澜 meaning and stroke order
Overflowing; ripples, waves
How to write 澜, stroke by stroke
15 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 澜
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- swelling water
How 澜 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Water.
氵 gives the meaning and 阑 hints at the sound.
Radical: 氵 (water), shared by 467 characters on this site.
How to remember 澜
澜 is water 氵 plus 阑 (lán), which gives the sound. Picture water 氵 rising in big waves that push against a gate 门 until it overflows.
澜 rarely appears alone and is mostly found in literary words like 波澜 (bōlán), which can describe real waves or the ups and downs of events and feelings. Example: 他的心里泛起了波澜。(Tā de xīnli fàn qǐ le bōlán.) Waves of emotion rose in his heart.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 澜 with 栏 (lán, railing) or 拦 (lán, to block), since all three share the same sound. Only 澜 has the water radical 氵, so use it when the meaning is about waves.
Common words with 澜
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 波澜 | bōlán | billows; great waves (fig. of a story with great momentum) | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 澜
How many strokes are in 澜?
澜 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 澜 mean?
澜 (lán) means overflowing; ripples, waves. A common word with it is 波澜 (bōlán), meaning "billows; great waves (fig. of a story with great momentum)".
How do you pronounce 澜?
澜 is pronounced lán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 澜?
The radical of 澜 is 氵, which carries the idea of "water". Dictionaries list 澜 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 澜?
The traditional form of 澜 is 瀾. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 澜 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 澜 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 澜 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 波澜壮阔 mean?
波澜壮阔 (bōlán zhuàngkuò) is an idiom meaning vast and surging like great waves. It is often used for grand historical events or large movements, for example a magnificent chapter of history.
Is 澜 used in names?
Yes, 澜 shows up in given names and place names because it suggests broad, flowing water. A well-known example is 澜沧江 (Láncāng Jiāng), the Chinese name for the upper Mekong River.