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放荡 (fàng dàng) — dissolute; licentious; unconventional (in a derogatory sense)

Definition

Strongly negative adjective meaning 'dissolute' — used for people or lifestyles that are morally loose or reckless in behavior. Carries a sharper, harsher judgment than simply 'unconventional'.

adjective
dissolutelicentiousunconventional (in a derogatory sense)

Examples

  • 放荡。
    Tā guò zhe fàng dàng de shēng huó.
    He lives a dissolute life.
  • 放荡。
    Zhè zhǒng fàng dàng de xíng wéi ràng rén wú fǎ jiē shòu.
    This kind of dissolute behavior is unacceptable.
  • 放荡。
    Tā bù xǐ huan nà xiē fàng dàng de rén.
    She doesn't like those dissolute people.

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
荡dàngloose

放 and 荡 both suggest unrestrained conduct, so together they mean 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 蕩; 荡 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 荡 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words it is 蕩; in others it is 盪.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
湯
湯tāng蕩dàng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

About the traditional form 蕩: it is made of 艹 (grass, written fully as 艸) and 湯, which gives the sound. The simplified 荡 is only a later shorthand.

Open 荡 →
Appears in
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