TongTong
Sign in

紊乱 (wěn luàn) — (of a system, order, or mental state) disordered, chaotic, in disarray

Definition

Formal, written word for a system, order, or mental state falling into disorder. More literary than the everyday 乱, and refers to breakdown of order rather than a person's panic (慌乱) or general messiness (混乱).

adjective
(of a system, order, or mental state) disorderedchaoticin disarray

Examples

  • 紊乱。
    Cháng qī yā lì huì dǎo zhì nèi fēn mì wěn luàn.
    Long-term stress can cause endocrine disorders.
  • ，紊乱。
    Shī qù zhǐ huī hòu, xiàn chǎng zhì xù wěn luàn.
    After losing direction, the order on site became chaotic.
  • 紊乱，。
    Tā sī xù wěn luàn, wú fǎ zuò chū jué dìng.
    His thoughts are so disordered that he can't make a decision.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

紊wěntangled disorder
乱luànchaos

紊 and 乱 both express disorder; together they intensify the sense of chaos.

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
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
文
文wén紊wěn
Same sound today

紊 pairs 糸, a silk thread, with 文, which gives the sound. The 糸 part points to silk.

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 亂; 乱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
乚Written in full as乙yǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
𤔔
𤔔𤔔亂luàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 亂 contains 𤔔, a drawing of combing tangled threads, and 乙; the simplified 乱 is only a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 乱 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.