汪洋 (wāng yáng) — (adjective) vast, boundless (of water, ocean, e… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary adjective meaning 'vast, boundless,' used for huge expanses of water. Stronger and more poetic than 海洋 (a plain noun for 'ocean') and the neutral 广大 / 广阔 / 宽广.

adjective

vastboundless (of water, ocean, etc.)

Measure word · 片

Examples

。
Zhè piàn wāng yáng dà hǎi yì yǎn wàng bú dào biān.
This vast ocean stretches as far as the eye can see.
汪洋。
Xiǎo chuán zài wāng yáng zhōng màn màn qián xíng.
The small boat slowly moves forward in the vast waters.
汪洋，。
Kàn dào zhè piàn wāng yáng, wǒ jiù bù jīn gǎn dào zì jǐ de miǎo xiǎo.
Seeing this vastness, I can't help but feel my own insignificance.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

汪wāngvast water

汪 suggests broad water and 洋 suggests sea, so together they convey vast, boundless water.

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

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

王

王wáng汪wāng

Same sound today

汪 pairs 水 (water), showing liquid, with 王, a part that gives the sound.

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

氵羊洋

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

羊

羊yáng洋yáng

Same sound today

洋 pairs 氵, the water part, with 羊 to give its sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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