乱 (luàn) — (adjective) in a mess, chaotic, disordered; (adjective) confused, upset (of one's mind or feelings); (adverb) randomly, arbitrarily, indiscriminately
Definition
乱 (luàn) means 'messy/chaotic' (a room, one's mind) or 'randomly/indiscriminately' as an adverb. It's simpler and more colloquial than 混乱; for deliberate choice use 任意, for chance use 随机.
adjective
in a messchaoticdisorderedconfusedupset (of one's mind or feelings)
adverb
randomlyarbitrarilyindiscriminately
Easily confused
Examples
- 乱，。Fáng jiān tài luàn le, kuài shōu shi yí xià.The room is too messy, clean it up quickly.
- 乱，。Bié luàn mǎi dōng xī, wǒ men xiān jì huà hǎo zài mǎi.Don't buy things randomly; let's plan first before buying.
- 乱，。Tā zuì jìn xīn lǐ hěn luàn, jīng cháng shuì bù zháo jué.He's been very upset lately and often can't fall asleep.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 亂; 乱 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
𤔔
𤔔𤔔亂luàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 亂 contains 𤔔, a drawing of combing tangled threads, and 乙; the simplified 乱 is only a later shorthand, not the historical shape.
Grammar
Appears in
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