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漩涡 (xuàn wō) — (physical) whirlpool, vortex, eddy; (figurative) maelstrom, chaotic or dangerous situation

Definition

Literal: a whirlpool or vortex in water. Figuratively, a chaotic or dangerous situation that pulls people in (e.g. political, emotional). Used for both the physical swirl and the metaphorical 'maelstrom.'

noun
(physical) whirlpoolvortexeddy(figurative) maelstromchaotic or dangerous situation
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 漩涡。
    Chuán chà diǎn bèi xuàn wō tūn mò.
    The boat was nearly swallowed by the whirlpool.
  • 漩涡。
    Tā juǎn rù le zhè chǎng zhèng zhì xuàn wō.
    He got swept up in this political maelstrom.
  • 漩涡。
    Yú lùn xuàn wō ràng tā nán yǐ chéng shòu.
    The storm of public opinion was unbearable for her.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

漩xuánwhirlpool
涡wōeddy

漩 (whirlpool) and 涡 (eddy) combine to mean a swirling vortex.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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 渦; 涡 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
咼
咼wāi渦wō
Same sound today

The traditional form 渦 pairs 水 (water) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 涡 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the historical part.

Open 涡 →
Appears in
Geography & Landforms

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