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翻滚 (fān gǔn) — to roll (forcefully) / to tumble (of people, objects); to seethe / to churn (of liquids, emotions)

Definition

Stronger and more vivid than 滚: emphasizes forceful, repeated tumbling of people/objects, or liquids and emotions churning intensely. Often describes ongoing, turbulent motion rather than a single roll.

verb
to roll (forcefully) / to tumble (of people, objects)to seethe / to churn (of liquids, emotions)

Examples

  • 翻滚，。
    Tā cóng lóu tī shàng fān gǔn xià lái, shuāi dé bù qīng.
    He tumbled down the stairs and got pretty badly hurt.
  • 翻滚。
    Guō lǐ de tāng zài bù tíng dì fān gǔn.
    The soup in the pot is seething continuously.
  • 翻滚。
    Tā xīn zhōng fān gǔn zhe fù zá de qíng gǎn.
    Complex emotions were churning in his heart.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

翻fānturn over
滚gǔnroll

翻 adds turning over, and 滚 adds rolling, together describing a tumbling motion.

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
羽羽yǔwings
Sound part声符shēngfú
番
番fān翻fān
Same sound today

翻 pairs 羽 (wings) with 番, which gives the sound. The shape shows something fluttering.

Open 翻 →

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 滾; 滚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
袞
袞gǔn滾gǔn
Same sound today

The traditional form 滾 pairs 水 (water) with 袞, which supplies the pronunciation. The simplified 滚 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical 袞.

Open 滚 →
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