天真烂漫 (tiān zhēn làn màn) — innocent and artless; pure and natural (of a person)

Definition

Idiom for someone who is genuinely innocent, open, and natural — not just naive, but full of unguarded warmth. Typically used for children or young people whose purity is charming.

idiom
innocent and artlesspure and natural (of a person)

Examples

  • 天真烂漫。
    Tā nà zhǒng tiān zhēn làn màn de biǎo qíng ràng dà jiā dōu xiào le.
    Her innocent and artless expression made everyone laugh.
  • ，天真烂漫。
    Suī rán yǐ jīng èr shí duō suì le, tā hái shì bǎo liú zhe yí fèn tiān zhēn làn màn.
    Even though she's already in her twenties, she still retains a touch of innocence and artlessness.
  • 天真烂漫。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō miáo xiě le yí gè tiān zhēn làn màn de nǚ hái.
    This novel depicts an innocent and artless girl.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

天真natural and true
天tiānnatural真zhēntrue
联合Side by side
烂漫bright and unrestrained
烂lànbright漫mànunrestrained
联合Side by side

天真 and 烂漫 join natural truth with unrestrained charm, giving innocent artlessness.

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
大大dà
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng天tiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape comes from a frontal standing man 大 with a head; 天 pairs 大 with 丁 for sound.

Open 天 →

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
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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 爛; 烂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
闌
闌lán爛làn
Same sound today

The form 爛 pairs 火 (fire) with 闌 as the sound part; this explains 爛, not the simplified 烂.

Open 烂 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
曼
曼màn漫
Same sound today

漫 uses 氵 (water) and 曼 for the sound; 曼 also means “vast, extended,” showing water spread out or overflowing.

Open 漫 →

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