轰动一时 (hōng dòng yī shí) — to cause a sensation (for a time); to make a splash

Definition

A chengyu meaning a person, event, or work caused a great sensation for a short period — like 'to make a splash' or 'to be all the rage.' Implies the buzz faded with time.

verb
to cause a sensation (for a time)to make a splash

Examples

  • 轰动一时，。
    Nà bù diàn yǐng shàng yìng hòu hōng dòng yī shí, jī hū rén rén dōu zài tǎo lùn.
    That movie caused a sensation after its release — almost everyone was talking about it.
  • 轰动一时，。
    Zhè ge fā xiàn dāng nián hōng dòng yī shí, dàn rú jīn yǐ bèi xīn de lǐ lùn qǔ dài le.
    This discovery caused a sensation back then, but now it has been replaced by new theories.
  • 轰动一时，。
    Tā xiě de nà piān bào dào hōng dòng yī shí, yǐn qǐ le shè huì guǎng fàn guān zhù.
    The report he wrote caused a sensation, drawing widespread public attention.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 轟; 轰 is its simplified writing.

  • 車車jūcart
  • 車車jūcart
  • 車車jūcart

The traditional form 轟 puts three 車 (cart) together; 轰 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 轰 →

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī時shí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

Open 时 →

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