波浪 (bō làng) — wave | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

The everyday, neutral word for 'wave' on water. 波涛 and 波澜 are more literary and evoke large, powerful waves.

noun

wave

Measure word · 个

Examples

波浪，。
Hǎi shàng de bō làng hěn dà, chuán bù gǎn chū hǎi.
The waves at sea are huge, and the boat dare not go out.
，波浪。
Zhè ge hú miàn hěn píng jìng, méi yǒu bō làng.
This lake surface is very calm, with no waves.
，波浪。
Fēng chuī guò shuǐ miàn, xíng chéng le yì quān quān bō làng.
The wind blew across the water, forming circles of waves.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

波 means wave and 浪 means wave; together they name waves.

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.

氵皮波

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.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

良

良liáng浪làng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

浪 pairs 水 (water) with 良, which supplies the sound. The water part points to its meaning of waves.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Geography & Landforms

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