浪

• Pinyin: làng
• Hanzi breakdown: 浪 = 氵(water) + 良 (good, phonetic) — wave

Meaning

Wave. Moving water in the form of crests and troughs.

Beyond ocean waves, used in metaphors like 风浪 (hardship), 声浪 (wave of sound), and 浪潮 (tide/trend). Also a component in words like 浪费 (waste) and 浪漫 (romantic).

Examples

1. 海浪一波接一波地冲击着礁石。 The waves kept crashing against the rocks one after another.
2. 改革开放的浪潮席卷全国。 The tide of reform and opening up swept across the nation.
3. 他乘风破浪，终于实现了梦想。 He braved the wind and waves and finally realized his dream.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, metaphors, literature

Tone: varied

Do Say

• 今天的浪很大，不适合游泳。(The waves are big today — not suitable for swimming.)
• 长江后浪推前浪。(The Yangtze's waves push forward — newer generation surpasses the older.)

Don't Say

• 把浪和波完全混用。(浪 often refers to larger, breaking waves; 波 refers to ripples or oscillations)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic character. 氵(water) indicates water; 良 (good, phonetic) provides the sound.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal