乱哄哄 (luàn hōng hōng) — noisy and chaotic, in an uproar

Definition

A vivid reduplicated adjective meaning 'noisy and chaotic' — a scene, not a single sound. Focuses on the messy uproar of a group, stronger than just 吵.

adjective
noisy and chaoticin an uproar

Examples

  • ，乱哄哄。
    Guǎng chǎng shàng rén hěn duō, luàn hōng hōng de.
    There are many people on the square, and it's noisy and chaotic.
  • 乱哄哄，。
    Jiào shì lǐ luàn hōng hōng de, gēn běn tīng bú jiàn lǎo shī shuō huà.
    The classroom is in an uproar; I can't hear the teacher at all.
  • 乱哄哄，。
    Bié nà me luàn hōng hōng de, ān jìng yí xià.
    Don't be so noisy and messy; quiet down a bit.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

乱luàndisorder
哄哄noisy
哄hǒngnoisy哄hǒngnoisy
重叠Reduplication

乱 means disorder, and 哄哄 adds a noisy, bustling feel, giving noisy and in disarray.

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 亂; 乱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
乚Written in full as乙yǐ
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.

Open 乱 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
共
共gòng哄hōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

哄 is made from 口, the mouth part, and 共, the part that gives its sound.

Open 哄 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
共
共gòng哄hōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

哄 is made from 口, the mouth part, and 共, the part that gives its sound.

Open 哄 →

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