荡漾 (dàng yàng) — to ripple; to undulate (of water, sound, or emo… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A literary verb for gentle, spreading ripples — of water, sound, or emotions drifting outward. Lighter and more evocative than the stronger 激荡, and gentler than 波动 or 起伏.

verb

to rippleto undulate (of water, sound, or emotions)

Examples

，荡漾。
Chūn fēng zhōng, hú miàn qīng qīng dàng yàng.
In the spring breeze, the lake surface ripples gently.
荡漾。
Yuǎn chù chuán lái dàng yàng de gē shēng.
The sound of singing drifts over from afar, rippling through the air.
，荡漾。
Kàn zhe lǎo zhào piàn, tā de xīn lǐ yě dàng yàng qǐ yí zhèn wēn nuǎn.
Looking at the old photos, a wave of warmth rippled through her 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.

荡 (sway) and 漾 (ripple) together describe gentle movement of water or feeling.

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.

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.

艹湯蕩

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.

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

羕

羕yàng漾yàng

Same sound today

漾 uses 水 to show it is about water and 羕 to give the sound yàng.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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