幡然 (fān rán) — suddenly and completely (of a change in attitude, realization, or strategy)

Definition

Written adverb meaning a sudden, complete shift in attitude or realization (e.g. 幡然悔悟). Always precedes another verb; far more literary than a plain 'suddenly'.

adverb
suddenly and completely (of a change in attitude, realization, or strategy)

Examples

  • ，幡然，。
    Tīng le lǎo shī de quàn gào, tā fān rán huǐ wù, jué xīn chóng xīn zuò rén.
    After hearing the teacher's advice, he suddenly and completely repented and resolved to turn over a new leaf.
  • ，幡然，。
    Miàn duì shī bài, tā fān rán xǐng wù, míng bai zì jǐ guò qù de cuò wù.
    Faced with failure, she suddenly and completely came to realize her past mistakes.
  • ，幡然，。
    Jīng guò shēn sī, tā fān rán gǎi guò, yíng dé le dà jiā de xìn rèn.
    After deep reflection, he suddenly and completely mended his ways and earned everyone's trust.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

幡fānturning
然ránmanner

The turning sense of 幡 is combined with 然 to express the manner of a sudden change.

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
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
番
番fān幡fān
Same sound today

The left part 巾 is cloth, and the right part 番 gives the sound.

Open 幡 →

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 →

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