TongTong
Sign in

动荡 (dòng dàng) — (verb) to be in turmoil; to be unstable; (adjective) turbulent; unstable; unsettled

Definition

动荡 means a society, situation, or period that is unstable and in upheaval — stronger and more political than 乱 (general disorder). Often describes countries, regions, or eras in crisis.

verb
to be in turmoilto be unstable
adjective
turbulentunstableunsettled

Examples

  • 动荡。
    Zhè ge guó jiā cháng qī chǔ yú dòng dàng zhī zhōng.
    This country has been in turmoil for a long time.
  • 动荡。
    dòng dàng De jú shì ràng tóu zī zhě gǎn dào dān yōu.
    The turbulent situation makes investors worried.
  • 动荡，。
    Tā de shēng huó yì zhí hěn dòng dàng, méi yǒu wěn dìng xià lái.
    His life has been very unstable, without settling down.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

动dòngmove
荡dàngsway

动 (move) and 荡 (sway) combine to describe social or political turbulence.

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

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.

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.

Open 荡 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Society & Public Life

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.