奔涌 (bēn yǒng) — (of water, emotions, ideas) to surge, to flow swiftly and powerfully

Definition

A vivid, often literary verb for liquids or feelings surging and rushing forward with force. Pairs naturally with 而出 to mark the moment something bursts forth.

verb
(of water, emotions, ideas) to surgeto flow swiftly and powerfully

Examples

  • 奔涌，礴。
    Jiāng shuǐ bēn yǒng, qì shì páng bó.
    The river surges with majestic momentum.
  • 奔涌。
    Tā de xīn zhōng bēn yǒng zhe wú jìn de rè qíng.
    Endless passion surges in his heart.
  • 奔涌。
    Líng gǎn rú quán shuǐ bān bēn yǒng ér chū.
    Inspiration surged forth like a spring.

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.

奔bēnrush
涌yǒngsurge

奔 suggests rushing forward while 涌 suggests welling up, together giving a powerful flow.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

奔 combines 人 (person) and 止 (foot), giving the picture of a person moving on foot.

Open 奔 →

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 湧; 涌 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
勇
勇yǒng湧yǒng
Same sound today

The traditional form 湧 has 水 (water) and 勇, where 勇 gives the sound. The simplified 涌 is a later shorthand.

Open 涌 →

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