涌

• Pinyin: yǒng
• Hanzi breakdown: 涌 = 氵+ 甬 (water + phonetic bell-vessel — water surging upward and outward)

Meaning

To surge; to gush; to well up; to pour forth in great volume. Describes rapid, powerful movement of liquid, people, or emotions.

Used for water surging, crowds pouring, emotions welling up, and ideas flowing forth. Appears in compounds: 涌现 (to emerge in large numbers), 涌入 (to pour into), 奔涌 (to surge forward), 汹涌 (turbulent, surging). As a standalone verb it is vivid and literary, often used in descriptive prose.

Examples

1. 连日暴雨后，瀑布水量骤增，激流从崖壁奔腾而下，在谷底涌成巨潭，气势惊人。 After days of heavy rain, the waterfall swelled, and torrents rushed down the cliff, surging into a huge pool at the bottom, with breathtaking force.
2. 音乐会结束时，掌声从四面八方涌向舞台，淹没了指挥家和乐手。 When the concert ended, applause surged toward the stage from all directions, engulfing the conductor and musicians.
3. 读完这部家族小说，他心中涌起敬意、悲悯与对安定年代的珍惜。 After reading the family novel, respect, pity, and appreciation for stable times surged in his heart.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, literature, emotions, crowds

Tone: vivid

Do Say

• 这部纪录片用航拍和水下摄影呈现黄河雨季涌过壶口的壮阔力量。(This documentary uses aerial and underwater photography to show the Yellow River's magnificent force as it surges through Hukou in the rainy season.)
• 救援人员找到被困七十二小时的幸存者后，家属眼中涌出了热泪。(After rescuers found the survivor trapped for seventy-two hours, tears surged into the family members' eyes.)

Don't Say

• 水涌出来了 — while grammatically fine, 涌 alone is more literary and vivid; in plain speech 水流出来了 or 水溢出来了 is more natural; use 涌 when you want to convey force, volume, or dramatic imagery

Origin & History

涌 = 氵(water radical) + 甬 (phonetic — a bell-shaped vessel, suggesting upward flowing movement; also implies force and direction)

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal