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淫荡 (yín dàng) — lascivious, lewd, licentious

Definition

A strong, literary word for 'lascivious/lewd' — describes openly lustful behavior or character. As an adjective/stative verb, it takes 的 before a noun (∼的言行) and is far stronger than colloquial 色情.

verb
lasciviouslewdlicentious

Examples

  • 淫荡，。
    Tā zài xiǎo shuō zhōng sù zào le yí gè yín dàng de jué sè, zhuān mén gōu yǐn tā rén.
    He created a lascivious character in the novel who specializes in seducing others.
  • 淫荡。
    Nà xiē yín dàng de yán xíng zài gōng gòng chǎng hé lìng rén shí fēn fǎn gǎn.
    Those lewd words and deeds are very repulsive in public places.
  • 淫荡。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng yīn hán yǒu yín dàng jìng tóu ér bèi jìn zhǐ shàng yìng.
    This film was banned from release for containing licentious scenes.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

淫yínlicentious
荡dàngloose

“淫” gives licentious and “荡” gives loose, so lewd or lascivious.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㸒
㸒㸒淫yín
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape combines 氵 (the water form of 水) with 㸒, which supplies the sound.

Open 淫 →

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 →
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