Definition
泛滥 has two uses: (1) rivers overflow their banks; (2) undesirable things spread unchecked. In the literal sense, 泛滥 means the water overflows the banks, while 淹没 (yān mò) means to submerge (cover completely). In the figurative sense, 泛滥 always carries a negative connotation (harmful things proliferating), while 扩散 (kuò sàn) is neutral (spread of anything, e.g., information or disease).
verb
(of water) to be in floodto overflow (the banks)to inundate(of undesirable things) to spread uncheckedto proliferate
Examples
- 泛滥，。Héshuǐ fàn làn, yānmò le zhōuwéi de nóngtián.The river overflowed, submerging the surrounding farmlands.
- 泛滥，。Xūjiǎ xìnxī zài wǎngshàng fēngkuáng fàn làn, pòhuài shèhuì xìnrèn.False information spreads unchecked online, destroying social trust.
- 泛滥，。Zhè zhǒng bùliáng fēngqì rúguǒ jìxù fàn làn, hòuguǒ huì hěn yánzhòng.If this bad trend continues to spread unchecked, the consequences will be severe.
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