勃然大怒 (bó rán dà nù) — to fly into a rage; to suddenly become very angry

Definition

A written, chengyu-style idiom meaning to suddenly explode in anger. Use for a dramatic, visible outburst — stronger and more literary than everyday 生气.

idiom
to fly into a rageto suddenly become very angry

Examples

  • ，勃然大怒。
    Tā tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi hòu, bó rán dà nù.
    After hearing this news, he flew into a rage.
  • 勃然大怒。
    Lǎo bǎn yīn wèi yuán gōng chí dào ér bó rán dà nù.
    The boss flew into a rage because an employee was late.
  • 勃然大怒。
    Tā bó rán dà nù dì pāi le yí xià zhuō zi.
    She slammed the table in a rage.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìpower
Sound part声符shēngfú
孛
孛bèi勃⁰bó
Same sound today

勃 pairs 力, which carries the sense of power or force, with 孛 as a sound part.

Open 勃 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 大 is a picture of a person standing and facing forward, not of someone stretching their arms.

Open 大 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
奴
奴nú怒nù
Same sound today

怒 pairs 心 (heart) with 奴, which is used for its sound rather than its meaning of slave.

Open 怒 →

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