推波助澜 (tuī bō zhù lán) — to fan the flames; to exacerbate a situation

Definition

Literally 'push the waves and help the crest,' this idiom means to fan the flames or make a bad situation worse — always negative, unlike neutral 加油 ('cheer on').

idiom
to fan the flamesto exacerbate a situation

Examples

  • 推波助澜，。
    Tā zài shuāng fāng de máo dùn zhōng bú duàn tuī bō zhù lán, ràng shì qing biàn de gèng zāo.
    He kept fanning the flames in the conflict between the two sides, making things worse.
  • 推波助澜，。
    Zhè xiē yáo yán tuī bō zhù lán, dǎo zhì le gèng dà de kǒng huāng.
    These rumors fueled the fire, causing even greater panic.
  • ，推波助澜。
    Nǐ men yīng gāi tiáo jiě, ér bú shì tuī bō zhù lán.
    You should mediate, not fan the flames.

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.

推波push waves
推tuīpush波bōwave
动宾Verb + object
助澜help billows
助zhùhelp澜lánbillow
动宾Verb + object

推波, pushing waves, and 助澜, helping billows, picture worsening a situation.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
隹
隹zhuī推tuī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 扌 is a hand, and the right side 隹 gives the sound; the character shows pushing with the hand.

Open 推 →

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shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí波bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 氵 is water, and the right side 皮 gives the sound.

Open 波 →

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
力力lìstrong arm
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě助zhù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

助 pairs 力, a strong arm, with 且, which gives the sound; the meaning is help with strength.

Open 助 →

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 瀾; 澜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
闌
闌lán瀾lán
Same sound today

The traditional form 瀾 pairs 氵 (water) with 闌 (lán), which gives the sound.

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