TongTong
Sign in

放浪 (fàng làng) — unrestrained; dissolute

Definition

Literary word meaning 'unrestrained, dissolute' — used for a lifestyle or spirit that ignores social norms, with a negative connotation when applied to behavior.

adjective
unrestraineddissolute

Examples

  • 放浪，。
    Tā nián qīng shí shēng huó fēi cháng fàng làng, jīng cháng hē jiǔ dào tiān liàng.
    When he was young, he lived a very unrestrained life, often drinking until dawn.
  • 放浪。
    Tā de fàng làng zuò fēng ràng jiā rén hěn dān xīn.
    His dissolute behavior worries his family.
  • 放浪。
    Yì shù jiā xū yào yì diǎn fàng làng de jīng shén cái néng tū pò cháng guī.
    Artists need a bit of an unrestrained spirit to break conventions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

放fàngunrestrained
浪làngdissolute

“放” and “浪” both convey lack of restraint, together meaning unrestrained or dissolute.

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
攵Written in full as攴pūhand, action
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng放fàng
Same sound today

放 uses 方 for its sound and 攵, a hand/action part, to mark an action of release.

Open 放 →

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
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
良
良liáng浪làng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

浪 pairs 水 (water) with 良, which supplies the sound. The water part points to its meaning of waves.

Open 浪 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.