浪漫

• Pinyin: làng màn
• Hanzi breakdown: 浪 = 氵(water) + 良 (good); 漫 = 氵(water) + 曼 (extend). Phonetic borrowing, characters chosen for sound

Meaning

Romantic; romance. Describes an atmosphere, gesture, or personality full of love and idealism.

Borrowed from English 'romantic.' Used for describing romantic love, artistic sensibility, or an idealistic worldview. Can describe people, actions, atmospheres, or artistic works. Sometimes used ironically for impractical dreamers.

Examples

1. 他在她生日那天准备了一个浪漫的惊喜。 He prepared a romantic surprise for her birthday.
2. 巴黎被称为世界上最浪漫的城市。 Paris is called the most romantic city in the world.
3. 别太浪漫主义了，现实一点比较好。 Don't be too romantic about it; it's better to be realistic.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, art, lifestyle

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 这个地方好浪漫啊！(This place is so romantic!)
• 他是个很浪漫的人，总是给女朋友小惊喜。(He's a very romantic person, always giving his girlfriend little surprises.)

Don't Say

• 这个商业计划很浪漫。(For business matters, 浪漫 sounds dismissive — it implies unrealistic; use 有创意 or 理想化)

Origin & History

Loanword from English 'romantic' via Japanese ロマン. The characters 浪 (wave) and 漫 (overflow) were chosen phonetically.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal