止骚乱zhì zhǐ sāo luàn
stop a riot
平息骚乱píng xī sāo luàn
quell a riot
Similar words
暴乱bào luàn: A severe public disorder marked by violence and destruction.
暴动bào dòng: A violent mass action aimed at opposing a government or attacking facilities.
骚动sāo dòng: A brief, smaller outbreak of noise and disorder.
混乱hùn luàn: A disordered state in which normal arrangement and control are lost.
Definition in Chinese
骚乱 指因冲突、抗议或突发事件导致的人群喧闹和秩序混乱，常伴随推搡、破坏或控制力失效。sāo luàn zhǐ yīn chōng tū kàng yì huò tū fā shì jiàn dǎo zhì de rén qún xuān nào hé zhì xù hùn luàn cháng bàn suí tuī sǎng pò huài huò kòng zhì lì shī xiào
Word origin
骚 (sāo, "clamor") + 乱 (luàn, "disorder") forms a compound for a noisy disturbance in which public order becomes confused.
Usage tips
- For English speakers, a peaceful protest is not automatically 骚乱 (sāoluàn, "riot"): the word points to public disorder rather than simply a large demonstration.